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Myth Adventures Books in Order

21 Books
2 Reading orders
1978 – 2016 Published
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How to Read the Myth Adventures Series

If you love your fantasy with a healthy dose of puns, dimension-hopping shenanigans, and buddy-comedy dynamics, Robert Asprin's Myth Adventures is the perfect destination. The series follows the bumbling apprentice wizard Skeeve and his scaly, sharp-tongued, and temporarily depowered demon mentor Aahz as they con, spell, and stumble their way through a vast multiverse of quirky dimensions.

Because the series spans over three decades, includes co-authored books, and features a midquel written out of order, figuring out where to start can seem a bit daunting. Fortunately, navigating the multiverse is simple once you know the pathways. Here is everything you need to know about the recommended reading order, chronological deviations, and spin-offs.

The Recommended Path: Publication Order

For almost all readers, the best way to experience Myth Adventures is in the order the books were published. Following the publication order allows you to watch Skeeve grow from an insecure, backwater thief's apprentice into a confident court magician and business leader. It also lets you appreciate how Robert Asprin's writing style and humor evolved, particularly as the series shifted from a classic parody of fantasy tropes into an ensemble workplace comedy.

Here is the complete publication order of the main novels as established by the series' history:

  1. Another Fine Myth (1978) - Skeeve's debut, where he first meets Aahz after his original master is assassinated.
  2. Myth Conceptions (1980) - Skeeve becomes court magician for the kingdom of Possiltum.
  3. Myth Directions (1982) - A dimension-hopping road trip to retrieve a bizarre trophy.
  4. Hit or Myth (1983) - Skeeve must impersonate a king to avoid a wedding.
  5. Myth-ing Persons (1984) - A rescue mission to the chilly dimension of Limbo.
  6. Little Myth Marker (1985) - Skeeve gets caught up in a high-stakes card game on Deva.
  7. M.Y.T.H. Inc. Link (1986) - Skeeve's crew officially incorporates, shifting the format to include multiple perspectives.
  8. Myth-Nomers and Im-Pervections (1987) - Aahz leaves the group, leading Skeeve on a journey to Perv.
  9. M.Y.T.H. Inc. in Action (1990) - The syndicate takes center stage while Skeeve takes a step back.
  10. Sweet Myth-tery of Life (1994) - Skeeve deals with the challenges of sudden fame and fortune.
  11. Myth-ion Improbable (2001) - A special midquel adventure published after a long hiatus.
  12. Something M.Y.T.H. Inc. (2002) - Skeeve attempts to prove he can handle a corporate assignment alone.
  13. Myth Alliances (2003) - The first full novel co-authored with Jody Lynn Nye.
  14. Class Dis-Mythed (2005) - Skeeve takes on apprentices of his own.
  15. Myth-Taken Identity (2005) - Chaos ensues when a double of Skeeve appears.
  16. Myth-Gotten Gains (2006) - M.Y.T.H. Inc. tries to manage a kingdom's treasury.
  17. Myth-Chief (2008) - The final novel co-authored by Robert Asprin before his death.
  18. Myth-Fortunes (2008) - A collaborative adventure published posthumously.
  19. Myth-Quoted (2012) - The first novel written solely by Jody Lynn Nye.
  20. Myth-Fits (2016) - Jody Lynn Nye's continuation focusing on a new generation of misfit heroes.

The Midquel Caveat: Chronological vs. Publication Order

While the publication list is linear for the most part, there is one major exception: Myth-ion Improbable (2001). Robert Asprin wrote this book after a seven-year hiatus to re-familiarize himself with the characters and ease back into the series. Because of this, it is a "midquel" that takes place chronologically between Myth Directions (Book 3) and Hit or Myth (Book 4).

If you prefer a strictly chronological reading experience, you should insert it early in your read-through:

  • Another Fine Myth
  • Myth Conceptions
  • Myth Directions
  • Myth-ion Improbable
  • Hit or Myth
  • ...and continue in publication order from there.

However, reading it in publication order (after Sweet Myth-tery of Life) is also perfectly fine. It functions as a fun, nostalgic flashback that doesn't spoil any future plots or disrupt the major character arcs of the later novels.

The M.Y.T.H. Inc. Subseries Explained

Beginning with the seventh book, M.Y.T.H. Inc. Link, the series shifts its tone. Skeeve and his growing family of dimension-hopping misfits—including the assassin Tanda, the gargoyle Garkin, the mobster Guido, and the baby dragon Gleep—decide to incorporate their services under the name M.Y.T.H. Inc. (Magical Syndicate for Hire).

Instead of being told exclusively from Skeeve's first-person perspective, several of these books (such as M.Y.T.H. Inc. Link and M.Y.T.H. Inc. in Action) are written as a collection of first-person reports from different members of the company. These are not spin-offs; they are core entries in the main series continuity and should not be skipped, as they contain vital character development and plot progression.

Short Stories and Collections

For readers who want to experience every scrap of lore, there is one essential companion volume: Myth-Told Tales (2003). Co-authored by Robert Asprin and Jody Lynn Nye, this is an anthology of short stories. The tales in this collection are scattered throughout the timeline, showing behind-the-scenes moments and secondary character adventures. It is best read after Something M.Y.T.H. Inc. to avoid minor spoilers regarding the extended cast, but before diving deep into the co-authored novels.

What to Know Before You Start

The series is heavily inspired by classic Hollywood buddy comedies, particularly the Road to... movies starring Bing Crosby and Bob Hope. Expect plenty of fast-talking banter, con-artist schemes, and ridiculous misunderstandings rather than epic, world-ending dark magic. Additionally, every chapter begins with a humorous, intentionally mismatched quote attributed to historical or pop-culture figures (e.g., "You gotta speak the language," supposedly quoted from Noah Webster), which serves as a beloved staple of Asprin's style.

After Robert Asprin passed away in 2008, his long-time collaborator Jody Lynn Nye took over the series. Fans generally agree that Nye kept Asprin's breezy, lighthearted tone intact, making the transition between the co-authored books and her solo novels (like Myth-Quoted and Myth-Fits) smooth and satisfying for long-time readers.

Frequently Asked

QCan I read the Myth Adventures books as standalones?

While some of the early books have self-contained plots, it is highly recommended to read them in order. The relationships, recurring jokes, and Skeeve's growth as a wizard build directly on events from previous novels.

QWhere is the best place to start reading Myth Adventures?

The best starting point is definitely Another Fine Myth (1978). It introduces the main characters, the rules of dimension travel, and sets up the core partnership between Skeeve and Aahz.

QWhat is the chronological placement of Myth-ion Improbable?

Although published as the 11th book in 2001, Myth-ion Improbable takes place chronologically between the 3rd book (Myth Directions) and the 4th book (Hit or Myth).

QWho wrote the Myth Adventures series after Robert Asprin passed away?

Jody Lynn Nye, who had been co-authoring the series with Asprin since 2003, continued writing the novels solo after his death in 2008, starting with Myth-Quoted (2012).

QWhat are the M.Y.T.H. Inc. books?

The M.Y.T.H. Inc. books are core entries in the main series where the characters form a professional corporation. They feature multiple viewpoint characters instead of just Skeeve's perspective.

QHow many books are in the Myth Adventures series?

There are 20 main novels and one short story collection (Myth-Told Tales) in the primary sequence, running from 1978 to 2016.