Robert Asprin
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Robert Lynn Asprin (June 28, 1946 – May 22, 2008) was an American science fiction and fantasy author and active fan, known best for his humorous series '' MythAdventures'' and '' Phule's Company''.


Background

Robert Asprin was born in St. Johns, Michigan, and attended the
University of Michigan The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...
at
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from 1964 through 1965. From 1965 through 1966 he served in the
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. He was married, twice, and had two children. He was active in
science fiction fandom Science fiction fandom or SF fandom is a community or fandom of people interested in science fiction in contact with one another based upon that interest. SF fandom has a life of its own, but not much in the way of formal organization (although ...
and in the early years of the
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using the name "Yang the Nauseating", and co-initiated the society Great Dark Horde during 1971. He was also the initiator and an influential member of the
Dorsai Irregulars The ''Childe Cycle'' is an unfinished series of science fiction novels by American writer Gordon R. Dickson. The name Childe Cycle is an allusion to "Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came", a poem by Robert Browning, which provided inspiration for ...
. In 1976, he was nominated for the
Hugo Award The Hugo Award is an annual literary award for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year, given at the World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon) and chosen by its members. The award is administered by th ...
for Best Dramatic Presentation for '' The Capture'', a
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slide show A slide show, or slideshow, is a presentation of a series of still images ( slides) on a projection screen or electronic display device, typically in a prearranged sequence. The changes may be automatic and at regular intervals or they may b ...
written by Asprin and drawn by
Phil Foglio Philip Peter Foglio (born May 1, 1956) is an American cartoonist and comic book artist known for his humorous science fiction and fantasy art. Early life and career Foglio was born on May 1, 1956, in Mount Vernon, New York, and moved with his fa ...
.


Early writing

Asprin's first novel, '' The Cold Cash War'', an expansion of an earlier short story of the same title, was published in 1977. During the next few years, he created and edited (with his then-wife, Lynn Abbey) the '' Thieves' World'' series of shared world anthologies, credited as the first project of its type. Many of the included authors later produced novels and stories of the theme which were not included in the anthologies, beginning with ''Beyond Sanctuary'' by Janet Morris, the first "authorized" Thieves World novel, published in 1985. Janet Morris and Chris Morris later produced two more authorized Thieves' World novels and a series of related novels about their character Tempus and the Sacred Band of Stepsons. A series of
graphic novel A graphic novel is a self-contained, book-length form of sequential art. The term ''graphic novel'' is often applied broadly, including fiction, non-fiction, and Anthology, anthologized work, though this practice is highly contested by comics sc ...
s followed during the mid-1980s, and several other authors, including Andrew J. Offutt and
David Drake David A. Drake (September 24, 1945 – December 10, 2023) was an American author of science fiction and fantasy literature. A Vietnam War veteran, he worked as a lawyer before becoming a writer in the military science fiction genre. Biography ...
, published novels about their characters. In 2002, Lynn Abbey revived the series with the novel ''Sanctuary''. During 1978, Asprin began the " MythAdventures" series, chronicling the comic adventures of Skeeve and Aahz, with the book '' Another Fine Myth''. Illustrated originally by Frank Kelly Freas, and later by
Phil Foglio Philip Peter Foglio (born May 1, 1956) is an American cartoonist and comic book artist known for his humorous science fiction and fantasy art. Early life and career Foglio was born on May 1, 1956, in Mount Vernon, New York, and moved with his fa ...
, the
pun A pun, also known as a paronomasia in the context of linguistics, is a form of word play that exploits multiple meanings of a term, or of similar-sounding words, for an intended humorous or rhetorical effect. These ambiguities can arise from t ...
-rich books concern a "demon" magician who has lost his powers and his inexperienced human apprentice as they travel through a variety of worlds. Some of the early "Myth" novels were adapted later as comic books by Foglio and others. The Myth books have been published by three publishing companies over the years: Donning Starblaze, Meisha Merlin and, as of 2008,
Wildside Press Wildside Press is an independent publishing company in Cabin John, Maryland. It was founded in 1989 by John Betancourt and Kim Betancourt. While the press was originally conceived as a publisher of speculative fiction in both trade and limite ...
. During the 1990s, Asprin's "Phule" novels concerned the humorous science-fiction exploits of a rag-tag "Space Legion" and its wealthy and iconoclastic commander, Willard Phule.


Hiatus in writing career

Due to a series of personal and financial problems, Asprin published little during the 1990s, although he had two books on ''The New York Times'' Best Seller list, which piqued the interest of fans and the
Internal Revenue Service The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the revenue service for the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government, which is responsible for collecting Taxation in the United States, U.S. federal taxes and administerin ...
. He eventually negotiated an agreement with the IRS that encouraged him to resume writing, and during the early 2000s he published several novels, mostly in collaboration with authors Peter Heck, Jody Lynn Nye, and
Linda Evans Linda Evans (born Linda Evenstad; November 18, 1942) is a retired American actress known primarily for her roles on television. In the 1960s, she played Audra Barkley, the daughter of Victoria Barkley (played by Barbara Stanwyck), in the Wes ...
. These novels included continuations of the series "Myth Adventures" and "Phule's Company" as well as works of new series.


Later work

One of Asprin's last projects was ''NO Quarter'', originally co-authored with Eric Del Carlo, and later edited by Teresa Patterson. It is a dark fantasy/suspense/murder mystery novel set in the author's beloved New Orleans French Quarter. Although the novel's fantasy elements (voodoo and black magic, tarot readings and precognition, ghosts and mysticism) are secondary to the brutal murder that is the emphasis of the plot, it is set in the same milieu as Asprin's Griffen McCandles novels (''Dragons'' series), ''Dragons Luck'' and ''Dragons Wild''. The two protagonists of ''NO Quarter'', Maestro and Bone, also appear as minor characters of the ''Dragons'' novels. Maestro, the mysterious professional pool player and fencing master in ''NO Quarter'', is fictionalized but based recognizably on the author. ''NO Quarter'' was published November 2009 by DarkStar Books. Asprin's ofttimes co-author, Jody Lynn Nye, has completed one further Griffen McCandles novel, ''Dragons Deal'', and continued the ''Myth Adventures'' series. ''Dragons Deal'' was published by Ace in December 2010.


Death and aftermath

Asprin died on May 22, 2008, of heart failure at his home in New Orleans. He was found lying on a sofa with a
Terry Pratchett Sir Terence David John Pratchett (28 April 1948 – 12 March 2015) was an English author, humorist, and Satire, satirist, best known for the ''Discworld'' series of 41 comic fantasy novels published between 1983 and 2015, and for the Apocalyp ...
novel still open in his hands. He was to have been the Guest of Honor at Marcon that weekend. During 2008, his heirs donated his archive to the department of Rare Books and Special Collections at
Northern Illinois University Northern Illinois University (NIU) is a public research university in DeKalb, Illinois, United States. It was founded as "Northern Illinois State Normal School" in 1895 by Illinois Governor John P. Altgeld, initially to provide the state with c ...
., Northern Illinois University (via web.archive.org)


Partial bibliography


Myth Adventures series

* '' Another Fine Myth'' (1978) * '' Myth Conceptions'' (1980) * '' Myth Directions'' (1982) * ''Hit or Myth'' (1983) * ''Myth-ing Persons'' (1984) * ''Little Myth Marker'' (1985) * ''M.Y.T.H. Inc. Link'' (1986) * ''Myth-Nomers and Im-Pervections'' (1987) * ''M.Y.T.H. Inc. in Action'' (1990) * ''Sweet Myth-tery of Life'' (1993) * ''Myth-Ion Improbable'' (2001) set chronologically between ''Myth Directions'' and ''Hit or Myth'' * ''Something M.Y.T.H. Inc.'' (2002) * ''Myth-Told Tales'' (2003) with Jody Lynn Nye. The book is a collection of short stories including both new and previously written works. * ''Myth Alliances'' (2003) with Jody Lynn Nye * ''Myth-taken Identity'' (2004) with Jody Lynn Nye * ''Class Dis-Mythed'' (2005) with Jody Lynn Nye * ''Myth-Gotten Gains'' (2006) with Jody Lynn Nye * ''Myth-Chief'' (2008) with Jody Lynn Nye * ''Myth-Fortunes'' (2008) with Jody Lynn Nye * ''Myth-Interpretations'' (2011) short fiction collection - contains all the Myth stories of less-than-novel length, as well as other short works by Asprin * ''Myth-Fits'' (stylised as ''Robert Asprin's Myth-Fits'') (2016) by Jody Lynn Nye


Omnibus editions

* ''MYTH Adventures'' (1984) * ''Myth Adventures One (Another Fine Myth, Myth Conceptions)'' (1985) * ''Myth Alliances (Myth-ing Persons, Little Myth Marker, M.Y.T.H. Inc. Link)'' (1986) * ''The MYTH-ing Omnibus (Another Fine Myth, Myth Conceptions, Myth Directions)'' (1992) * ''The Second MYTH-ing Omnibus'' (1992) * ''M.Y.T.H. Inc. in Action / Sweet Myth-Tery of Life'' (2002) * ''M.Y.T.H. Inc. Link / Myth-Nomers and Im-Pervections'' (2002) * ''Myth Adventures Three'' (2002) * ''Myth-ing Persons / Little Myth Marker'' (2002) * ''Robert Asprin's Myth Adventures Volume One'' (Books 1–6) (July 2006) * ''Robert Asprin's Myth Adventures Volume Two'' (Books 7–12) (January 2007)


Duncan and Mallory series

A series of three graphic novels published by Starblaze Graphics. * ''Duncan and Mallory'' (1986) with Mel White * ''The Bar None Ranch'' (1987) with Mel White * ''The Raiders'' (1988) with Mel White


Phule's Company series

* '' Phule's Company'' (1990) * '' Phule's Paradise'' (1992) * ''A Phule and His Money'' (1999) with Peter J. Heck * ''Phule Me Twice'' (2000) with Peter J. Heck * ''No Phule Like an Old Phule'' (2004) with Peter J. Heck * ''Phule's Errand'' (2006) with Peter J. Heck


Time Scout series

* ''Time Scout'' (1995) with
Linda Evans Linda Evans (born Linda Evenstad; November 18, 1942) is a retired American actress known primarily for her roles on television. In the 1960s, she played Audra Barkley, the daughter of Victoria Barkley (played by Barbara Stanwyck), in the Wes ...
* ''Wagers of Sin'' (1996) with Linda Evans * ''Ripping Time'' (2000) with Linda Evans * ''The House that Jack Built'' (2001) with Linda Evans


Cold Cash series

* '' The Cold Cash War'' (1977) * ''Cold Cash Warrior'' (1989) with Bill Fawcett


Wartorn series

* ''Resurrection'' (2004) with Eric Del Carlo * ''Obliteration'' (2006) with Eric Del Carlo


Griffen McCandles (Dragons) series

* ''Dragons Wild'' (April 2008), * ''Dragons Luck'' (April 2009), * ''Dragons Deal'' (December 2010) with Jody Lynn Nye, * ''Robert Asprin's Dragons Run'' (October 2013) sole author: Jody Lyn Nye,


Other novels

* ''Tambu'' (1979) * '' The Bug Wars'' (1979) * ''Mirror Friend, Mirror Foe'' (1979) with
George Takei George Takei ( ; born April20, 1937), born , is an American actor, author and activist known for his role as Hikaru Sulu, helmsman of the USS ''Enterprise'' in the ''Star Trek'' franchise. Takei was born to Japanese-American parents, with w ...
* ''Catwoman: Tiger Hunt'' (1992) with Lynn Abbey * ''For King and Country'' (July 2002) with
Linda Evans Linda Evans (born Linda Evenstad; November 18, 1942) is a retired American actress known primarily for her roles on television. In the 1960s, she played Audra Barkley, the daughter of Victoria Barkley (played by Barbara Stanwyck), in the Wes ...
, * ''E.Godz'' (March 2005) with Esther M Friesner, * ''NO Quarter'' (October 2009) with Eric Del Carlo and Teresa Patterson, * ''License Invoked'' (February 2001) with Jody Lynn Nye,


Selected short fiction

* "The Ex-Khan" in ''Angels in Hell'' (1987), part of the '' Heroes in Hell'' series * "Two Gentlemen of the Trade" in ''Festival Moon'' (1987), part of the '' Merovingen Nights'' series * "A Harmless Excursion" in ''Smugglers Gold'' (1988), also from ''Merovingen Nights'' * "Mything in Dreamland" with Jody Lynn Nye in ''Masters of Fantasy'' (2004), part of the ''Myth'' series


Editor


Thieves' World series

* '' Thieves' World'' (1979) * '' Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn'' (1980) * '' Shadows of Sanctuary'' (1981) * ''Storm Season'' (1982) * ''The Face of Chaos'' (1983) * ''Wings of Omen'' (1984) * ''The Dead of Winter'' (1985) * ''Soul of the City'' (1986) * ''Blood Ties'' (1986) * ''Aftermath'' (1987) * ''Uneasy Alliances'' (1988) * ''Stealers' Sky'' (1989)


Other writing

* '' The Capture'',
cartoon A cartoon is a type of visual art that is typically drawn, frequently Animation, animated, in an realism (arts), unrealistic or semi-realistic style. The specific meaning has evolved, but the modern usage usually refers to either: an image or s ...
slide show A slide show, or slideshow, is a presentation of a series of still images ( slides) on a projection screen or electronic display device, typically in a prearranged sequence. The changes may be automatic and at regular intervals or they may b ...
written by Asprin and illustrated by
Phil Foglio Philip Peter Foglio (born May 1, 1956) is an American cartoonist and comic book artist known for his humorous science fiction and fantasy art. Early life and career Foglio was born on May 1, 1956, in Mount Vernon, New York, and moved with his fa ...
; nominated for a 1976
Hugo Award The Hugo Award is an annual literary award for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year, given at the World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon) and chosen by its members. The award is administered by th ...


References


External links

*
Bibliography at Fantastic Fiction


obituary at Everything New Orleans * {{DEFAULTSORT:Asprin, Robert 1946 births 2008 deaths American fantasy writers 20th-century American novelists 20th-century American male writers 21st-century American novelists American science fiction writers Filkers Inkpot Award winners People from St. Johns, Michigan University of Michigan alumni Novelists from Michigan Society for Creative Anachronism United States Army soldiers American male novelists 20th-century American singers 21st-century American male writers