Robert Asprin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Lynn Asprin
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Asprin in 1993
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| Born | June 28, 1946 St. Johns, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | May 22, 2008 (aged 61) New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Pen name | Bob Asprin |
| Occupation | Fiction writer |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | University of Michigan |
| Period | 1977–2008 |
| Genre | Science fiction, fantasy |
| Notable awards | Inkpot Award (1988) |
Robert Lynn Asprin (born June 28, 1946 – died May 22, 2008) was an American writer. He wrote exciting science fiction and fantasy stories. He was also a big fan of these types of stories. Robert Asprin is most famous for his funny book series, MythAdventures and Phule's Company.
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Robert Asprin's Life
Robert Asprin was born in St. Johns, Michigan. He went to the University of Michigan for a short time. This was from 1964 to 1965. After that, he served in the United States Army from 1965 to 1966.
He was married twice and had two children. Robert was very involved in the world of science fiction fans. He also helped start a group called the Society for Creative Anachronism. He even had a fun nickname there: "Yang the Nauseating." He also helped create another group called the Great Dark Horde in 1971.
In 1976, he was nominated for a special award called the Hugo Award. This was for a cartoon slide show he wrote called The Capture. An artist named Phil Foglio drew the pictures for it.
How Robert Asprin Started Writing
Robert Asprin's first full-length book was The Cold Cash War. It came out in 1977. This book was based on an earlier, shorter story he had written.
Around this time, he also created a special series of books. They were called Thieves' World. He edited these books with his wife at the time, Lynn Abbey. These books were unique because many different authors wrote stories that all took place in the same fictional world. This was one of the first projects of its kind!
Many authors who wrote for Thieves' World later wrote their own books. These books were set in the same world. For example, Janet Morris wrote Beyond Sanctuary in 1985. Later, graphic novels (like comic books) were also made based on Thieves' World.
Popular Book Series
In 1978, Robert Asprin started his very popular "MythAdventures" series. The first book was called Another Fine Myth. These books are very funny. They tell the adventures of a magician named Skeeve and his "demon" friend, Aahz. Aahz has lost his magic powers.
Skeeve is a new magician, still learning. They travel to many different worlds. The books are full of clever wordplay and jokes. Famous artists like Frank Kelly Freas and Phil Foglio drew pictures for these books. Some "Myth" books were even turned into comic books!
In the 1990s, Asprin started another funny science fiction series. These were the "Phule" novels. They were about a group of unusual "Space Legion" soldiers. Their rich and quirky leader was named Willard Phule.
Challenges and Later Works
Robert Asprin faced some personal challenges in the 1990s. Because of this, he didn't publish many books during that time. However, two of his books made it onto The New York Times Best Seller list. This showed how popular his stories were.
He eventually started writing again in the early 2000s. He often worked with other writers. These included Peter Heck, Jody Lynn Nye, and Linda Evans. Together, they wrote more "Myth Adventures" and "Phule's Company" books. They also started new series.
One of Robert Asprin's last projects was a book called NO Quarter. He wrote it with Eric Del Carlo. It's a dark fantasy and mystery story. It takes place in his favorite part of New Orleans, the French Quarter. The book has some magic elements, but it's mainly about a mystery.
His friend and co-author, Jody Lynn Nye, finished another book in his "Dragons" series. It's called Dragons Deal. She also continued the "Myth Adventures" series.
Robert Asprin's Passing
Robert Asprin passed away on May 22, 2008. He died from heart failure at his home in New Orleans. He was found with a Terry Pratchett novel open in his hands. He was supposed to be a special guest at a convention called Marcon that very weekend.
In 2008, his family gave his collection of writings and papers to Northern Illinois University. This means his work will be kept safe for future generations to study.
