I was lucky to find this series recommended on a website and to decide to give it a try. To tell you the truth, I was expecting some light reading and not much else, but instead I found a nice story with a considerable amount of really fine humor. I have been a fan of Terry Pratchett and his Discworld series for quite some time, and I think that Asprin's work can be best described as a simplified version of the one by Pratchett. I have always characterized Pratchett's satire as a tongue-in-cheek kind of humor, and I found Asprin to be more straightforward in his approach. Both authors use pun consistently and proficiently in their work, but I would have to say that Asprin goes a little farther in this sense. For these reasons, I think that Asprin is a better choice for young adults than Pratchett. Adults will certainly have fun with both.
The story starts when Skeeve's mentor and instructor, Garkin the magician, is murdered. The last thing the magician did was summon Aahz, a large green demon, in an effort to demonstrate his powers to his apprentice. In the process Aahz has lost his powers, so now he has to use his knowledge to develop Skeeve's abilities in order to survive the attacks that are sure to come. In a world filled with creatures from different dimensions, including imps, deveels, and dragons, the two unlikely travel companions will face a tough challenge.
The story is entertaining and the generously interspersed humor really makes this a quick and enjoyable read. From young adult readers and up, everyone should be able to have a fun time with this book. If this is a reflection of how good the series is, I am in for a treat. This was definitely a great find!