Myth Conceptions by Robert Asprin
Skeeve is an apprentice Wizard who tried to get a job as a court magician. He and his demon mentor (who is posing as his apprentice) are able to convince them to hire him. Then they realize the kingdom wants the wizard to help defeat some enemies. He eventually meets the enemy army and finds the only reason they are fighting is due to debts they have. Instead of fighting, Skeeve helps make them disappear, making everyone happy without a fight. The plot is simple, but the way they go about it is what brings the fun.
Myth-Chief is a fantasy, detective, comedy work that is deep in a series of books. Perhaps if I started earlier in the series I might have found this more intriguing. Instead I had trouble following what was going on and why I should care about it. Some detectives were having a contest to solve a case and be leaders. They did stuff but cared too much about themselves, so another person became the leader. They seemed to have solved the case and have some funny things happen on the way.
In the final Phule's Company book, many of the characters and themes developed all come together. Phule's butler's girlfriend ends up getting stationed with the company and they run off on a short vacation. This causes all sorts of consternation, not the least of which is a "shut down" switch in Phule if there are issues with the computer. They try to trace the butler and go off on a mission to find him. However, right after they leave, the general announces a visit. They get the robot Phule to involve him with golf. However, he gets hit in the head and becomes a strict drill sergeant. The real Phule eventually spoils a rival's casino operation and is rescued through the help of some family members on "old earth" Italy. There are plenty of other humorous bits on the way. Eventually, everything ends up back to normal.
In the latest episode of the Phule "sitcom", papa Phule visits Junior's casino. Alas, he is off serving a mission on another planet. This doesn't stop dad from trying to prove that casinos are a bad investment by playing the slots. They decide to hook up a "major jackpot" to entice him. Alas, things manage to go wrong. Back on the Zenobian planet, Phule's company is visited by trophy hunters and an environmental group. The group includes a genetically modified dog that can talk in a beyond-human register. (A new rabbit-like recruit has no problem talking to him.) Eventually, everything falls apart, then comes to a satisfying conclusion.
The fourth Phule's Company books continues with many of the same sitcom-esque humorous episodes. The General keeps trying to get Phule's Company to fail. The company has been asked to be military advisors to the Zenobians. This time he sends a major out to whip them into shape. However, he ends up going crazy and leaving. There is a robot Phule who is kidnapped from a casino, but ends up on the base. There are a group of people who join an "Elvis church" and alter their appearance to look like Elvis. Even robot-proof camouflage plays a role. In the end Phule makes peace between the Zenobians and a mysterious other species and the general falls flat on his face, all while many funny things happen in the interim.
In A Phule and His Money, Phule's company continues to work on the casino. They face many forces trying to break them down. They also get new recruits. Then they are given a new assignment to help help keep peace is in a civil conflict. This just happened to be the place where Phule caused problems early in his career. The planet was a former mining colony that now is known for roller costers. With Phule's help, they develop two great roller coaster parks and resolve the conflict. It is interesting how the "space future" was viewed in 1999. Simple things that we take for granted (like cell phones) would have made significant changes in how events would have unfolded.
The second Phule's company book has the motley crew being sent on a "punishment" mission to try to protect a casino. The owner is a young heir who is in over his head. He inadvertently leans on the very people that are trying to take over his operation to help him out. Phule hires some actors to help supplant his band, while sending others undercover as hotel employee. A crime boss, Maxine, owns all the other casinos and nearly has control of the this one before Phule outfoxes her. However, she is sneaky as him and sets things up for a longer term battle. It is yet another funny episode in this "sitcom in a book".
Phule's Company is a band of misfit space legion recruits led by an ultra-wealthy heir to a Phule company munitions fortune. (Though Phule claims to have earned his money himself.) The legion does not know what to do with him. Rather than kick him our, the send him to be in charge of a remote outpost where nobody wants to be. There he manages to build up the esteem of his group and transform them into a viable fighting force. He always seems to know how to use bureaucracy and rules to his advantage. (Though padding things with some money doesn't hurt.) The rise is not perfect, but they are eventually able to use cunning to tie an elite army group in a contest of abilities. At the end, there is an alien visitation on the outpost. They manage to diffuse the conflict, and Phule gets rich through some business negotiations with them. It all seems very similar to a typical rags to riches sitcom.