The Prince Has No Pants

Ben's Damn Adventure, Book 1

By: Matthew Howry

Narrated by: Johnathan McClain

Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's Summary

All life on Earth has been stolen away by The System.

It was transported to another world at the behest of a distant galactic empire that lives in terror of humanity's potential.

Ben - just a normal, if not slightly above average guy -  had been about to go on the first real vacation of his adult life. But plans changed. Now, he must contend with danger and mystery in a world full of monsters, magic, and treasure. Armed with nothing but his wits and a special item given to him by The System, he embarks on a damn good adventure.

Written by Matthew Howry, better known to Royal Road fans as Salty Waters.

©2020 Matthew Howry (P)2021 Podium Audio

Ignore any reviews below 3 stars... and probably the 5 star ones too.

This is a solid 4 star book. It actually made me laugh out loud a couple of times and was generally amusing though not unerringly so. I couldn’t quite tell if this was the author’s fault or because the narrator hammed it up a bit too much at times... which he did.

On the whole the narration was competent and even well-suited for the author’s “voice,” but there were also many times where I wondered if the narrator’s interpretation might be more bombastic than what was on the page.

This book is well-written and very entertaining. It’s got definite Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy undertones and comedic sensibilities. The LitRPG system is not completely fleshed out but I believe some people will find this preferably to the super crunchy and sometimes intrusive styles where literally everything is constantly being quantified.

In the end, I give this audiobook high marks for creativity, decent marks for humor and pacing, middling to good marks for the narration, and high marks again for writing mechanics and editing.

So, let's try for honesty, shall we?

How to say this? Before the mid point of the book I had laughed harder than I EVER expected, and cried a little bit as well, from a random pick of a book I though might kill a day or two of boredom. Of course the crying could be because I might be a huge softy, the results come in next week.

The reason it is a 3 star? I was trying do draw they eyes of the critic. The eye of the pessimist that I sometimes like to think myself as when I look at reviews. If this is you, get this book...please. It is so good.

Narrator is top notch, story a little funky but SUPER different from a lot of things in recent years.

You can ignore those bad reviews, I wish I did

(The Post had Paragraphs but Audible... so Sorry for the block of text) So I hesitated to buy this book because of some of the bad reviews but I eventually got it anyway (since I have read like every other book in this genre and I have literally ran out of books to listen to), And I was pleasantly surprised and have lost some faith in the bad reviewers who have actually been on point about most books here.

The book is well done, I have only one thing to say that isn't good yet it is not a bad thing, it just is, and even though I didn't at the time of listening care for it it was necessary for the better parts of the book and I am glad that the author did so. So In parts let me tell you about the book.

The Part that I was unsure of is the start. The prologues (yes more there are two and not just one) are long and dense. Normally, I like when a book that shows through the experience of the MC to build the world and this was absolutely not that, but it turned out to be what was needed for the story.

That being said, while not AS dense as the prologues, the rest of this book is certainly dense. It is not a breezy read, you can't really listen to this and do something else and be able to keep up. You need to pay attention and it is worth it. I realized that this book was written like a novel and not a standard Lit-RPG even though its length is not that of a novel. From there it was clear sailing and a book I couldn't put down.

There were a few times where I think the voice actor, who did an amazing job, may have over done some of the part where the MC is delusional from dehydration or where the MC's mind is literally being messed with by the system, and may come across as a bit to stupid or trying too hard to be silly. I can see how some may get annoyed by it as over the top, I still think it was really well done, and after you get past the first part of those sections where you don't understand why the MC has temporarily turned into an overplayed idiot, the author quickly stops that over the top antics and explains it into the story properly and you think back and go "OOOO Now I get it!". I actually liked the fact that the MC did the things based on what was wrong and you find out AFTER what is wrong with the MC instead of it being explained in advanced and then you see the MC act out what you know was coming. In Hindsight I think the execution was well done.

Lastly, I find myself annoyed a bit that this book is only 9+ hours, I would have really liked to hear the next two hours of what happens, not that the book ends on a cliff hanger but man I really, really! want to know what is next! So if you like fun witty books, that doesn't need plot armor or Deus ex Machina to justify what is going on, then this is one of those books. If you cannot handle the wit and logic that this book provides, then this book is going to be over the top for you, go back to comics as they have less words, O! and pictures! and stop leaving bad reviews of good books.

Not worth your time

The narrator is fantastic, and the opening section in the preview was intriguing, but that's where all the positives end. The main character has no personality, no drive, and nothing to make us care about him.

There's some decent world building ideas, but none of them ever get used in an interesting way, and it just becomes a generic litrpg with more than a couple references to how generic the genre is. Calling yourself out for bad writing doesn't make the bad writing any better.

This is absolutely worth skipping.

Love this book!

This book is hilarious. A funny book that explores what would actually happen if humans were dropped into an RPG like world. Let the nope sense rule!
The first couple chapters (the prologues) set up the universe and then after that it is full sails ahead as Ben goes on one heck of an adventure.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an entertaining escape. Short Bus is my bestie and Frankie is my spirit animal! (listen to the book, you'll understand)

Only a pre review

I had to stop and write this out before continuing because that was the funniest and most entertaining prologue I have ever heard. It had me trying to control my laughter while driving down the road.
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Always yes LMFAO


Went from 4 star to 3 star, it only took half of the entire book to finally get to anything and after that there is a lot of boring ranting. It's starting to pick up but I feel like it'll slow down again soon, we'll see.

Entertaining AF

super funny with some heart felt moments. just relax turn off your brain and enjoy the ride! I love Johnathan mcclain super funny voices and characters. I love it!

Enjoyable, Entertaining, Relatable and Interesting

This is a great story showing that no matter what happens in our lives, we are all more capable to overcome adversity than we could possibly imagine. Very entertaining story and narration, I would recommend this book as I found it to be very enjoyable. At the end of the book there is a preview of the second book in this series, I am definitely going to purchase the second book.
ROCK ON BEN!!!

Thoroughly enjoyed this book!

I recently found the RPG genre and I have to say, I was very entertained by this audio book.
After the first couple of chapters of world building the pace picked up and the adventure began.
I'm looking forward to the next adventures of Ben.
Give it a try!

a really great book!

I really love this book. I rarely give a 5 star rating, that's what bots do, and I am no bot! buuuut, I'm going to make an exception with this one. just once mind you...I'd hate for others to get their hopes up. READ IT, you will not be disappointed. well, that is all for now...of you go!
- The System

Duhh dun, duhh dun

Jonathan Mcclain is a great LitRPG narrator. He reads the similarly ridiculous and funny Noobtown series, and he is perfect for this kind of LitRPG, that is a bit more absurd while at the same time doing a great job of expressing the realistic trauma you'd get by being dropped into an action rpg world.

The story itself is a lot of fun and fairly easy-going. The main focus is the world building and characters and really, it's just a damned great adventure.

Also to the person who gave it a bad review because they didn't expect a LitRPG to have LitRPG elements: I hope a Gray gets you.

Oh yes and then oh no

This book was hilarious in the beginning. I laughed so hard I cried. And then there was an emotional bit that actually made me cry for sadness reasons. Oh yes! I thought. This book is amazing. It’s super funny and the narrator is brilliant with his timing and apt voice acting skills. But then disappointment when the story abruptly turned into a gamer tale. For me, someone who despises video games, this was an abhorrence of literary failure. It’s like watching my boyfriend play video games day and night while ignoring me completely until the day I say no more, head out the door, and never return. But for someone who likes gamer stories, well I think they’d enjoy this audiobook with a character who basically goes around a minecraft/sims blank screen and builds everything one tiny bit at a time. So boring. Too bad. I’m sad now.

Effin hilarious

A very promising start to a, hopefully, great series. Absolutely thumbs up. Wish it was longer.

Amazing performance by Johnathan McClain

This was like a book of 2 halves. When Ben is communicating with other characters it is really interesting and at times absolutely hilarious. But sometimes, it can get a little bit 'get on with it'. That said, the good certainly outweighs the bad, and there is one definite reason for recommending this book and that is the powerhouse performance by Johnathan McClain. I fully intend researching any books that he has narrated and providing the subject matter is at least slightly interesting, I am going to purchase it. I have heard some really good narrators, but this guy is on another level here, an absolute masterclass performance. Looking forward to listening to book 2 as soon as I have listened to the 3 books I have already downloaded.

This book is gooood

I didnt think a lit rpg would ever make me cry. But here we are. This book is super funny at times. And thats why the heartfelt moments hit like a fucking truck.

I don't write reviews.

BUT! This was friggin' marvelous! I'm laughing, I'm crying, sometimes both! Specatacular writing topped off with fenomenal voice acting! I'm unable to put into words how good this book is. Just.. Just listen to it. It's amazing.

A book for the modern man

This book operates on the basis of:”what if humans were space orcs” but with a generous sprinkling of humor and references.

Definitely worth the credit!

Really enjoyed this book, definitely absurd but not in a "I'm trying to be weird and going overboard kinda way" and really funny as well, There's some pretty sad and heartfelt moments that fit in well with the story without seeming shoved in. Its diffrent than other "Sent to another world" books which have become mega popular which is a breath of fresh air. I really liked how the voice actor put alot of effort into each charcter and the preformance and it really brought it all to life. Already pre ordered the second book, Would definitely recommend for a Good time!

Great fun and original

Great fun and original, nice take on the litRPG genre. give it a whirl and you won't be disappointed

The beginning of an epic journey

This is a gem of a book. Relaxed tempo without ever being boring or droning. Original in many ways while still keeping true to the GameLit genre. I especially like how the author stays in the moment yet still manages to convey a large meta plot of epic proportions.

Strongly recommended!