Product Description
Key to ChromaThe Second Novel in the Epic ChroMagic Fantasy SeriesSettled by a human expedition over 1,000 years ago, the planet Charm is both magical and dangerous. Volcanoes, scattered throughout the vast landscape, erupt with a fantastic array of colors creating Chroma zones and permeating everything and everyone with magic.The barbarian Havoc became king of this strange land and immediately found himself a target to unknown powerful assassins.Having finally secured a firm grip on governing the planet with the help of the God-like Glamors, Havoc and his companions must now set off in search of seven mysterious ikons to attempt to learn the secret of the Changelings . a secret that could answer all of Havoc's questions, or lead him to his doom. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Too Racey for Me
I love Piers Anthony's Books.Usually.But there's just too much sex in this series.This one, the First Book. isn't as bad as the others.It just gets worse and worse with each one.The Story Line ... what I was able to read ... was excellent.But I had to skip over so much of it because of the sex.

The Kindle Version was as good as the book would have been.

Charming Story Drowning in Smut
I am a long-time Anthony reader and I am certainly no prude but this series is uncomfortably graphic.The storyline sucks you in instantly but you have to wade through scene after scene of graphically detailed sex.There are numerous rape scenes and our heroine (Gale) decides at one point that it is best not to report a pedophile.

The storyline itself is nothing new.It is the classic fish out of water/man of the people rise to power story.You know the one, he is better suited for the job because he didn't want it and has no political ambition.The fish out of water portion is how uncivilized he is.Think Beverly Hillbillies but in this story Jed Clampett becomes president not a millionaire.

Even though the concept is not new it is still a very nice story just be prepared to skip about every 4th paragraph because it seems like that is how often the graphic sex scenes appear.

Another Stellar Piers Anthony Series
Key to Chroma is the second book in the Chromagic Series. This series was refused publication by many companies until Piers went to Mundania Press. Those previous publishes are fools indeed and i am sure they feel that way by this point. This is another killer series from Piers Anthony. If you love his Xanth series then you will also enjoy this series. Piers weaves an amazing story with some truly original concepts in the fields of magic. (Sorry no spoilers) Fans of his other series will notice some familiar concepts, sex being the most obvious of those. However in this series sex in not just a byplay in the novel but a fully integral part of it. This is another example of Piers amazingly complex mind with an incredible penchant for originality. The "No Fault" concept he introduces will shock and amuse many. By no means a cheap side series the story and plot-line are awesome. That this series was turned down is still a fact i have trouble believing. The sceneries and landscape painted in this novel are so varied and original that it could never be made into a movie. Only the imagination could ever give credit to this books descriptive magnitude. This book Key to Chroma is not just an interlude between the conclusion and the beginning of the story. Piers writes in enough background information that this could be a stand alone book without making readers of the series get a feeling of redundancy. Not the best series ever written and not the best Piers has ever written, but definitely a must read. I enjoyed it immensely.

Key to Chroma a great sequal to read!
Key to Chroma, is a fantastic follow-up for its sequel, Key to Havoc. Not only do we learn more about the changelings but also about the "all powerful" Glamours. This novel has more adventure, action and romance than the first one and as a bonus there is all this small short stories inside the main storyline that can stand all by itself. My favorite is in chapter 5, titled "Dancer." It is one of the sweetest story ever that Piers has written. It is really in the tradition of the Arabian Nights stories. Sex is still a made component of the series and this novel doesn't lack on steamy sex scenes but also have sex scenes that really make you realize the different between just having sex and making love, so it is really nice to find a balance between romance and sex in this novel.

Also, this sequel really expand in the nature of the Chroma magic and Glamour magic and the challenges and the conclusions are very satisfying to read.

I highly recommend this novel and I can't wait for the next one, Key to Destiny! It is so nice to read something totally new from Piers that is not Xanth. I love Xanth but I do miss his SF/Fantasy novels like the Incarnations series or the Apprentice Adept series. This novel follow the Piers' tradition of great storytelling. If you want an adult novel full of fun and action, buy Key to Chroma and read it, you will not regret it.

A new highlight in my library
I didn't know Piers Anthony was even writing this series of books but when I found the first book in the series and read it, I had to have the second.After having finished the second, I can't wait for the third.The characters develope before your eyes and you need to know what is going to happen next.It is one suprise after another to keep you guessing.If you love to read Piers Anthony books, this series is a must read. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Warning about HC and PB Editions
While I do not have both copies to compare, I seem to remember that the HC and PB editions are different. The HC edition was based on the proposed screen play before the movie was actually made. After it was published, the rights to the movie was sold to another studio which altered the script when it was filmed. The PB edition was then edited by Mr. Anthony to be in sync with the actual filmed version. Thus you get the original proposed script if/when you buy the HC edition and the filmed storyline when you buy the PB edition.

Don't ignore the book just because of the movie...
The book by Anthony Pier is different from the movie, the first half is relatively the same, but the second half seems almost like a different thing. The ending, although the outcome is the same, is executed differently. The ending is actually explained with some intelligence too, and entire sub-plots are in the book.

The short story by Philip K. Dick, "We'll remember it for you wholesale" was the inspiration for this book.

A good entertaining read, although it's hard to read the book without imagining Arnold Schwarzeneggar's blazing Austrian accent speaking the dialogue.

3 1/2 mars...er....stars.

Or you could just read the original...
...short story by Phillip K. Dick, "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale", which is vastly superior to the dreadful film, and possibly even more superior to this hack novelization -- which at least, thank God, doesn't have any half-naked centaur chicks in it...

A Valuable read whether you liked the movie or not.
This is an excellent book for those who saw themovie and thought "This idea had potential." ThePiers Anthony version of this story is superiorto both the movie and the screen play. This book givesinsight into the mind of a alien race and what it might expect from aspecies that considers itself mature enough for space travel. Mr. Anthonyputs a relatively new face on theoft used concept of colonialism extendedto interplanetary colonization. We see that the downtrodden are not alwaysforgotten.We are also given the opportunity to wrestle with the question,of what makes a person themselves; is it ones actions(past, present, orfuture) or is it ones thoughts and ideas (remembered and forgotten).Whilethe "Total Recall" storyis taken from a short story entitled,"We can remember it for you wholesale." Piers Anthony offers afresh look at the timeless concepts. ... Read more

Product Description
When a fleshless corpse is found on a Florida estate, a reclusive caretaker, an investigative reporter, a police officer, and a woman discover that a creature whose victims die in a frenzied state of sexual ecstasy is preying on human beings. Reprint. K. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (44)

a collection of short stories as told by 1 of the charaters in the book to the caretaker
I read most of the reviews here and the ones I read seems to be locked into the sex tales of the book. After reading the reviews I was expecting some sort of graphic sex descriptions between the man and children in the book but most of the sex talk is about PG to PG-13 level.

The book starts out with a good premise and goes downhill from there. A local gameskeeper finds a body that is only clothes, skin and bones. the owner of the property wants to hide the body to protect himself and the land. after that the story goes downhill by introducing 3 new charaters, 3 minor charaters and a bodycount of the 3 minor charaters that get "eaten" by a creature nicknames "firefly" due to the way it kills its victims.

The "firefly" is a minor charater that makes a appearance during the last 2 chapters in the book and whos origins sounds strange but plausible and is NOT a alien lifeform as spectulated by some reviews. Its a lifeform that evolved from the deep sea depths to the rivers that feed the oceans to finally a land dwelling creature over a period of time not mention in the story.

I would recommend avoiding this book IF you are looking for a good horror novel. it is about as scary as 'the ruins' and not as long but still boring.

I fell asleep several times while reading this book and started to wonder if the auther was getting paid the same amount of money as stephen king does for the about of details and words in the book. the pace is slow but a half pace faster the a average stephen king book but still boring in the pace.

If you know someone you dislike then this book would make a great gift for that person, otherwise avoid this book like you would the book "the ruins"

NOT your normal Piers Anthony book!READ THIS!
Firefly is a wonderful book.But beware! If you are expecting a Xanth type of light fantasy book, THIS IS NOT IT!This book is very sexually explicit, and is about an alien creature living in a swamp that causes people to allow it to eat them through emitting pheromones and causing them to become to erotically entrenched in their own fantasy, that they allow this creature to suck them right up.Many people who have read this book have decided that they aren't fans of Piers Anthony any longer.That is stupid, and anyone who bothered to read the inside of the book cover would know that is is not the "normal" piers anthony book.This is not the light childhood spirit caught in an adults body and mind book that Piers normally writes.Many people who have read this book completely misinterpret half of what they have read, so if you are not willing to be open minded, don't bother with this book.If you are under 18, don't bother with this book.If you are over 18, and looking for a completely different adventure than you have ever taken... then this is the book for you!

Seriously?That's all you took away from it?
Okay, not my favorite of his writings. Having said that, I am astonished by the number of people who apparently got NOTHING out of this book except for one bleeped up scene halfway through the book. Granted, its been awhile since I read it, but as I recall there was quite a bit more to it. 1) the point of the scene that EVERYONE seems to remember was to question who was really the bad guy in the "Nymph" scene? It NEVER says Mad was a good guy, only that the whole situation was seriously messed up. Everyone reviewing this ALSO seemed to have missed the context of the scene which is that "Nymph" having now grown up, is trying to explain her psychological issues to the man she loves in the only way she knows how. Her entire life has been constructed by sex: her mothers hatred of it, her father and brother's molestation and her neighbor's molestation (which she saw as the only love she had ever known). The only way she knows how to explain herself is through sex and stories, and it is in trying to tell her lover what has happened to her that this story is told. To boil it down to only being a twisted story taken out of context it VERY wrong. 2) the rest of the book is along similar lines.Even the "monster" in the book is there to make you ask questions. Who is in the wrong here? The monster or the whole situation?Who is the true monster?Can you fault a creature for wanting to live just because its creepy looking?What is it that makes humans automatically worth more than the "monster?"The whole point of the book (it seemed to me) was to suggest the people are really not all that nice, good and can pretty well suck. It also questions out automatic assumption of superiority as a species.True, it is a VERY uncomfortable look at a lot of things we would much rather not see in ourselves.I cannot say I wasn't disturbed by a LOT of the book. But since that seemed to me to be the point, I would say he did a very nice job.

Really disturbing
I picked this book up at Target when it first came out however many years ago having enjoyed some of Anthony's other titles as a teen. Wow this toxic piece of drivel
fuzed into my brain, searing the unwholesome grotesque images straight into my memory most robustly! I think I understand the sick magnetism sexual compulsives must feel when such material is hardwired into them. Just a jolt of this was enough to make me tear the thing up and throw it in the garbage. Is society tolerating this as some kind of Art?

Fantastic
This is a fantastic novel. And Piers Anthony took quite a leap to simply write about the issues within. Sure he may have glorified a bit of good ole pedophilia, but he took the issue and turned it into something personable. The people who find this novel filth are simply ignorant to the subject matter at hand. This is, by far, one of my favorite reads and I feel that anyone with an open mind needs to read it. It is fantastic on all formats of review. ... Read more

Product Description
For a bored, young princess of Xanth, there's nothing more exciting than a Quest. Especially when all you do is sit around Castle Roogna. But when Ivy uses the Heaven Cent, it takes her not to the top of Mount Rushmost, where the winged monsters gather, not to the sea where the merfolk swim--but to Mundania, a world much like out own (that is, boring). It is here that she meets a young college student so dull that he doesn't even believe in magic, or princesses, or Xanth!

Does he have a lot to learn.

The thrilling climax to the trilogy started in Vale of the Vole and continued in Heaven Cent.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

Wrapping up some loose ends
Man from Mundania closes off several circles and plot lines that have been thrilling the fans of the Xanth series for almost three books now. It is the concluding volume of a trilogy about the growth of the next generation of Xanthian royalty - Princess Ivy and Prince Dolph. Ivy is now at the age where she should be thinking about getting married and preparing to become the King of Xanth - however there is no one suitable in Xanth. Also, Magician Humfrey is still missing along with his entire family. So, Ivy decides to try to find him once more using the Heaven Cent which has now been fully recharged by Electra.

This act launches Ivy on quite an adventure. As it happens, the Heaven Cent sends you to the place where you are needed most. In this case, Ivy gets sent to ... Drear Mundania!!! Not only that, but she meets up with Grey Murphy who is a failing freshman student at a university with no aptitude for anything - he is just a normal, boring, person. However, Grey does have a strong streak of ethics, so once he understands that Ivy wants to go back home, he agrees to help her. He does not believe all her talk of magic and the land of Xanth and is secretly pitying her thinking that she is unhinged. Nonetheless, off they go.

The story meanders and loops around and in due course, the pair are back in Xanth; visit the gourd; and manage to fall in love. Ultimately, they even discover that Grey has a magical talent which is of Magician strength and they even convince both sets of parents to agree to the marriage; and finally, they even find Magician Humfrey! There is a diabolical com-pewter that makes life very "interesting" and we meet many of our favorite Xanth characters. Oh, and there are puns galore just like in any other Xanth book.

Overall, the humor is there, the puns are there, and the characters that make this series so much fun are there. Yet, I rank this book as only a four star. Why?

Well, that is because of a couple of factors: One is the convoluted nature of the arrangements that the author puts in place. Humfrey is found, yet he is not ready to come back so that Grey can remain in Xanth. Now, since Humfrey was actually kidnapped and captured, one would have supposed that once found he would want to get back at his capturers? Secondly, it was just too pat to have Grey be of Magician strength and his parents be key elements of the story from many generations before. The timelines are now so scrambled as to be unbelievable. Also, it is not clear to me why Electra ages so rapidly in Mundania but regains her youth in Xanth while Grey's parents are not similarly affected? Finally, I really did not like the sequence where some of the characters discover the titles of the next few books in the series - that should have been let alone.

So, if you are a fan of Xanth, this book is a must to complete your collection. It does seem rushed and the plots kind of poof together to make an ending and everyone is running aournd helter skelter, but it is full of puns and the kind of good natured fun that we all enjoy in Xanth.

Grey Murphy rocks!
When I was a kid I loved reading Piers Anthony's Xanth novels. I was a young tyke when I read his initial Xanth entry, A SPELL FOR CHAMELEON, when it was first published. I then read the next eleven installments as they came out, culminating with MAN FROM MUNDANIA. These twelve Xanth novels are the best this series has to offer, and I firmly believe the books that followed them lack a little something. Offhand, I say, part of the reason the earlier books are better is because they seemed to be a bit more serious minded, even with all the puns, whereas the later books just seemed to wallow in ever sillier and unfunny puns. Whatever, maybe I'm old-schooled. I prefer the classic Xanth books. I just re-read the first three books and MAN FROM MUNDANIA a few days ago and I must say that they again instilled in me the same kind of enchantment I felt when I read them all those years ago. In contrasting these excellent entries with the later, more drab Xanth offerings, well, it's really not even a contest.

My favorite Xanth books are A SPELL FOR CHAMELEON, THE SOURCE OF MAGIC, CREWEL LYE, and MAN FROM MUNDANIA. I like MAN FROM MUNDANIA mostly because, for the first time, Piers chose to have a character from our side of the fence (Earth, or Mundania - as Xanth folks call it) become the main protagonist. (SPOILERS begin) Grey Murphy is a normal 18 year old guy drudging thru city college and toiling thru a tepid course in Freshman English. Grey is as average as you can get. His driver's license indicates his hair as "hair-colored" and his eyes as "neutral." The weirdness begins for him when his computer seems to gain sentience and begins to affect Grey's personal life. It offers to set him up with odd young women with dubious names such as Agenda, Euphoria, and Salmonella. The computer eventually arranges a meeting between Grey and a girl named Ivy. Grey is intrigued with Ivy, who is pretty, quaint, and charming, despite her assertions that she hails from a fantasyland called Xanth and is a princess. According to her, Ivy had used the Heaven Cent, a fantastic penny device which sends the user to where he or she is needed the most. But now, Ivy wants to go home and Grey agrees to help her.

This begins Grey Murphy's magical adventures in Xanth. Grey, as skeptical and logical-minded as they come, takes a long while to believe in Xanth's magical reality as he insists on finding logical, scientific explanations for every wondrous sight he beholds, much to Ivy's frustration. The story goes on to chronicle Grey's eventual belief in magic and Grey's coming into his own, as he strives to defeat the nefarious Com-Pewter and woo the Princess Ivy, despite the disapproval of her regal parents (you see, only someone on a Magician level can marry Xanth royalty and Grey, of course, doesn't have any magic talent).

Although this is a fine stand-alone novel in its own right, Piers Anthony, as usual, throws in waves of characters from his prior Xanth novels (Stanley Steamer, Grundy Golem and Rapunzel, King Dor and Queen Irene, etc). It also somewhat continues the story of Prince Dolph and his two fiancees, Nada and Electra (which finally gets resolved in the next book ISLE OF VIEW).A sequence I enjoyed was Grey and Ivy's trip to Mount Parnassus and the Muse of History, wherein we get to sneak a peek at future Xanth book titles. MAN FROM MUNDANIA is loosely considered to be the third in a trilogy, the previous two being VALE OF THE VOLE and HEAVEN CENT. Again, the ridiculous fantasy elements and groan-inducing puns (several contributed by fans) abound and benefit the tale. The storyline seems to offer a more mature content, delving more into the Adult Conspiracy, no doubt brought about by Grey's earthbound sensibilities. The Magician of Information is still missing (this plotline has gone on for several books now), but there is somewhat of a resolution offered here. I particularly admire the neat way Grey's dilemma is resolved (involving a reluctant promise he had made to the evil Com-Pewter).

Years ago, after MAN FROM MUNDANIA, I continued to read the following Xanth installments, but found that these had lost the luster. After YON ILL WIND, I finally gave up. But I very strongly recommend MAN FROM MUNDANIA and the eleven Xanth books before it. After that, you're on your own.

Xanth's last hurrah
I have to hand one thing to Piers Anthony:He managed to take a single plot element, the disappearance of Good Magician Humphrey, and make it last for five novels, barely advancing the search for the Good Magician in each book.

After her brother Dolph looked for the Good Magician Humphrey in the previous book and came back with two fiancees, Princess Ivy decides its her turn to go look for the Answer-providing Magician.After stealing back a magical mirror from a magical Com-Pewter, she invokes the Heaven Cent and ....

Enter Grey Murphy, stage left.Residing in magicless Mundania, he has managed to obtain a computer program that procures girlfriends for him.And its latest procurement?No prize if you guess Ivy.Following the by-now standard Xanth formula, they undertake a journey (back to Xanth) and fall in love along the way.

But it's a good journey.Piers Anthony made two very, very good decisions with this novel.First, he abandoned the juvenile tone that infested earlier and later entries in the Xanth series.Second, after umpty-ump Xanth novels made tangle trees, ladies-slipper bushes, and other magical marvels seem mundane, Anthony chose to approach much of novel through an outsider -- Grey Murphy.

Even as he confronts wonder after wonder, Grey Murphy refuses to believe in magic.A sailing mountain?Special effects.Invisible giant spouting a river of blood?Food coloring.A half-human, half-equine centaur?A robot.A hate spring?Ordinary water, backed by a strong superstition that it will make people hate each other.

Despite his disbelief in magic, Grey Murphy is nonetheless the typical Anthony protagonist, with a code of ethics that uniformly matches every other protagonist we've seen out there.Not that I mind ethical characters, mind you; it just gets tiresome when, after a dozen books, all the good guys display identical codes of ethics.Kind of ruins diversity of characters.

The plot continues, with Grey having to meet a certain challenge to successfully assert a claim to Ivy's hand in marriage, journey all over Mount Parnassus, and overcome a rather nasty oath that's been forced on him ... but things might just turn out well for this happy couple, right?Right??

If you would like to inflict the remainder of this series on yourself, this book is a very good jumping-on point.Grey Murphy's unfamiliarity with the land of magic makes him a good proxy for an unfamiliar reader, but the book's other flaws (uniform characters, linear plotting) keep it from a perfect rating.

A highlight of Xanth
"Man from Mundania" is number 12 in Piers Anthony's ever-growing Xanth series, which makes it the third volume of what I think of as the 'next generation' of Xanth novels (the first um, 'trilogy' ended with number 9, "Golem in the Gears").In a way, it also marks one of the last of the old style Xanth books: although the series continues to be entertaining and amusing, I am less often enraptured by the characters of recent times.Perhaps I'm just getting old.Regardless, "Man from Mundania" remains one of my favourite Xanth novels that I have returned to many times to read and savour.

Our heroine for this episode is Princess Ivy, now eighteen and of marriageable age.Being a Sorceress, she must marry a man of similar calibre magic, which presents a slightly awkward situation, since no suitable candidates currently exist in Xanth.Ivy isn't too worried, though- she's in no hurry to get married.Instead, she decides to set off on a Quest: to find the missing Good Magician Humfrey, who has mysteriously disappeared (since volume 10, "Vale of the Vole").Her quest sends her to that most terrible of blah and boring places, Mundania.Here she meets Grey Murphy, a seemingly ordinary mundane Mundane with hair-coloured hair, eye-coloured eyes and no apparent distinguishing features at all.Grey teaches Ivy about Mundania, while she attempts to convince him about the existence of Xanth, finally taking him back home with her.Along the way, of course (this being a Xanth novel, after all!) they fall in love.And this presents yet another problem, since Ivy must marry a Magician, and Grey is a Mundane who has no magic talent at all- or does he?

Ivy and Grey's adventures in the lands of Mundania and Xanth are inventive and entertaining, filled with the sunny good humour of the Xanth series.Characters with a satisfying amount of depth and a well-constructed plot add to the mix to make this one of the best novels in the Xanth series.

8.5 stars out of 10

Escape from the mundane
Anthony's description of Grey at the beginning is a perfect physical/emotional representation of what many people view the world we live in as.He's not handsome, intelligent or witty, and his driver's license lists his eyes as "neutral" and his hair color as "hair-colored".Perfect. I know people like this.I was chuckling through the whole book, not so much at its absurdity (which is in abundance), but at its truth.Who wouldn't want to step away from our workaday world into a magical land with a beautiful and (admittedly) oddball woman who thinks you're everything you know you're not?I enjoyed all the books in this series up to this point (although I gave up after Question Quest.There is too much of a good thing.), but this one I keep coming back to when I want some fun, irreverent fun.Definately worth your time to kick back and relax with this book. ... Read more

Product Description
A towering testament of ambition and desire, hope and despair, Piers Anthony's epic Geodyssey saga is nothing less than the story of humanity itself. As seen through the eyes of a handful of courageous, passionate men and women reborn again and again in some of the most turbulent ages of history. Muse of Art is the newest chapter in this astonishing chronicle, probingthe heart of our deepest fears and highest aspirations, illuminating the spark that makes us what we are.

It is the arts that truly define humanity and set us apart from all other species on earth. In a rousing, passionate story that ranges from the mists of prehistory to a terrifyingly plausible near future, Muse of Art explores the special talents that have inspired and motivated us since the earliest days of our existence: curiosity and creativity, seduction and survival, destruction and healing.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Piers never stooped so low...
Bought this book used and it was still overpriced. The time I spent reading it was priceless compared to the completely inane "blathering". As others have said, the sex isn't even sexy. At least the wife-swapping showed some unusual relationship-type intereaction. What a boring, bizarre story. Somebody spank Piers and put him back in the land of Xanth!

Not the best, but it'll do.
I loved the other 3 Geodyssey books.They're among my favourite novels and I keep trying to get others to read them.I waited a year and a half for Muse of Art to come to paperback so that I could finally read it.Well, I must say I was a little disappointed!The history was good just like in the other 3, but it read like bad erotica.Piers himself stated somewhere that the Geodyssey series wasn't selling the way he had hoped, I think he's now stooping too low on purpose to try to make it sell.

We can only hope that Climate of Change (the fifth and final) has the quality of the first three.

A Disappointment
I have been a fan of Piers Anthony for many years: I have most of his novels, and have always enjoyed them . . . until now.I liked the other 3 Geodyssey books, but the quality of writing in this 4th book is surprisingly bad.The dialog and actions & attitudes of his characters is so contrived that it is hard to believe that Piers Anthony wrote this book.

I am rather liberal-minded when it comes to sex & erotica, but the sex in this book is surprising graphic, and lacks good taste.

The history is interesting, but Anthony has shot down his own dream of having these Geodyssey books in the classroom.

Still Geodyssey - fascinating , but a little different
No matter what the other reviewers say, Geodyssey was still a good read, like all of Piers Anthony's books have been. There are, admittedly, some sections which could have been toned down or shortened, take your pick. I speak specifically of the 40,000 word long story of Melee and Dillon which seems to be a tale told of a romance based on urination and sex and control. There was a brief mention of cannibalism seemingly from the view of "waste not, want not." As I said at the beginning, it is still a good read - the historical settings are fascinating, and while some of the stories are conjectural, Mr. Anthony readily admits to this. It is a good read some will have trouble with and some will not, like any other book. if you have read Piers Anthony before, especially previous Geodyssey installations, read this.

I'm Sorry I Bought It
This book was one of a number that I took along on a month long vacation that included plenty of time for reading... and I was NOT able to finish it.While I found much in it that was offensive (and I am generally open-minded), that wasn't what kept me from finishing it.Two-thirds of the way into the book, it still wasn't interesting.I'm surprised I kept with it as long as I did. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

the first few chapters are completely focused on rape....
ok so we all know that he's a dirty old man, but seriously? the first chapter is completely about rape as are the next ones. for the love of jesus christ monkeyballs....
i don't even need to say more ... Read more

Product Description

In Pursuit of the Ultimate Good

After an overwhelming succession of tragedies, life has finally, mercifully ended for Orlene, once-mortal daughter of Gaea.

Joined in Afterlife by Jolie -- her protector and the sometime consort of Satan himself -- together they seek out a third: Vita, a very contemporary mortal with troubles, attractions, and an unsettling moral code uniquely her own.

An extraordinary triumvirate, they embark on a great quest to reawaken the Incarnation of Good in a world where evil reigns -- facing challenges that will test the very fiber of their beings with trials as numerous, as mysterious, and as devastating as the Incarnations themselves.

Customer Reviews (55)

Failed Potential and Offensive Flaws
There were a few things to love about this book:the concept behind it, its thought-provoking nature at times, and several great scenes. The problem is that there were too many bad things - offensively bad things - to count. I say this as a lifelong Piers Anthony fan.I read with enthusiasm all the biographical Author's Notes from this series, and I remember him fondly as the famous author who responded to a letter from my sister in the mid-80s with a thoughtful critique of the short story she wrote and sent her personal advice on how to make it as a writer. The lost potential made me even angrier at the end of the book than I would have been if it had no redeeming qualities.

This book hints at a strange obsession with underage girls. There's something wrong when you write up the character of a middle-aged man who "falls in love" and repeatedly has sex with a 15-year old girl and have every other character try to justify this by saying "age is just a construct," and "they're really in love."

In Lolita, the story was at least presented without glorifying pedophilia - instead, it seemed designed to make you feel uncomfortable by following the point of view of a flawed villainous figure and showing the damage that resulted from the violation of trust when a grown man pursued a sexual relationship with a young girl. Here, it is clear from the outset that the design is to try and convince you that there is nothing wrong with it.

He doesn't even try a "she may be 15, but she's much older in maturity" angle. The "good" main character says that he fantasizes about young girls, and what he likes about her is her immaturity. Anthony even takes pains to repeatedly highlight just how young the girl is. She starts about half her sentences with "Gee!", including sexual quotes that appear out of nowhere for absolutely no reason, like "Gee, I wish I could be having sex with [my 50-year-old boyfriend] right now!" The older man refers to her with pet names like "my juvenile delight."

Dialogue that was so over the top that it was funny (With lines along the lines of, "I must admit, although this tryst we have just completed has me spent, I will do my utmost to recuperate with haste in order to achieve a reiteration"), an awkward Evolution vs. Creationism debate (in which the 15-year-old runaway drug addict prostitute somehow knows enough about science to be the champion of Evolution), and repeated pointless sex scenes round out why this book could have been very good, but instead was a big disappointment.

Hmm
This book isn't the best of the series. While all the other Incarnations books were brilliant (my personal favorites were Time, Fate, and especially Evil), this book falls flat of its predecessors. Orlene is supposed to be the main character, but Jolie, Satan's mistress, plays a bigger role. This book did not feel very well-thought out, with Nox wanting Gaw-Two (and what she did to Orlene in the beginning). This in itself doesn't make sense (especially when Piers Anthony said he was done with the series, only to write a book about Nox over a decade later) If Jolie and Gaw-Two were cut from the plot and Orlene played a more integral role, this book would be more coherent.

Vita wasn't a terrible character, but it would have been better if Orlene was the only one with Vita, because jolie played too much of a role, eclipsing Orlene in significance.

Like the other books, this has a lot of philosophy and religious discussion, but unlike the other books, the characters aren't as much enjoyable. And when Orlene finally assumes the Office, what of the former Incarnation? He didn't give up his office willingly, so there's no mention of what became of him.

If you read the next book, Under a Velvet Cloak, the thing with Nox and Gaw-Two make more sense, but that doesn't mean that it made sense overall. THAT book was really shoddy and lackluster, and this book could have been handled more tightly. Overall, this book deserves some stars for Orlene's interactions with the other Incarnations and the discussions that come forth, but really, it's the other Incarnations that redeem this book, not Jolie or Orlene. 3.5/5 stars for a entertaining but ultimately disappointing read.

Stale popcorn
General series popcorn reading -- usually light stuff, not much strain
on the brain, as some small band wanders between supernatural A to B to
so forth for about 300 pages with each dialogue or event dragged out
for several pages.

Eh, some people obviously like it.His publisher obviously waves money
and when he's got no other idea he can still make a mint and make many
fans happy just to crank out another one.But for me only the first ones
in each of his series (Spell For Chamelon or On A Pale Horse) are a new
idea decently done.By the time he gets to volume 7 it's just mechanical
and making the Star Trek log 99 look good.

Bottom line, the dialogs are dragged out, the melodrama is hyped, the heroine is said (over and over) to have suffered and worked so hard
she deserves miracles for having done about 4 days elapsed in talking to folks and occasionally having sex ... umm, if it didn't keep reminding
reminding me she was suffering I'd have thought only I was.

Will give it 2 stars, because I did get through it and he does have
workmanlike pacing and consistent logic.Then dumping it in the bin.

The Incarnations of Immortality series
To sum up the entire Incarnations series: good premise; poor delivery.

The basic concept is great; have normal mortal people become temporary immortals in order to fulfill the job duties of each "office" (death, time, fate, war, nature, good, evil). The offices are unknown to ordinary people; they don't even know they exist. Piers Anthony does an excellent job of establishing the mechanics of how such a bureaucracy operates, and how the different offices interact with and affect one another. Each book has its share of wit and humor, and is interesting and thought provoking in its own unique way.

These are the strengths of the Incarnations books; now for the one weakness. Every book in this series suffers from what I call the "Piers Anthony Puppeteer Effect" - an anomaly where all the main characters are basically Piers Anthony himself disguised by a background story. I must admit I have not read any other books by Piers Anthony, so maybe this is true for all his books, and maybe some people like this type of characterization. I just found it hard to believe that characters of such widely varying ages, sexes, cultures, countries, ethnic backgrounds, time periods (modern to medieval), etc, all have the same thought processes, outlooks, speech patterns, etc. In other words, the characters behave too much alike to be believable.

For example, in this book (And Eternity), we are introduced to a teenaged girl named Vita. She is a drug addict and prostitute in a desperate situation, yet she thinks and acts in a far too sophisticated manner. As the story unfolds, Vita "shares" her body with two ghosts: Orlene, a modern-day mature woman; and Jolie, a medieval peasant from France. Because all three share basically the same perspective, there is really no way to distinguish between them, other than by remembering that Vita is sort of a nymphomaniac, Orlene is on a quest after killing herself, and Jolie is the "responsible one."

Basically, you can substitute any mortal officeholder for another in any of the books and the story wouldn't change significantly, because all the characters are just puppets through which Piers Anthony speaks. And all of them use the word "balk." Couldn't ONE, just ONE character in any of the books use the word stop?... prevent?... block?... ANYTHING else besides balk? As I read through the series it got to the point where I would groan out loud every time any character used the word balk. It became very distracting, and actually led to my discovery of the "puppeteer effect." Maybe a drinking game for every time the word balk is used?

So, overall, I give the series 3 stars - the average of 5 stars for concept, 1 for the one-dimensional characters.

This book has it all!
Subtle racism, a completely predictable "twist" ending, and a supposed reconciliation between evolution and creationism that somehow manages to be equally ignorant of, and insulting to, both sides.While it does finally wrap up the plot line established in the other books, it does so with Anthony's typically terrible writing and a plot that is as convoluted and yet as boring as it could possibly be.Someone should write a Cliff Notes version of this book to spare the other poor suckers out there the necessity of having to read through it to obtain some closure. ... Read more

Product Description
Wandering tribes of primitive humans meet and fight and love and die. When one tribe meets another, individuals fight inside a Battle Circle. The loser must become a member of the victorious tribe. Each warrior is named by his weapon. When Sol the Sword is bested by Sol of All Weapons, he loses his tribe, his name, and his weapon. Re-named Sos the Rope, he joins with Sol of All Weapons to try to create something greater than a world of Battle Circles. An early classic from Piers Anthony, creator of the legendary Xanth series, Sos the Rope was nominated for the prestigious Hugo Award. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Societal bondage
SOS the Rope does make an interesting pair with Steppe. However, rather than a barbarian travelling into the future, this time we have a barbarian living in the future.

A post-apocalyptic future that has nomadic warrior tribes or loners, as well as more advanced technological groups that keep them fed and housed, in an interesting symbiosis.

Two men meet and challenge in the Battle Circle - one a fine warrior, but the other a master, as the former learns. The stakes escalate because they are both intrigued by the same woman, and the predictable happens. Both having the same three letter name Sol, the vanquished has to change his to Sos, and doesn't get to become married, either.

The winner has a plan, build an empire, and realising that Sos is an educated planner, wants him as his adviser, despite having wagered the right never to use any of the six major weapons again. So you can tell from the title what happens there. Not to mention the almost hilariously slashy cover.

This scenario progresses as their differences and the chance meeting at the same time with the one woman they both live affecting all things further in the novel, and discoveries of the other parts of society.

Again, better than I thought it would be. It is also illustrated.


3.5 out of 5
... Read more

Product Description
Macroscope Throughout history, man has been searching for better ways to gather information about his universe. But although they may have longed for it, not even the most brilliant minds could conceive of a device as infinitely powerful or as immeasurably precise as the macroscope, until the twenty-first century. By analyzing information carried on macrons, this unbelievable tool brought the whole universe of wonders to man's doorstep.The macroscope was seen by many as the salvation of the human race. But in the hands of the wrong man, the macroscope could be immensely destructive-infinitely more dangerous than the nuclear bomb. By searching to know too much, man could destroy the very essence of his mind. This is the powerful story of man's struggle with technology, and also the story of his human struggle with himself.This novel takes us across the breathtaking ranges of space as well as through the most touching places in the human heart. It is a story of coming of age, of sacrifice, and of love. It is the story of man's desperate search for a compromise between his mind and his heart, between knowledge and humanity. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (37)

Long and disjointed, but very creative
I liked it, but I had a LOT of problems with it.

First, the Kindle edition is AWFUL.So bad that I want my money back. Unbelievably messed up.

Second, this story is twice as long as it should have been. I skipped VOLUMINOUS sections that did not add to the story and only detracted from the main plotline.

I am all for multilayered stories, providing rich context and engaging me on multiple levels.This was not that.This was an author taking seriously wrong turns in the middle of a really good story, and getting lost for chapters.

All that negativity aside, this is a seriously creative story.I am glad I read it, I just will not be reading it again.

I recommend it if you're a sci-fi fan, just be prepared to skip the dead parts.

I don't want to spoil the 5 stars party but....
...but if I don't, others may be lured into thinking Macroscope is one of the best SF novels of the 20th century which it clearly isn't. What it is? Well, imagine a YES song, one of those gargantuan pieces they were doing in 1970, with 4 to 5 choruses, and 7 to 8 bridges, along with two dozens random fa la la las. Now, try to imagine this song made mostly of mediocre or just bad melodies. So, there you have it. Yes, this writer experiments a lot, but:

A secret project that produces geniuses is laughable.
A science/astrology handshake is pathetic.
Constant reminding of one of the character's stunning beauty is irritating.

And so on.

There are some interesting parts in the novel, i.e. a scene where alien-induced dreams take a protagonist to an Earth's distant past, or a funny and inventive way for interstellar travel. But again, it's like that YES song having gone NO with a nice little melody here and there and not much elsewhere. So, this is 2 stars and if you want to read great 1970 SF, there is always The Left Hand Of Darkness.

Son enjoyed it much as me
Bought in mid 70's .Re-read a few times over the yrs.Son read my orig copy 2 yrs ago, enjoyed it as much as me.

A spy scope takes a ride to the ends of Universe
The fabric that is used to weave all philosophical, psychological, racial and even poetical dream elements together are handled with a steady hand up to the end. The writing style is thoughful and delicate. It is hard to believe that the book was written 1969 and not feel outdated in any important areas.

The are some shortcomings if one of these are not your cup of tea: too near future to predict macroscope pre-2000 A.D., remarks to racial issues that are product of the 60's, use of classic American literature - characters and poems - don't transform to a European readers, extensive use of Astrology. A flashback to Thermopylaian/Assyrian history felt like wrenching focus to a irrelevant time travel, but afterwards it made sense. In spite of all these grumpies, Piers Anthony manages to keep the story in his hand and has your complete attention; no matter what your preferences of typical science fiction are. These distractions do not diminish the voyage where the writer pushes the reader: to our inner selves, to our cultural heritage, to our very existencialism and to ask questions how big the galaxy really is?

The book contains some hard science fiction in league and grandeur of Alistair Reynold's 'Revelation Space': using deep space travel with gravitational compression to punch holes in the time and mass space to jump 10 000's of thousands of light years and some very unique traveling means that are quite "shocking" (won't reveal the fun). All these are cleverly used to convey the story subtly forward. Like a gentle breeze that blows to sails until the boat starts to reach true momentum to plough the waves. There are characters that are appetizingly complex and buried under Jungian personalities. There is a person who's IQ is 300+ (not really measurable), who got so bored or ordinary life that transcended to lower libido and fabricated a new personality to function as his substitute. We find love that causes something of an infliction to the projected individual who can't get past his/her guilt and prejudices they carry. And are given a galaxy where races have lived millions of years to reach for a Greekish intellectual civilization, close to a hubris.

Four (4) stars. Written in 1969, the mixture and proportions of the various elements -- poetry, references to 1800 era and literature, heavy use of astrology plus time travel in disguise of inner dreamscape -- make a boiling Bulgarian goulash soup, but not quite French cuisine. The ending is conveniently poetic; like the dusk that ends a day.

Macroscope as plot device - brilliant
Read this book, once you try and try and try again (took me 3 years to keep trying to get past first 30 pages and not be bored) you'll realize the idea of macroscope as a plot device to make your way through much like the scientists attempting to crack the machine.The prose in the beginning chapters is a brilliant induction into the philosophy behind the machine.I have read some of PA's other books and agree with other reviewers - they're like a completely different writer!This, however has remained one of my favorites from childhood 'til some 15 years later. ... Read more

Product Description
Shortly after the planet Charm was colonized 1,000 years ago, Earth finally suffered World War III. Almost everyone was destroyed and those remaining fell into a barbarian society when technology was lost. To prevent future wars, Earth's women took control and governed with a more sensible approach. Over the next thousand years, Earth rebuilt itself to an advanced technological power again and now needed more resources for its continued existence and growth. To fulfill their needs, Earth's lost colonies must be found and brought back under control. Now Earth has sent a ship with a planet-busting bomb to reclaim the colony Charm, and it appears that the only way Havoc and his planet can survive the invasion is if his children are sacrificed as hostages. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Bad formatting for the kindle
Good story, if you liked the other books in the series you will like this one as well.

On the kindle the formatting was horrible.Basically the paragraphs start in random places (often in the middle of a word).

I can't wait for more
This is the fourth installment in the Chroma Series, and doesn't disappoint. I can't wait for the next one ... Read more

Product Description

Xanth was the enchanted land where magic ruled--where every citizen had a special spell only he could cast. That is, except for Bink of North Village. He was sure he possessed no magic, and knew that if he didn't find some soon, he would be exiled. According to the Good Magician Humpfrey, the charts said that Bink was as powerful as the King or even the Evil Magician Trent. Unfortunately, no one could determine its form. Meanwhile, Bink was in despair. If he didn't find his magic soon, he would be forced to leave....

Customer Reviews (2)

Stories that fit together.
Piers Anthony's Xanth series has the humor of a loving father and a dirty old man. His characters are rich and grow and learn. The action is unpredictable and demonstrates someone who is gifted at story telling. A pleasure to read. I call it eye candy. It is age appropriate for young teens, although there are sexual references. Both stories fit together and could well have been one story in two parts .. which it is.

The Excelence of Xanth
This book has a lot of action and a little mystery.In the magical land of Xanth a boy (Bink) is born without a talent, and unless he finds out that he has one and how to work is soon he will be exiled to Mundania (a land with no magic).Mundania lies beyond the great shield, which separates both lands.
I would definitely recommend it for teenagers and young adults because of language, fight scenes, and a little adult content.I liked it because it was not extremely boring when it was at all.There are other magical elements such as giants, ogres, centaurs, blanket bushes (blanket bearing bush), bread trees (trees that grow bread as a fruit), healing moss, and carnivorous grass.At one point Bink the main character is taken into the spell of a carnivorous grass plant (which puts a person to sleep, grows into that person's flesh, and eats him or her alive) and nearly dies.Over all it is my favorite Xanth book that I have read so far. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (7)

Great book
This is a fun series and never fails to entertain.But if you want something serious you will be disapointed.Xanth is never serious, it is fun and entertaining - a moment away from mundane life.I go with the paperbacks for Xanth so I don't miss out on the wonderful cover illustrations, otherwise I would choose Kindle to save space.I have all the Xanth novels and they take up almost two whole shelves in my bookcase.

A Blooming Romance
Currant Events (2004) is the twenty-eighth Fantasy novel in the Xanth series, following Cube Route.Clio and her eight sisters are the Muses of Xanth.As the Muse of History, Clio writes the various volumes of the Xanth saga.

In this novel, Clio discovers that the 28th volume of the history of Xanth is unreadable.Moreover, she cannot quite remember what it is about.She decides to take the problem to the Good Magician Humfrey.

At the Good Magician's castle, Clio is treated as a querent!How could he treat a friend with such rudeness?Going along with his charade, Clio solves her three Challenges and enters the castle.When she explains her problem to Humfrey, he states that she needs a magic currant berry to solve her problem.

First, however, she must obtain five breeding pairs of each type of dragon on Dragon World and bring them to Xanth to replace the rapidly dying native dragons.She has a week to accomplish this first assignment.To guide her path, Humfrey places a magic compass/timer in her wrist to tell her which direction to travel and how long she has to complete each travel segment.

On Dragon World, Clio saves two tiny dragon lovers from being eaten and they vow to accompany her until this service is repaid.Since Drew and Drusie are telepathic and winged, they greatly help in the quest.Besides, they are small enough to fit into her pockets.

The dragon lovers introduce Clio to the leaders of each dragon type and translate their conversations.Of course, dragon assistance is not free;Clio has to win a visible riddling contest with each of the five leaders.Her stakes in each contest are her life and the lives of her friends, but she also has to remove one item of clothing selected by the dragons for each lost point.

Of course, Clio wins all five contests and arranges to take the selected couples back to Xanth.She goes on to other adventures, solving problems for other people and collecting items along the way to solve her own problem.She also collects fellow travelers, including Sherlock -- who has a reversing talent -- and Ciriana -- a young girl immune to the Adult Conspiracy -- and others who help in her travels.

This story is chock full on puns -- the acknowledgments list is about three pages long -- and ends with a twist.In other worlds, a typical Xanth novel, with promises of more to come.A great read for most (except for critics).

Highly recommended for Xanth fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of humor, atrocious puns and light romance.If you are not familiar with this series, please start with A Spell for Chameleon so that you don't miss any of the fun.

-Arthur W. Jordin

PA is going into the dirty old man phase
I have been reluctant to buy any of PA's books for awhile now since he seems to have been going more to the sex side of the stories than the original fun Xanth puns etc.
While the 'adult conspiracy' has been present from the beginning the innocence angle of the series is gone and the plot lines now seem geared more toward the full revelation of the 'adult conspiracy' than the quests and fun of the earlier works.I am saddened by PA's change in content and think that this will by my last contribution to his coffers.If I want sexual content this is not the venue I would be looking at!

Currant Events
I know I am in a minority but this has to be the most boring, and poorly written book I have read in a long.The description of people and places left me with very little to work with pictorally. I have been writing short stories for children for many years so I don't lack imagination.
I will try other of his books but if they are a bad as this one I will probably give up on his work as a source of entertainment.

Beat the winter doldrums
If the holiday season has you down and a good laugh, chuckle or chortle is all you need, then this is the one for you. You do have to like science fiction and fantasy and not be looking for a SAGA. This and all the others in the Xanth series are full of punish humor and silliness. There are underlying themes from the world of mundania, which are cloaked in Xanth's exagerated & colorful culture. These themes are a little like fractured fables and deal with moral dilemas. Piers Anthony has a way of addressing these issues in very subtle ways.
It is always fun to see old names and talents surface, advance just a little in character development, then await their next adventure. New faces are added, given a foundation and they too are held in waiting for their next assist in an adventure.As you may have noticed, I am a Xanth fan from waaaay back and have read all 28 in this series.
Although,I wasn't overly enthusiastic about the last 3 or 4 books, this 1st of a "trilogy" holds great promise or "pun-ishment" for dye hard fans. I am looking forward to the new episodes alluded to in this book.I wonder what the stork will bring for Sherlock and Clio? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Decent book, bad Kindled version
As a book, well worth it.If you liked Split Infinity, you'll like Blue Adept since it picks up exactly where Split Infinity left off.A bit of the standard Piers Anthony oh-here's-another-not-quite-relevant-to-the-plot-side-adventure dalliancing, but entertaining and full of great sci fi and fantasy constructs.

However, the Kindled version was CLEARLY transcribed via OCR (Optical Character Recognition) from a printed version and not reviewed by a human being for accuracy.There are between 1 and 5 mistranslated words PER PAGE.Blade instead of Black, "kid:" instead of kick, it goes on an on.It becomes distractingly annoying!

I have to recommend the printed version rather than Kindled, which I assume doesn't have these mistakes.

Not Free SF Reader
Not your average bear on the fantasy world either.


When in the fantasy world Stile discovers that he can do the magic thing, and holds the title of the novel, in fact. Opposite of Blue is Red, it seems, and he has an enemy, who he must defeat on Phaze and also in the Tourney via the Game back on Proton, to keep everything cool.

Introductory Course: How to Live in 2 Worlds, Simultaneously
Journey with Stile, in a world of High-Tech--Juxtaposed with a Realm of Fantasy and Magick. Experience a world in-which you are not allowed to wear clothing (unless absolutely necessary), if you are not among the Elite...and a piece of Lingerie is a treasure to be kept safe, like gold or diamonds in our own world. Our hero is a man of Sports and a contender not-only in games and Olympic feats, but of quests in magickal lands... trying to survive assassination on both planes of existence! Even crossing-over is a danger to his life. This is very adventurous reading, with Sci-Fi & Fantasy...Futuristic, High-Tech & Magickal, Low-Tech scenarios...combined in a flowing epic of self-discovery and Mastership. You may have noticed, that I did not review the first book of the series ("SPLIT INFINITY") and opted for "BLUE ADEPT," instead.... Well, the cover of this book attracted me to the series (Glad it hasn't changed :) --So, I went with my...instincts...on this issue.Anyway, all the books are great! Make sure you don't forget "JUXTAPOSITION," or you will be left hangin' until you receive the next purchase. I loved the series and I suggest searching for all of Piers Anthony's novels....This is a guy you can't go wrong with.So, there you have it--Introductory Course: How to Live in 2 Worlds, Simultaneously!

Another frustratingly typical Anthony sequel!
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Piers Anthony books are likecrack. They're everywhere, and once you start, you have to read them all.It's awful. Because everyone I know who's read them has read them all, andI suspect almost everyone who reads them reads them all, and yet at least athird of every one of them is exposition. You can skip whole chunks of anybook that's not the first in a series, and you will miss nothing. It's likeold newspaper serials, where "The Story So Far" would be twice aslong as the new installment. I've been here before. I know these people.Get on with it. And this is not complicated stuff to begin with. This isnot hard to pick up.

Piers Anthony is the Literature Adept!
Piers Anthony is a Literature Adept!It's true. The man is encredible! I read his auto-biography (Bio of an Ogre), and it's great! I can just picture him in his cabin in Florida, writing great works of literature. Thestory of Stile, the next Scott Sethgreen, is magically transported from theworld of Proton, to the world of Phase, is creative, and funny. There is novernacular english spoken in Phase, and Stile suddenly becomes "TheBlue Adept." His best freind is murdered by an unknown villain, who iscoming for Stile next. Together with The Lady Blue, his charge, Sheen, hislovely robot, and the help of a Unicorn or two, magic harmonica in hand,Stile is off to destroy the enemy. ... Read more

Product Description
Smash, himself, was part ogre. Although ogres were considered so stupid they coud hardly speak, and spent their time eating young girls, seven assorted females had suddenly turned to him for guidance and saftety? In Xanth, one visit to the Good Magician Humfrey worked wonders....
... Read more

Customer Reviews (34)

Great book
This is a great book! I have collected the entire Xanth series. This is a great story of adventure and true love.

Ogre, Ogre
I was very happy at the condition of the book and how quickly it arrived.

Attempted rape rears its head in the world of Xanth
Jewel's daughter comes into the sights of a demon intent on rape, while Jewel is completely oblivious. (Oh, those nice demons would never do that.) So, she escapes on a nightmare and is put into the charge of Smash the Ogre and along the way they pick up an entire group of damsels in distress.

This is a story whose subject matter is more for adults, yet writing style clearly intended for kids. That, plus a resurgance of the panty obsession and the girls obvious envy of Irene's bra size, is why the 1 star rating.

Enjoyable book, but not the best of the series
I've been reading through the Xanth books recently, newly experiencing this series. I enjoyed reading Ogre, Ogre, and it definitely had its highlights, but parts of the book felt like he was just stretching for material to fill pages. Overall, it is a warming tale of self-discovery, and a nice read to fill the story of those who reside in the lands of Xanth.

Oh Good, Oh Good
This is one of the first books I ever read, and I've been hooked me on the written word ever since.The fifth book in his very punny Xanth series, it's a great story of interspecies, and interheight, romance between a Nymph and an Ogre.I don't like writing spoilers, so I'll leave it at that, oh and that it's a good read for any age, but there are a lot of Adult Conspiracy parts of the book, so mainly for teens and up.Enjoy, enjoy! ... Read more

Product Description
Three times the thrills and nine times the nonsensein Piers Anthony's terrific twenty-seventh Xanth adventure! or nearly three decades, Piers Anthony's bestselling Xanth series has been delighting tens of thousands of fantasy fans around the world. Now, with Cube Route, the series' twenty-seventh adventure, Anthony has penned a tale that adds another dimension to this exciting saga. In the magical land of Xanth, wishes are far more than mere words. So when a Plain Jane called Cube whispers a wistful wish to be beautiful, she finds herself leading a company of colorful companions on a search for the mysterious Cube Route-a perilous path that leads to danger, adventure, and perhaps her heart's desire as well. This curious quest takes them all over Xanth, into the mythical realm of Phaze, and even to our own world, where Cube rescues a beautiful human woman from a very ugly situation, ending at last in a mysterious Counter-Xanth where things can be transformed into their opposites in the wink of an eye. A rollicking tale brimming with laughter, wonder, and enchantment, Cube Route is also a moving exploration of the beauty that dwells within all of us. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Cube Route
Love Piers Anthony Books, great fun to read when you don't want to read serious.

4+ stars.
Very enjoyable.Good characters.Great ideas and values.
One of his best efforts.

A Beauty Quest
Cube Route is the twenty-seventh novel in the Xanth series, following Up In a Heaval.In the previous volume, Umlaut completed his quest by delivering all the letters, so the Demoness Fornax lost Counter Xanth to the Demon Xanth and she has committed herself to an extended visit with the Demon Jupiter.Surprise convinced the Demons to allow Umlaut to continue his existence and even provided him with half her soul.The dragon girl Becka also convinced Brusque Brassie to visit with her for a while.

In this novel, Cue is a very plain girl, downright ugly in fact, who is called Cube because she is so square.Boys notice her face and figure, then glance aside.When she explains her desire to be beautiful to Demoness Metria, she is asked why she has not taken her Question to the Good Magician.Since she had not previously thought of doing so, Cube immediately sets off to the Good Magician's castle.

On the way, Cube meets Ryver Human and Karia Centaur.When the Good Magician declares that she must gather nine companions and follow the Cube Route to find a way to Counter Xanth, Cube decides to start recruiting with these two.Sofia Socksorter, the Magician's current designated wife, provides her with a magical pouch made from one of his old socks that can hold anything of any size in stasis.Cube is to use the pouch to contain her Companions whenever someone else might notice them, for the quest must not attact unfavorable attention.

When Metria shows up, Cube recruits her as the first Companion, then sends her to ask Karia to come to her.When they meet, Karia agrees to join the quest and they fly to Ryver's house.Although Ryver is disappointed that she is not yet beautiful, he finally agrees to join.They go next to Castle Roogna and recruit the Princesses Melody, Harmony and Rhythm.Then the Princesses conjure a magical thread that shows them the path that they must follow and they add Drek Dragon, the sidestepping Mundanes Cory and Tessa, and the dog Diamond to their band.

While they are searching for the Companions and even afterwards, strange things happen around them.Since the level of magic they are facing is extremely high, they conclude that the Demoness Fornax is interfering with the quest.When one of the interventions causes Cube to drop the pouch, with all her Companions within it, into a stream that soon carries it underground, Cube immediately finds a way to the castle of Nimby and Chlorine to ask for their help, which Nimby provides.

All throughout the quest, Cube is faced with situations and people for which she has to strain her abilities to handle properly.Although the route is extremely winding and indirect, the Companions believe that the path is preparing her for the final resolution of the quest.Cube is definitely having new experiences and learning new skills and insights.

This story has a running joke about fractional moments, the length of silences and other timespans.There are the usual puns and situational jokes aglore.Moreover, Cube gets the grand tour of Xanth and Ida's moons in addition to Mundania, Phaze and Counter Xanth.Of course, she completes her quest and becomes beautiful;however, the payoff is not quite what she expected.

Highly recommended for Anthony fans and for anyone else who enjoys comic fantasy with some basic humor and a humane message.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Xanth at its best
In the land of Xanth Cube feels depressed and unwanted because as she knows that once you peel away a dimension from her what you have left is a wholesome usable but ugly square.In spite the warning labels, Cube desperately asks the Good Magician Humphrey to help her attain her wish of being beautiful for she thinks that will bring her happiness and contentment.

As is Humphrey's typical response that means nothing yet everything to anyone else but himself including the requestor (aside: is Humphrey a reincarnation of Professor Irwin Corey?), he tells her to search for the CUBE ROUTE.There he insists she will find her heart's desire.Thus, Cube begins a journey in which she does not understand the instructions, the objective, or the time it will take to complete (aside two: sounds like American nation building missions).Soon with a retinue of characters that can only live in Xanth, Phaze or Mundania, she treks towards the realm of Counter-Xanth where anything can change so just don't blink or miss the transformation.

As is usual with the Xanth tales (this is number twenty-seven), Piers Anthony uses puns and multiple entendres to satirize human frailty within a strong epic fantasy adventure.The story line is the usual epic quest of an individual, who this time seeks beauty.Mr. Anthony does a delightful job with Cube and company as she learns what the true essence of beauty is.Though clearly for fans of the author (can't just say the series as the crew travel to Phaze), CUBE ROUTE is a refreshing witty morality tale that lovingly escorts the audience across the complex Anthony galaxy.

Harriet Klausner

Cube Route
The best book of the first Trilogy of Xanth.Not too many puns.Overall a good book. ... Read more

Product Description
An abominable army of automatons has plunged Xanth into dire peril in Pet Peeve, the twenty-ninth hilarious adventure in Piers Anthonys beloved fantasy series. All that stands between the enchanted land and destruction is a most unlikely hero, a forlorn, mild-mannered Goblin named Goody, whose courteous ways have earned him the scorn of his ill-tempered goblin fellows.Assigned by the Good Magician Humfrey to find an appropriate abode for the Pet Peevea foul-mouthed fowl who insults anyone it encountersGoody reluctantly sets out on his daunting quest. He is armed only with a bag of half-spent spells and guarded by a brawny woman warrior called Hannah Barbarian. When Goodys mission unknowingly triggers an invasion of Xanth by a horde of mechanical marauders from a faraway Robot World, he must enlist the aid of Xanths many denizensdragons, zombies, centaurs, demons, elves, and even goblins like himself. And in the heart of Goblin Mountain, Goody finds an unexpected allyGwenny Goblin, a beautiful, strong-willed goblin chief who can help him rally Xanth to repel the robot army, and perhaps mend his broken heart as well.Brimming with heart-stopping adventure and heart-warming delight, overflowing with wicked wit and wanton wordplay, Pet Peeve is Piers Anthony in rare form, an exceptional new chapter in the continuing chronicles of Xanth. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

A Good Goblin is Hard to Find
Pet Peeve (2005) is the twenty-ninth Fantasy novel in the Xanth series, following Currant Events.In the previous volume, Clio collected the currant berry and returned home.Drew and Drusie made a scene, frightening Clio into saying the necessary words.Sherlock reversed her curse and the couple adopted Ciriana as their own daughter.

In this novel, Goody Goblin is the only polite, good-natured Goblin male in Xanth.He receives the finger from a stranger and doesn't want to pass it on to anyone else.He decides to take the problem to the Good Magician.After solving the requisite challenges, Goody is admitted into the castle.

Humfrey solves his problem immediately and doesn't even require Service from him.Yet Goody feels that he owes something to the Good Magician for relieving him of this burden and insists on performing a service.As it happens, Humfrey does have a task for which Goody is well suited.

The pet peeve is a talking bird with a high Annoyance Quotient.The bird verbally harasses everybody with the voice of his companion.The peeve has been living in the Good Magician's castle since being rescued from Hell by the Gorgon.

Goody's task is to find a permanent home for the pet peeve.Since he is essentially pacifistic, Goody is provided with a bodyguard, Hannah Barbarian, who has a talent with deadly weapons.After an initial misunderstanding -- the peeve insults Hannah -- Goody and Hannah set out to find someone who wants to provide a home for an annoyed (and annoying) bird.

In this story, Goody and Hannah have many adventures, mostly triggered by the irritating comments of the pet peeve.They find helpful companions along the way and accidentally inflict Xanth with a horde of invasive robots.These mechanical creatures are programmed to reproduce to the limits of the available resources and may well drive out all living creatures.

Goody finds that he is recovering from his loss of his wife, Go-Go Goblin, who had died young from a curse.He gains interest in other women and finally meets someone who almost replaces Go-Go in his affections.She too is looking for a spouse and Goody has the required qualifications.

Highly recommended for Anthony fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of punny quests, deadly invaders and Goblin romance.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Good Book
This is yet another good book from Anthony. Although I was very confused by the book cover, sometimes I think they let the illustrator have a little too free reign.

Xanthtastic
I don't know if anyone else has noticed, but beyond the puns in the Xanth books lie really good stories.The puns are, of course, outrageous.You either love them or think they're hopelessly stupid.

If you think bad puns are just juvenile, don't even bother with this (or any) Xanth novel. If you love the puns, don't forget that there's a story too.

Goody Goblin is on a mission with his bodyguard Hannah Barbarian (see what I meant about the puns?) to find a home for the Pet Peeve.In Mundania, this would be considered an foul-mouthed parrot.The Peeve certainly lives up to it's name, insulting everyone in sight, and making it almost impossible to find a home for it.Along the way, Goody and Hannah get to understand and like each other.Of course, they both find love along the way too, not to mention saving Xanth in the process.

As another reviewer said, this novel isn't quite the innocent book like previous ones.Lots of groping and kissing.Nothing explicit, of course, but it's not handled as subtly as usual.It seemed more...grown up?I liked the change.

If you've never read a Xanth novel before, pick this one up.You'll either love it or think it's totally inane.It's one of those things in life that you have to at least try once.

well,he has definetly still got it
well,ive got to say,the newest xanth installment has it all.adventure,puns(of course),a lot of traveleing,and of course panties and kissing and the like.haha.but its real good.im not done,i lack about a 100 pages or so.i got it yesterday at the local library and am almost done.i of course will wait until its out in paperback before i buy it.i have 20 of the 29 xanth books as of now.and am looking forward to continuing the series and my collection.i strongly recommend it to any fantasy fan,light or serious.if your new to xanth you will still enjoy it id say.id also recommend reading the sword of shannara trilogy by terry brooks or tolkien of course,ra salvatore,i could go on.

Pet Peeve.... kinda torn on this one
I am kinda torn on what I think of Piers Anthony's newest Xanth book.

On the one hand I am pleased that this book has more of the spirit of the earlier books in the Xanth series.Maybe I am alone in my viewpoint, but I have felt that the last two or three books have seemed somewhat forced (sort of like Mr. Anthony is running out of ideas after so many Xanth books but is continuing to churn out a book a year).This one, I am happy to say, did not seem that way.The plot was great, the characters were funny and fresh, and the puns were.... the same as usual *grin*.

On the other hand, this book seems to have taking more of an "adult" feel to it.This seems to be becoming more and more prevelent in the later Xanth books (however the "Adult Conspiracy" has always been part of Xanth), and Pet Peeve pushes it a bit further than any of the earlier Xanth books have.I guess Mr. Anthony can do whatever he wishes to with his series, but it isn't the reason I have been a fan of the series since the tale of Bink in "A Spell for Chameleon".

I very much enjoyed the book (more so than the recient Xanth books, but not as much as the origional 10 or so) and read it almost straight through, but found myself skimming over the sections about all the kissing, feeling, etc.

Bottom line is I guess it is hard to argue with a book series that has seen 29 installments, with many of those being on Best Seller lists.If you are a fan of Xanth, you will most probably like Pet Peeve.If you are new to Xanth, Pet Peeve is a good one to start on (as you don't need much, if any, knowledge of earlier books in the series) but I would recomend reading the first three Xanth books before Pet Peeve (as I just think those three are hands down better). ... Read more

Product Description
The trio of scientists had been ordered to survey the planet's flora, fauna and mineral resources, and from the very beginning of their mission everything they observed led to one startling conclusion-the mysterious world was virtually identical with the Earth of the Paleocene period, 70,000,000 years ago at the very dawn of the age of mammals!Their names were Cal, Veg, and Aquilon, the most resourceful-and rebellious-of Earth's explorers, and with them came four alien companions, the mantas. Strange flying beings, half-animal, half-fungus, the mantas possessed the keenest senses of any creatures in the universe, a gift which immediately saved the mission from complete disaster.Detecting strong vibrations coming from a great distance, the mantas warned the humans, and Cal realized that it could mean only one thing: an earthquake-one large enough to produce a tidal wave that would totally inundate the small island where they had set up camp.Veg, the strongest member of the team, constructed a crude sailing raft, and the party put out to sea to escape the doomed island. It was the beginning of an incredible series of adventures which would lead them to discoveries as momentous as they were deadly. Sailing for weeks, the raft took them to a region vastly different from the island they had left behind. And when a brachiosaurus, supposedly extinct in the Paleocene period, nearly swamped the raft, they knew they had reached an area of priceless scientific value-an isolated enclave of the Cretaceous period where the full spectrum of the golden age of reptiles was present!But just as incredible as the dinosaurs was another creature they were soon to meet-Orn, a man-sized bird who belonged to the most advanced species ever to develop on this world. Unsurpassed racial memory enabled Orn's mind to reach millions of years into the past, and it was his presence that led the three humans and the mantas to open revolt.Determined to prevent man's destructive exploitation of this world, they must pit themselves not only against the creatures they wish to save from extinction, but also against the all-consuming greed of Earth's powerful authorities.As rich in scientific detail as it is in breathtaking excitement, Orn is a masterwork of the imagination and a tribute to the creative genius of Piers Anthony. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Even better than Omnivore
The mantas are back along with our old friends and new agents!Better than Omnivore but the star rating only goes to 5.

Science Fiction fans won't be disappointed
Reviewed by Joe Graham for Reader Views (10/06)

Piers Anthony is a name that is known to the fans of science fiction, and Anthony has chosen to reprint his "Of Man and Manta" series that was originally printed in the late sixties and early seventies."Orn" is Book Two in the series, but it certainly can stand alone and the reader can read and enjoy Book Two without reading Book One, but after being engaged by the characters in Book Two, they may find themselves compelled to read Book One and Book Three.

Three scientists, two men, Cal and Veg and one woman, Aquilon, have been sent to map the flora and fauna of an unknown planet. Along with them are several fungoid creatures called Mantas.When they arrive on the planet, they discover a world that is virtually identical to Earth, but the Earth of the Paleocene period which was the beginning of the advance of mammals and they begin to call the planet Paleo. At first, they believe they have experienced some kind of time travel, but they ultimately believe they are on a parallel planet that is an earlier stage of development.

The scientists find an enclave where some of dinosaurs have managed to survive and they also come in contact with a large wingless bird, Orn, which two of the humans develop a rapport with.The scientists quickly come in conflict with each other when they realize that their mission is to report back to Earth if the planet is habitable so the planet and its resources can be exploited by Earth. It was interesting to me that even though the book was initially written in 1968, it sounds like it could have been written today with the concerns we have today with what man is doing to our Planet Earth.

The woman Aquilon says "Colonization would destroy Paleo as it is, you know that. They'd decide the dinosaurs were a menace to tourists or navigation or something, and wipe them out."This sounds very similar to some of the debates going on in our society today as we try to protect some of our wild areas and species.

I enjoyed the book, the description of the animals and plants of the Paleocene era appealed to my biology teacher side teaching me things that I did not know, but the story of the struggle of the bird Orn to survive and breed and the struggle of the humans against the dinosaurs like T-Rex and then the struggle of Veg, Cal and Aquilion against the Earth government agents who want to exploit the planet made for a good read.The mantas were helpers for the three scientists and helped them in most of their struggles as sort of almost voiceless sidekicks.

Science fiction fans won't be disappointed by the book, but "Orn" should also appeal to those who don't like their science fiction too far out as the scientists grapple with what to do to save Paleo."Orn" was a very good read; it teaches, tells a good story and raises issues that you continue to ponder long after you have closed the book.

Survival of the Fittest
This is the middle book of the Viscous Circle of Man and Manta set. The first book in the set, Omnivore, introduces both the three main human characters, Cal, Veg, and Aquilon, and a set of rather unique beings, the mantas, who are intelligent, single footed, one-eyed, and members of the fungoid family. Reading the first book of this set prior to this one is not totally required, though it would help with the beginning of this book, which is a direct continuation from the end of Omnivore.

Cal, Veg, Aquilon, and four of the mantas are sent on a mission to a newly discovered world (via a transfer mechanism whose operation is not yet completely understood) to determine the world's suitability for human habitation. Cal quickly determines that this world is not 'new', but is rather our Earth of some sixty-five million years ago, the Paleocene age, just after the age of dinosaurs and the beginning of the age of mammals. But within this world there is also something that doesn't quite fit that age: a large, intelligent, flightless bird, Orn.

Orn is definitely the best part of this book, as he doesn't think like we do, but rather navigates his world via 'racial memory' - built into his genes are those experiences of all his ancestors that have happened frequently enough to be so imprinted. This is an idea that most biologists think is very unlikely, but it certainly makes for a very different life form whose actions and 'thoughts' are nevertheless very understandable.

There is an inevitable meeting between Orn and the humans, occurring in a physically isolated enclave where some of the dinosaurs of the late Cretaceous have managed to survive. The interactions between all of these beings is properly driven by each being's character, from Veg as a confirmed vegetarian to Cal's emphasis on logic and survival of the fittest, and only near the end of the book does it take on larger aspects as the Earth authorities try to exert control over the group.

Thematically, this book is a further investigation, which was started in Omnivore, into the morality of killing others to ensure your own survival, here looked at both from the point of view of evolutionary demands and on the individual level, from herbivore to omnivore. At times this book gets a little too bogged down in scientific details (such as the differences between various classes of mollusks), and the portrayed mind-set of the Earth authorities seems a little too harsh to be totally believable, but in general this is a good action-adventure set in environment where dinosaurs are not only believable but are properly portrayed in both their strengths and weaknesses.

Anthony closes the book with an appendix that defines his own thoughts on how and why the dinosaurs died out. Written before the confirmation of the iridium layer and the Yucatan crater, his ideas still make a good addendum to the catastrophic theory of their demise, even though he specifically denies 'catastrophe' as the primary cause.

This is probably the best of the three books of the triptych, greatly enlivened by the unique viewpoint that Orn brings to it, and is a far more serious effort than his Xanth books. Written very early in his career, it shows the kind of inventiveness and good understanding of human motivation that makes for enlightening reading.

--- Reviewed by Patrick Shepherd (hyperpat)

An interesting saga...
An interesting issue of who(or what) is the superior being arises in part 2 of this ongoing saga of humanities quest for an alternate earth.Read it and you will understand....

Orn,The Einstein equivalent to E=mc2
A book to provoke a number of theories,none of which are in agreement with Darwin`s theory ofevolution.Trully, a book to require a new train of thought,and to inspire the reader to consider the possibility of what isnow an acceptable belief, of alien intervention in the natural order ofthings.An interesting fictional hypothesis, that could rival the age oldproverb. "Truth is stranger than fiction."An incredibly inspiringread for those with inquiring minds,who also love science fiction.Asdictated to me,by my mother,who read this book in 1976,and asked me towrite this review in the year 2000. Sincerely,Shanan Price ... Read more