Reviews of Piers Anthony Titles

• Storyline:

A young man, Bink, is going to be exiled from Xanth because he has no magic. Xanth is a land of magic where every citizen has a special spell only they can cast. The Good Magician Humphrey and his demon believe he has very powerful magic but they can't figure out what it is. So he sets off on a journey to find his magic, to try and stop from being exiled, and to thwart the Evil Magician Trent from returning to Xanth from which he has been forever exiled....

• Review

Nicely written. Has very diverse and entrigueing characters. Like most of Pier's work, the first in the series is always the best.

• Awards

Best Novel of the Year, British Fantasy Society

*Review and storyline by Jace Files

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-Review-
Castle Roogna

Storyline:

Dor is a teenager and Bink´s son, and, if that´s not enough, a magician, able to make inanimate things talk (unfortunately whatever THEY want) worthy to be king of this magic land when he´s grown up. Teenager life is hard and boring, if it wouldn´t be for Millie, his nurse... because her talent is sex appeal... how could a young man on the verge of adulthood resist her ? To impress her, he takes up the task to revive her zombie friend Jonathan, which she once loved. Together with a spider he enters a magic wall carpet that shows the history of Xanth, and so travels hundreds of years back to the time when the mighty Castle Roogna was built ... and right into a beginning war for dominance. In the body of a barbarian warrior and with the now huge spider with him he meets the mighty King Roogna and changes history (somewhat) to end his quest...

Review

Another Anthony novel, now introducing the main character Dor. If you are interested in what inanimate objects think, how barbarians cope with morals or like to blush full with embarassment about harpy or cobold curses, then THIS is your book. Or if you wanna see what a teenager boy does with a full-grown man´s body... ;o). If Piers Anthony´s writings do not addict after this book (and the two before), then you are a hopeless case.

    Awards

None.

Storyline:

The righteous king went to Mundania (our grey and mundane world without magic) to forge an alliance and establish trade, and now his successor Dor runs the land. But the King´s daughter Irene (his future wife) does everything to keep things entertaining (for her). As the king and his wife don´t return, Dor takes up the task to find him in ancient Mundania, Irene and a centaur magician with him, that opens a magic corridor even there. With her green fingers and his spell to make inanimate objects speak they go on their (romantic and dangerous) quest, aided by the exiled centaur´s excellent brains to safely return the King...

Review

It seems that every second (not in order) of Piers Anthony´s books is a romantic stories, equally exciting as his word games. And this is one... and you´ll see romances (if in Xanth or Mundania doesn´t bother) have their own magic. If you don´t like romance, KEEP YOUR FINGERS OFF... or simply enjoy the gentle humor... by reading this book you´ll trap yourself in a giggle spell, because a lot of situations seem just toooooo familiar ;o)

    Awards

None.

Storyline:

Grey Murphy seems to be called like his world is... the grey Mundania (our world). No girlfriend, a small room with a computer, and English for Beginners (worse than hell, you know)... but his computer awakens through a magic program and brings a lot of problems and Ivy, King Dor´s daughter... she brings him to Xanth ... and changes his life a lot. Through the nightmare world of the Pumpkin and through Xanth they go on a quest for the Good Magician Humphrey, and for a way to get together...

Review

Piers Anthony again at his best: romance. In a battle with disbelief and the rules of society Grey and Ivy discover what we all already know: Com-Puters (yeah, it is written like that... magic spelling) can cause a lot of problems... and what we know since the development of the web: even in your love life ;o) ... so learn why you really should hate this machine in front of you.

    Awards

None.

Storyline:

The Night Mare Imbrium carries the nightmares to the people who deserve em, but she has a little problem... a soul. No more able to conduct such a cruel task the Night Stud Trojan sends her out of the Pumpkin, the home of all nightmares (and Night Mares ;o) !!!) to aid the humans outside against a wave of invasions from Mundania. Every Magician (Xanth is ruled only by the most talented magicians) that becomes king is banned by her evil counterpart and the Mundanians move in to take the mighty Castle Roogna. Can a horse (sorry, mare) stop this bunch of barbarians ???

Review

Never saw the world with a horse´s view ? Here´s the chance to do it ! Piers Anthony gives you a new approach to the world with this magic- and magician loaden novel... but be prepared, Night Mares are not simply horses and this ever more climaxing novel can be a nightmare for those with weak nerves... so don´t waste your time with day-dreaming.

    Awards

None.

Storyline:

Well, since Bink married his ever-changing Chameleon (see "A Spell for Chameleon") he has some problems with her ever-changing temper (that worsened when she went pregnant). Looking for a way to escape his marital drama he gets more than he wanted. The King of Xanth, the land of magic, sends him on a quest to find the source of all magic. Accompanied by the Good Magician Humfrey (the keeper of knowledge), a centaur, a griffin and a golem they face many tasks and solve many mysteries on their search by the use of their special spells: locating everything, knowing (nearly) all, translation of all languages (even of animals and plants) and immunity to adverse magic effects... but they face mighty foes, ready to do nearly anything to keep em away...

Review

Piers at his best. This part is a must, because you learn a lot about the land of Xanth and it´s important characters and perhaps even about the Source of Magic ;o).

    Awards

None.