The Xanth Chronicles
by Piers Anthony
Recommended Age: 13+
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- A Spell for Chameleon
- The Source of Magic
- Castle Roogna
- Centaur Aisle
- Ogre, Ogre
- Night Mare
- Dragon on a Pedestal
- Crewel Lye: A Caustic Yarn
- Golem in the Gears
- Vale of the Vole
- Heaven Cent
- Man from Mundania
- Isle of View
- Question Quest
The Color of Her Panties
- Demons Don't Dream
- Harpy Thyme
- Geis of the Gargoyle
- Roc and a Hard Place
- Yon Ill Wind
- Faun & Games
- Zombie Lover
- Xone of Contention
- The Dastard
- Swell Foop
- Up in a Heaval
- Cube Route
- Currant Events
- Pet Peeve
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The Xanth novels are, of course, Anthony’s biggest and most successful series. Full of romance, comedy, and horrid, horrid puns, they take place in a magical kingdom that, when you see a map of it, strangely resembles the state of Florida. Everything outside this kingdom belongs to the non-magical realm of Mundania, but we don’t talk about that. For in Xanth,
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Personally, I went through my Piers Anthony phase quite early in life. My grandparents had a HUGE library – I believe my uncle still has it – in which Anthony’s novels of Xanth, and Cluster, and the Apprentice Adept, and Incarnations of Immortality, and Chthon, and so on, featured prominently. I read the lot – such as there was in the mid-to-late 1980s – and then bought a few of his newer books when they came out. The last book that I read in the Xanth series, I think, was Heaven Cent (1988). The last book by Piers Anthony that I read was The Willing Spirit, with co-author Alfred Tella. So I’m not up on all the details of the story. But from my recollections, combined with the opinions of people whose opinions I rely on, I can tell you this much:
- The Xanth series is light, comical, fantasy reading, full of wit and dreadful puns.
- Each story is more or less a “fractured fairy tale,” with perhaps a bit of philosophy woven into it, and now and then some adult themes and language.
- Some parents, therefore, may want to make their own evaluation before giving these books to their kids.
The kids will probably love them, regardless.
- However, rumor has it that the series rather declined in quality after a certain point.
- Some may disagree. I have also read that fans were delighted when Anthony started using their ideas and even based characters on certain fans.
- Some of his books, such as the Geodyssey series, are marred by a shrill and obnoxious political agenda.
- Some of his books, such as the Incarnations of Immortality series, betray the author’s hostility to Judeo-Christian religion.
- Some of his books, such as The Willing Spirit and The Apprentice Adept series, are more than just a tiny bit erotic.
- Some of his books, such as Viscous Circle, show that Anthony is a gifted sci-fi/fantasy writer, who has deservedly won Hugo and Nebula awards for his work.
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