Night Mare, by Piers Anthony

When Night Mare Imbrium accepted Chem’s soul to carry her out of the void, she stepped onto a path that no one but the Good Magician could possibly have predicted. The Night Stallion releases her from nightmare duty and sends her out to become a day mare with a warning for Chameleon: ‘Beware the Horseman.’ Imbri herself encounters this Horseman accidentally, is captured, and realizes that he is leading an invasion of Mundanes into Xanth. Imbri manages to escape with the aid of the Day Horse, the Horseman’s former stallion who had also escaped. She rides to Castle Roogna with her warning, and is caught up in events to repulse this latest Wave of Mundanes. But when King Trent shows signs of defeating the Wave, his mind is ensorcelled. This starts a chain of Kings who all try to defeat the Mundanes, and all are soon ensorcelled. Imbri is running her tail off trying to help where she can, but eventually it will be up to her to ‘break the chain.’

I love how Piers Anthony connects all of his books together. We learn about Mare Imbri in the previous novel, and now she has her own book. We learned about Smash in Castle Roogna, he reappears in Centaur Aisle, and gets his own book later. I like the interconnectedness of the characters, because if there is an interesting character, it is likely that eventually we will be spending more time with them.

But this is a slight downfall, because Anthony cannot seem to kill off characters. There will always be a happy ending, and the main characters will never die: even of old age. I believe we start to see this in Night Mare, and this idea certainly continues on throughout the books. But that is the nature of Xanth, and some of the charm of the novels.

In Night Mare we do meet some new characters, like Imbri and the Horseman, but it is mostly like a reunion for the previous casts of the books. We get to see everyone all over again, doing what they do best, and what we love them for. It certainly is enjoyable, because I like to learn what has happened to them in the interim between books, and see their talents come into play again. Despite all of this, Night Mare definitely has hints of the repetitiveness that dogs some of Piers Anthony’s work, but it is an enjoyable romp just the same.

Ogre, Ogre, by Piers Anthony

Smash the ogre has gone to visit the Good Magician Humphrey to get an answer to his question. But his problem is that he doesn’t even know what his question is. But Humphrey still provides him with an answer: travel to the Ancestral Ogres to find what you seek. And in lieu of a year’s service Smash must travel with and protect Tandy, the daughter of the nymph Jewel and the soldier Crombie. Tandy had also asked a question of the Good Magician, and her answer is to travel with Smash to find what she is seeking. Neither Smash nor Tandy is particularly happy about this arrangement, but they set off to cross Xanth. Tandy has been raised in the caverns below Xanth her entire life, so she knows nothing of the dangers of aboveground Xanth. But Smash is ample protection for her: nothing wants to bother a full grown ogre. Along the way, Smash falls prey to an Eye Queue vine, and is cursed with smartness: the one thing an ogre cannot stand. But he is stuck with it until the vine comes off, and meanwhile Tandy keeps recruiting other females to join them. Not that Smash minds overmuch: they are all very nice. But soon Smash is traveling with seven females he cannot eat, and he is still cursed with an intelligence he cannot be rid of. And all for wanting the answer to a question!

Ogre, Ogre is truly a good book. Aside from the exciting adventures normal to Xanth novels, Ogre, Ogre has a wonderfully complex personal side. Smash is no ordinary ogre, and Tandy is a wonderfully spunky girl. At the risk of giving a lot away, I’m going to say that this book deals with love, real love (and not the ‘chase that nymph’ sort). Love that will do anything to keep the other from being hurt: love that will give anything up, even the love itself, if it will benefit the other. The kind of love that everyone needs, and few of us get. There is a maturity in this book that few other Xanth novels approach. The only other Xanth novel that compares is Castle Roogna. I do admit to enjoying the light/fun attitude of all the other books, but this is a very nice change in pace, and almost more enjoyable. Read this one, even if you feel like skipping the others. It’s worth it.

Centaur Isle, by Piers Anthony

King Trent needs a vacation. Actually, he wants to go to Mundania to settle a trade agreement, but he’s telling everyone he needs a vacation. King Trent’s only planning on being gone for a week, so he puts Dor on the throne as temporary King. The week passes, and Dor manages not to destroy the kingdom or fight too much with Irene. But when the anticipated day arrives, King Trent and Queen Iris do not appear. Dor must go on pretending that nothing is wrong, while knowing that something awful must have happened to them. But Kings are not allowed to go haring off, so all Dor can do is wait. But Irene is adamant that he must go to Mundania and rescue her parents. So they put together a traveling party and go off to southern Xanth to find something that will help them find King Trent. And Dor tries to make sense of King Trent’s parting words, that ‘honesty is always the best policy.’

Here we are, back for another wild adventure in Xanth. Only along with bad puns, now we must deal with sum truly aweful spelling. But all in good fun, as is the norm. Anthony gives us some good character development between Queen Iris and Irene. The trip into Mundania is good for many laughs, as are most Xanth novels. I say that fun reads are definitely necessary once in a while.

Castle Roogna, by Piers Anthony

Dor has many problems: his parents are always away on business for the King, the other boys pick on him for having a ‘dumb’ talent and for being so small, Irene (daughter of King Trent and Sorcerer Iris) would love for him to die, the fact that one day he will be king, and Millie the former ghost is looking decidedly too interesting for him to want her to be just his nursemaid any more. But King Trent is a wise man, and knows that what Dor needs is a self-confidence booster and a little life experience. So he has the Good Magician Humphrey send him back in time a few hundred years to the Fourth Wave of barbarian invasions in Xanth. Now Dor is in a man’s body, but it only seems to be multiplying his problems. He finds himself caught up in a struggle between two Magicians of the time: Magican Roogna, and Magician Murphy. Both of them want to be King, but they can’t decide who should take the position. Murphy’s talent is making things go wrong, and Roogna’s talent is transfiguring an object into something similar. To peacefully decide who should be King, Roogna is building a castle, and Murphy is trying to stop him. If Roogna can finish the castle before the year is out despite Murphy’s talent for making things go wrong, he will be King. If Murphy can stop Roogna, he will be King. But Murphy’s talent is certainly operating overtime, because the goblins and Harpys are about to start a war together, and most inconveniently, they have chosen Castle Roogna as the battleground. Dor is caught up in the middle, trying desperately to make the right decisions that everyone must make if they are truly to become a man.

Like all Xanth books, Castle Roogna must not be taken seriously. It is a book meant for fun and laughter and terrible puns. The different characters are always enjoyable to me, because they are so varied and odd in their own rights. The journey that Dor takes to become a man is really interesting and funny, even though absolutely no 12 year old would ever make those sorts of decisions. Hey, I suspended my disbelief and enjoyed myself.

I seriously wish that Jumper could come back as a character, but that is impossible given his nature and his life span. The idea of a giant spider is not pleasant to me (who is seriously arachnaphobic) but I love reading his parts and seeing how he guides Dor to make good decisions. I must say that sometimes it is nice just to relax and read a thoroughly entertaining book.

The Source of Magic, by Piers Anthony

We come back to the magic land of Xanth one year after the first adventure. The land is at peace, Trent has been a good solid king, and Bink and Chameleon are married and expecting a child. But even though life seems to be better than ever, Bink cannot get comfortable. He starts to long for the ‘good old days’ when he was free to adventure and roam (conveniently forgetting that it was not really all that fun when it first happened). King Trent orders him to resume his search for the source of magic, a task they had discussed doing, but had never put into effect. For companions Bink takes along Chester the Centaur and Crombie the palace guard who has been conveniently transformed into a griffin. But as is the norm for the land of Xanth, all is not as it seems, for someone appears to be trying to kill Bink, and where are all these moles coming from?

Okay, this wasn’t my best synopsis ever, but it’s hard to describe these books in short. The plot just likes to twist around a bit. The Source of Magic is definitely better, in my opinion, than A Spell for Chameleon. The writing was better, the ideas were just as good, and the adventure satisfyingly fun. We see more of the Good Magician Humphrey, who condescends to come on the quest with his crazy arsenal of magical bottles. We travel all around and under Xanth seeing strange sights, and meeting strange people. The puns are just as bad as ever, but in their own way they really make the story interesting and different.

My favorite new characters are definitely Grundy the Golem, and Crunch the Ogre. Somehow the idea of a vegetarian ogre is just really funny to me. The story is witty and decently well written: Anthony seems to be coming into his talent a bit more. The interplay of strange magic and interesting characters is just so refreshingly fun and simple, compared to all the complicated stories out there. Sometimes it’s just necessary to relax and read a simple story. On this merit, I would definitely recommend The Source of Magic.

A Spell For Chameleon, by Piers Anthony

Xanth is a wonderful land full of magic, mythical animals, and really bad puns. (don’t get me wrong, I like the puns. But they are pretty ‘bad’ at times) To live in the land of Xanth, you must be able to demonstrate your magical talent by your 25th birthday, or you are exiled. For most people, this is not a problem as their talent usually surfaces when they are very young. But it is a problem for Bink because as far as he can tell, he has no talent. While others his age are making magical swords appear in the air, clouds of poison gas, and beautiful holograms, Bink is labeled as the ‘spell-less wonder.’ Coming from a long line of Magician caliber ancestors, this is very painful. A few weeks before his 25th birthday, Bink goes on a journey to see the Good Magician Humphrey, who will answer any question in return for a year of service. But the jungles of Xanth are full of danger: dragons and harpys and nicklepedes are some of the more common dangers. For Xanth is a land of magic and nothing is as it seems, for illusion often appears more real than reality.

This is just a quick synopsis of the book, because much more actually happens, but that would be telling. I’ll just say that the plot is sufficiently convoluted to please most avid readers, even if the writing at times is a bit lower than could be hoped for. The world of Xanth is vivid and delightful and very different than most magical worlds. There is danger and excitement and oh so much fun. Shoes grow on trees, along with blankets, bread, pies, and many other things we ‘Mundanians’ have to make ourselves. The different characters are lively and funny in their own special ways. It is great fun watching the role of magic in this very different society.

But A Spell For Chameleon is not all perfect. The writing level is not very high: it would read better to a younger teen who might not have such set ideas about character believability and consistency. There is a tendency for characters to make noble speeches about the world and how it should be, which can get slightly monotonous after a while. Also, the way sex is handled in the story is very adolescent. Nothing is extremely descriptive, but there is a sense of the attractive ‘forbidden’ that is normal in younger people. Not that I think adults handle sex any better, but young teens just have a sense that certain actions are wrong, and that makes the idea of doing them all the more exciting.

All in all A Spell For Chameleon is a fun read, not too heavy, but worth reading for the laugh and novelty factor. I haven’t ever read another book quite like it.

If I could ask Piers Anthony one question about A Spell for Chameleon, it would be: Did you come up with Xanth’s name by hearing your name slurred together as pierZANTHony?

Avalon, by Stephen Lawhead

When Llyonesse shall rise again, and the Thamesis reverse its flow…These triumphant words herald the return of King Arthur in the hour of Britain’s greatest need. Many years have passed since they were written, and the world is not as it once was. It is ‘current day,’ or sometime in the 20th or 21st century. British citizens are tired of a long succession of randy profligate kings, and moves have been made to abolish the British monarchy. The Prime Minister is cultivating dreams of being the first President of England and will do anything to throw down the monarchy. But Merlin has not been idle all of these years, and he will never see the monarchy dissolved no matter what happens. He has only been waiting for the best time to raise up his King and the time has now come. Now he only has to inform the lucky man.

James A. Stuart has lived a very normal life, so this comes as a great shock and surprise to him when he hears he is the last eligible heir to the throne of England. As you may imagine this is very hard for him to swallow. But in various ways he is finally convinced of the fact, and then he discovers he believes in the necessity for a King to rule over Britain. For it is not about power and money: it is about being an example to the people and reminding them of their better selves that lie sleeping. That is why there must be a King, for no one can do the same job, or be such an example. The reason the citizenry were so disappointed with their failed kings, is because they had been expecting something better. You cannot be disappointed with something you never hoped for. So in their hearts, the people of Britain really want a King; they just want a good one. Ahh, but evil does not sleep, and Morgian is ever at the ready to tear down what Merlin tries to build. And this is a terribly delicate structure: James Arthur Stuart cannot go out and win his kingship with a strong arm, he must woo the public and the media. But the media is every fickle, and a bad report often spreads faster than good opinions. It is never easy to try to be a King, and James certainly has his work cut out for him: and what on earth is he going to do about Jenny?

Avalon is a thoroughly delightful book. It is a culmination of all the Arthurian legends, which have so much to bring to bear in this enthralling end of the Pendragon Cycle. In this time of darkness, Arthur returns, bringing light and hope as he once did before. It is exciting to try to find the parallels to the previous books, because there are many. Some old characters seem to show up in new guises, and some events seem like the long awaited conclusion to their predecessors in books 1-5. I enjoyed all of it greatly and immensely, because it was written so cleverly with such attention to detail as to make your heart dance. In all the previous books Arthur had been described as coming fully alive in battle: in Avalon, the battle that this Arthur takes part in is the battle of words. The shift is from the ancient need to protect and win with the strength of one’s arm, to be replaced in the modern day by the need to express yourself well in words. The change in Arthur reflects that.

It is with great sadness that I close this review: I have enjoyed so much reading these books that I hate to see them end. I recommend all of them most highly to anyone who asks. Stephen Lawhead has a rare gift for writing which is not normally seen. He builds such characters and such worlds that make reality seem dim and dull. But reading Lawhead makes me want to change the way I live, just to capture a bit of the beauty he creates when he puts pen to paper.

Normally I only like to ask one question at the end of a review, but I have two that would love to get asked, and I can’t decide between them. So, if there were two questions that I could ask Stephen Lawhead about Avalon, they would be: 1.)Did Morgian really die in Arthur, or was it a trick of hers and so she was now alive in Avalon? and 2.) You have a very Christian centered view on life and religion and it shows in the Pendragon Cycle. How does it square with most Christian theology to have the idea of reincarnation nearly essential to the plot of Avalon?

Grail, by Stephen Lawhead

This is the fifth book in the Pendragon Cycle, and sadly the second to last book. Grail picks up right where Pendragon left off. Arthur is hale and whole due to the miraculous intervention of the Grail cup. He decides that he must build a shrine to house the Grail so that pilgrims and those in need can come and be healed. For Arthur, this truly is the start of the Kingdom of Summer, and his happiness and zeal knows no bounds. Everyone is caught up and dragged along in Arthur’s fervor and joy. But even thought the Vandali have been conquered and subdued, evil still walks the land, and its name is Morgian. Bitter and hateful as ever, Morgian will give anything to bring down Arthur and Merlin. But not only does she want them to die, she wishes them to taste defeat, despair, betrayal, and ultimately die hopeless and cursing their God. For she is clever as she is beautiful, and as deeply evil as the sun is bright.

I am always impressed anew with Lawhead’s writing ability whenever I read his books. He can master the heights of happiness, and the depths of despair. He is not afraid to hurt his characters, for they live in a real world which death is a part of, and evil is always present. He makes you care for his characters, and then he causes terrible events to happen in which they are tested beyond all endurance. I do not even want to hint what terrible things happen in Grail, for although they are bitter to swallow the idea behind them is worthwhile and true. Now that sounds kind of strange and semi-mystical, but Lawhead is not always as much concerned with a happy ending as a good ending.

Grail is a good book. It is horrifying, sad, and bitter but it is also beautiful. It is not easy to read because of all the terrible occurrences, but great beauty is more easily seen in the midst of pain. It is not always a pleasant book, but it is worthwhile. I cannot seem to find much to say about it other than generals, but I hope what I have told you gives you the true sense of what the book is filled with.

If I could ask Stephen Lawhead one question about Grail, it would be: Who built that first Grail Chapel in the midst of Llyonesse?

Pendragon, by Stephen Lawhead

Pendragon is the fourth book of the Pendragon Cycle, and it is in this book that we finally see much of Arthur. The last book was unsatisfying to me because I was expecting to see Arthur as a young child, and becoming High King of Britain. But now we have that chance, and Lawhead succeeds marvelously in showing us a remarkable man. We see some of the early life of Arthur, and how Merlin is instrumental in keeping him alive until he can claim his kingship. We see Arthur gathering his cymbrogi and the roots of some Arthurian legends. We travel to Ireland and meet a few great characters, including Conaire, a boasting cocky Irish king. Gwenhwyvar is a priceless Queen for Arthur, not at all the mild meek female in distress. She is a warrior princess of a noble line, proud to fight side by side with her husband (and sometimes against him).

The Vandali invade Ireland when Arthur is visiting his wife’s home, and he must band together with the feisty Irish kings in hopes of defeating the barbarians. For if (and it is only a matter of time) the Vandali turn to Britain, he has not much hope that he can defeat them. And another danger has come to threaten Britain in this terrible hour: plague, the yellow ravager, is striking indiscriminately across Britain. Not only are warriors dying, but the innocent as well.

Okay, I’m going to say this straight out: I think this is a great book. It’s just so much fun! Arthur is almost unbelievable as a real human being, but the wonderful part is that he seems so real. He’s big, blond and intelligent. He’s strong, but gentle. He forgives faults easily in others, and rarely holds a grudge. He is an absolute terror in battle, but he is also an able commander, capable of seeing beyond ‘this battle,’ and onto the next. There is a wonderful line that I must quote for you all, because it is so amazing. Gwenhywvar asked Merlin what kind of fighter her husband was, and if the stories were true. Merlin replies, ‘“The Lord of Hosts formed Arthur for himself alone,” I told her. “When he rides into battle, it is a prayer.” “And when he fights?” asked Gwenhwyvar, delighted with my acclaim of her husband. “Lady, when Arthur fights it is a song of praise to the God that made him. Watch him now. You will see a rare and holy sight.”’

This is the character of Arthur, a man to make other men follow, a man strong enough to offer peace, but also a man who is only his true self on the battlefield. But Arthur cannot be described as brave, or courageous, because to be brave you must feel fear. You must overcome it to be courageous. Arthur feels no fear on the battlefield. There are no words to describe what he feels, because he is such a singular man none could ever match him. This is who Arthur is. This is the man Lawhead reveals to us all, the man we have waited three books to fully see.

The anticipation built up to this point has been tremendous. Even in Arthur we did not truly see enough of him to be satisfied. We see the beginning and the end of the story, but none of what we really want. But in Pendragon, ahhh. We see Arthur, and we love him. We fear for him when he takes risks, because to lose him would be horrible to contemplate. Yet at the same time, we know the end of the story. We know how it will all end eventually. But at this moment, he is wonderfully, gloriously alive.

You can be in no doubt at how much I love this book. I guess I have not given a really unbiased view of this book: even worse than most of my others. I just liked it so much, and there was very very little wrong with. It is very easy to guess that I highly recommend reading it, but only read it in conjunction with the other three books. As much as Arthur was not my favorite, it is necessary to read the books that come before to fully understand these characters.

If I could ask Stephen Lawhead one question about this book, it would be: How did you form the character of Arthur, and how did you conceive him to be the way he is?