A Spell For Chameleon / The Source of Magic

Xanth #1-2

by Piers Anthony

Piers Anthony's whimsical series about the magical world of Xanth first captured our attention more than 20 years ago. The humorous style and witty wordplay that has enthralled readers over the last two decades makes these titles a perfect addition to your eBook library. For a limited time only, take advantage of this exciting opportunity: buy The Source of Magic and get A Spell for Chameleon for free!A Spell for ChameleonXanth 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....The Source of MagicOrdered by King Trent to determine the source of Xanth's magic, Bink and his companions were harried by an unseen enemy determined to thwart them. When even their protector turned against them, Blink still managed to reach his goal and carry out the King's orders...but the king did not expect Blink's next act--to destroy utterly the magic of Xanth!Castle RoognaMillie, a ghost for 800 years, wants only one man--Jonathan, and he's a zombie. To prove himself, Magician Dor volunteers to get the potion that can restore Jonathan to full life. But he has to go back through time to do it, to a peril-haunted, ancient Xanth, where danger lurks at every turn....Centaur AisleDor agreed to act as King of Xanth while Trent was gone for a week. But the weeks passed and Trent did not return. Dor knew he had to rescue his king but with no magic powers, how could it be done...?

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Humor, Magic

ebook

Published March 1, 2002

About the author

Though he spent the first four years of his life in England, Piers never returned to live in his country of birth after moving to Spain and immigrated to America at age six. After graduating with a B.A. from Goddard College, he married one of his fellow students and and spent fifteen years in an assortment of professions before he began writing fiction full-time.

Piers is a self-proclaimed environmentalist and lives on a tree farm in Florida with his wife. They have two grown daughters.

Reviews

[Dedrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely enjoyed this book. It was a lighter read with some adolescent boy depictions of women (in my mind its only drawback). Great, imaginative setting and enjoyable diversity of characters.

[Tommy Bones · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is everything it promised to be. Lovable characters, intriguing and amazing magic, and a gripping plot. That being said, the magic in the book was too over the top for me at times. I understand the concept of people being born with natural magical talents, but for everything and anything to hold magical powers was just too much, and almost irritating. Trees have magic, rocks have magic, water also has magic. It's tiresome. The poor kid couldn't even sit on a patch of grass without worrying about it magically growing into him which would result - worst case scenario - in death.

This is the first book of the Xanth series. I can only speculate that the rest of the books are similar to the first. I would recommend this book, if asked. Even with all the magic, I have the impression that it may not bother someone else as it bugged me.

[Scottt · Rating 2 out of 5]

I remember loving these books when I was a kid so I was looking forward to rereading them. Unfortunately, I completely agree with some of the other reviewers (like Renee) - it's just too sexist to be readable. I thought "maybe it's just the first book" so I re-read the second book as well and it's the same thing (that one I quit about half way through).

The world is still creative, interesting and fun. But I wan't going more than 10 pages without being ripped right out of the story with some line that was so overtly sexist that I was ready to put down the book. I definitely won't be suggesting these books to my kids. Bummer.

[Piper Mejia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this when I was a teenager and loved it. Now as an adult it is so interesting to see how writing has changed. I read an article by the author explaining that when he wrote it, he wrote it for adults, and was surprised how it reached an entirely different audience than he intended, teenagers. So for the kindle release he simplified the language. Very strange if you ask me as he kept all the adult themes, which kids don't care much about, and made the vocabulary simpler, which readers (no matter their age) don't need. Anyway heaps of tell, really quick to read, still amusing.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

FUN reading!...if you like fantasy and clever writing. Good series for high schoolers who need to expand their vocabulary. Love the setting even before I moved to Florida and now that I live here I think of his use of weather and plants to portray the fantasy Xanth.

[D Calco]

A Spell for Chameleon by Piers Anthony (1978)

[Gary Greysonet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book that kicked off one of the most influential and imaginative YA series ever written.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lessons have stayed with me. Easy to read.

[Carl Hitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Xanth is good stuff, but hard to keep track of all the characters after all the books...

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's ok. My kids liked it a lot more than me.

[IWB · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I was 16 and stupid this was a 5 star book for me.
Now? No, just can't do it--for many reasons.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED it!

[Nicole Sloan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book to escape to. I really enjoyed it.