What do you think?
Rate this book
Xanth #40
Isis Orb
A quest to fulfill a lifelong wish leads to magic, adventure—and puns—as the New York Times–bestselling author revisits the enchanted land of Xanth.
In Xanth, everyone has a talent. But that doesn’t mean everyone loves his talent, and no one understands that better than Hapless. Endowed with the ability to conjure any instrument he wants, Hapless could be an extraordinary musician if only he could play a tune that didn’t fall ear-piercingly flat. His one desire is to find an instrument he can play—and maybe a girlfriend or three. But like music, women have never been his forte.
When the Good Magician hears about Hapless’s desperate desire, he sends the young man on a quest to find the elusive Isis Orb, a magical talisman that could fulfill his wish. But the mysterious Egyptian goddess for whom the orb is named guards the enchanted object and won’t let anyone see it—let alone use it.
Setting out to achieve the impossible, Hapless meets an eclectic mix of creatures that join him on his journey. Like the musically challenged Hapless, they all have wishes they hope the Isis Orb will grant. But the only way they can control the orb is to capture the five totems from the regions of Fire, Earth, Air, Water, and the Void. Together, this motley crew will heroically fight dragons, a six-headed griffin, and even a beautiful, seductive water gorgon who tries to rain on Hapless’s parade.
With its thrilling exploits and endless humor, the newest addition to Piers Anthony’s beloved Xanth series is sure to keep readers enthralled.
Isis Orb is the 40th book in the Xanth series, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
In Xanth, everyone has a talent. But that doesn’t mean everyone loves his talent, and no one understands that better than Hapless. Endowed with the ability to conjure any instrument he wants, Hapless could be an extraordinary musician if only he could play a tune that didn’t fall ear-piercingly flat. His one desire is to find an instrument he can play—and maybe a girlfriend or three. But like music, women have never been his forte.
When the Good Magician hears about Hapless’s desperate desire, he sends the young man on a quest to find the elusive Isis Orb, a magical talisman that could fulfill his wish. But the mysterious Egyptian goddess for whom the orb is named guards the enchanted object and won’t let anyone see it—let alone use it.
Setting out to achieve the impossible, Hapless meets an eclectic mix of creatures that join him on his journey. Like the musically challenged Hapless, they all have wishes they hope the Isis Orb will grant. But the only way they can control the orb is to capture the five totems from the regions of Fire, Earth, Air, Water, and the Void. Together, this motley crew will heroically fight dragons, a six-headed griffin, and even a beautiful, seductive water gorgon who tries to rain on Hapless’s parade.
With its thrilling exploits and endless humor, the newest addition to Piers Anthony’s beloved Xanth series is sure to keep readers enthralled.
Isis Orb is the 40th book in the Xanth series, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
302 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 18, 2016
90 people are currently reading
1592 people want to read
About the author
Piers Anthony
441 books4,216 followersThough 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.
Piers is a self-proclaimed environmentalist and lives on a tree farm in Florida with his wife. They have two grown daughters.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
July 7, 2016
I tried, really I tried to read all of ISIS ORB, Xanth #4o. There was a time, way back in
the wayback that Piers Anthony was one of my favorite authors and a new Xanth book caused my local bookseller to shout with glee. That was when Xanth was written for adults, before the books became pun-ridden and Piers became obsessed with young girls and their panties.
But, with the passage of time, come change. I thought maybe the Good Magician had given his creator a Quest and brought change upon the land. Anything can happen in a land as magical as Xanth.
And time has brought some changes. I was happy to see that the puns were mostly gone. What a relief! It's a mixed up way of writing however. Neither YA nor Adult, but a hodgepodge of the two. And then there are the panties. He'll mention them several times in a chapter - till I was ready to scream. Then he'll it go for a while. I understand (from reading his author's notes) that he's got OCD. That explains a lot. But, for me it makes his books still unreadable.
So, why did I give it three stars - meaning "it was ok"? Because although I stopped at 53% I realized that with just slight editing - remove maybe 1% of the text at most - and reformat for voice, Xanth would be back. It was better than the books in the 20's. So, that's why.
If you've been missing Xanth, give it a try, then look me up-let me know what you think.
I received ISIS ORB, Xanth#40 from the publisher.
the wayback that Piers Anthony was one of my favorite authors and a new Xanth book caused my local bookseller to shout with glee. That was when Xanth was written for adults, before the books became pun-ridden and Piers became obsessed with young girls and their panties.
But, with the passage of time, come change. I thought maybe the Good Magician had given his creator a Quest and brought change upon the land. Anything can happen in a land as magical as Xanth.
And time has brought some changes. I was happy to see that the puns were mostly gone. What a relief! It's a mixed up way of writing however. Neither YA nor Adult, but a hodgepodge of the two. And then there are the panties. He'll mention them several times in a chapter - till I was ready to scream. Then he'll it go for a while. I understand (from reading his author's notes) that he's got OCD. That explains a lot. But, for me it makes his books still unreadable.
So, why did I give it three stars - meaning "it was ok"? Because although I stopped at 53% I realized that with just slight editing - remove maybe 1% of the text at most - and reformat for voice, Xanth would be back. It was better than the books in the 20's. So, that's why.
If you've been missing Xanth, give it a try, then look me up-let me know what you think.
I received ISIS ORB, Xanth#40 from the publisher.
January 8, 2017
Early on the Xanth novels were funny and entertaining. Then they stopped being funny and entertaining and I stopped reading them. I should have maintained that policy and not wasted my time on this one.
November 2, 2016
I loved the Xanth books when I was a teenager, and now that I am no longer the target audience, I still enjoyed this one. It was fun to revisit the old "stomping grounds". There was a lot of sexism, LOTS of talks of panties, and breasts, etc. that I never noticed as a teenager....at least not that I recall. As an adult, that all kind of took away from the story. On the bright side, I still really enjoyed the puns and the innocence (apart from all the innuendo) of the quests.
January 17, 2017
It's been forever since I read a ZANTH novel, & I'd forgotten just how much fun they are!
June 18, 2016
1.5 stars - Metaphorosis Reviews
Hapless can conjure musical instruments, but not play them. The Good Magician sends him out on a quest to collect companions and resolve his and their needs collaboratively.
You can't say I give up easily. I once liked Piers Anthony, and I keep trying to like him again. So far, with no success. I read this book interleaved with a Michael Swanwick collection, hoping they might balance each other out. In a sense, they did - they were both weak.
Xanth is the series that introduced me to Piers Anthony, when I was in my early teens. It was novel, fun, and full of puns. I later turned away from Anthony, and the most recent story I read by him was truly awful. Still, when I saw this 40th (!) book in the Xanth series, I thought a trip down memory lane might be worthwhile. Apparently, though, they sculpted all the cobblestones, and it's not a smooth path anymore.
I stuck with the original Xanth series until book 13, Isle of View. At that point, I just couldn't stomach the sexism, and there were even too many puns for it to be fun. It turned out to be a good time to quit - just a little while later, book 15 emerged - The Color of Her Panties. I haven't read it, but the title alone made me cringe. I'd forgotten all about it until this book. I'm thankful I had the dull Swanwick book to turn to, because it turns out that in Xanth, the sheer sight of panties sends man into a daze. Over, and over, and over again, starting on page 9. By page 34 I began to despair, and by page 47 I began to wonder if I could survive. Eventually, though, I just accepted that the book would be irredeemably juvenile, and the shock wore off. The puns were a similar problem. By page 11 I was already thinking there were too many of them, some obvious, some a long stretch. Then the sexism became truly overt - e.g., lying and seducing is an inevitable and unconscious "part of the are of being female". Wheareas "men have small minds". Which presumably explains why the males in the book spend all their time looking at breasts. And panties. Never forget the panties. Panties, puns, and sexism - that's the book in a nutshell. Plus, on the happier side, straightforward prose, and a thorough, logical approach to puzzles. The puzzles themselves are pretty random, and they don't make a whole lot of sense, but within this limited world, Anthony's reasonably rigorous about solving them.
So, the book's pretty bad, and the series looks like it may have been bad for the last 30 books. How does it survive?
Author's notes. Anthony has plenty of weaknesses, but what's he's really good at is engaging with his readers. His books contain long, detailed author's notes that are warm, friendly, and engaging. He really does seem to enjoy a back and forth with his fans, to the extent that this book is entirely based on a fan's suggestion. And that's the key to the whole thing, I think. Anthony has given up really writing Xanth, and basically uses each book to cram in as many suggestions (especially puns) as possible. So, this book was pretty terrible, but it was squarely aimed at the people who enjoy the series. It's a crowd-sourced novel, which is interesting in itself. It's a bad novel, and Anthony seems more than a little defensive about it, but why should he care? He's got an audience, they like him, he likes them, and he's written a heck of a lot of books. Not bad.
In short, this is a juvenile, sexist, simplistic book, but one that committed Xanth fans will love.
Hapless can conjure musical instruments, but not play them. The Good Magician sends him out on a quest to collect companions and resolve his and their needs collaboratively.
You can't say I give up easily. I once liked Piers Anthony, and I keep trying to like him again. So far, with no success. I read this book interleaved with a Michael Swanwick collection, hoping they might balance each other out. In a sense, they did - they were both weak.
Xanth is the series that introduced me to Piers Anthony, when I was in my early teens. It was novel, fun, and full of puns. I later turned away from Anthony, and the most recent story I read by him was truly awful. Still, when I saw this 40th (!) book in the Xanth series, I thought a trip down memory lane might be worthwhile. Apparently, though, they sculpted all the cobblestones, and it's not a smooth path anymore.
I stuck with the original Xanth series until book 13, Isle of View. At that point, I just couldn't stomach the sexism, and there were even too many puns for it to be fun. It turned out to be a good time to quit - just a little while later, book 15 emerged - The Color of Her Panties. I haven't read it, but the title alone made me cringe. I'd forgotten all about it until this book. I'm thankful I had the dull Swanwick book to turn to, because it turns out that in Xanth, the sheer sight of panties sends man into a daze. Over, and over, and over again, starting on page 9. By page 34 I began to despair, and by page 47 I began to wonder if I could survive. Eventually, though, I just accepted that the book would be irredeemably juvenile, and the shock wore off. The puns were a similar problem. By page 11 I was already thinking there were too many of them, some obvious, some a long stretch. Then the sexism became truly overt - e.g., lying and seducing is an inevitable and unconscious "part of the are of being female". Wheareas "men have small minds". Which presumably explains why the males in the book spend all their time looking at breasts. And panties. Never forget the panties. Panties, puns, and sexism - that's the book in a nutshell. Plus, on the happier side, straightforward prose, and a thorough, logical approach to puzzles. The puzzles themselves are pretty random, and they don't make a whole lot of sense, but within this limited world, Anthony's reasonably rigorous about solving them.
So, the book's pretty bad, and the series looks like it may have been bad for the last 30 books. How does it survive?
Author's notes. Anthony has plenty of weaknesses, but what's he's really good at is engaging with his readers. His books contain long, detailed author's notes that are warm, friendly, and engaging. He really does seem to enjoy a back and forth with his fans, to the extent that this book is entirely based on a fan's suggestion. And that's the key to the whole thing, I think. Anthony has given up really writing Xanth, and basically uses each book to cram in as many suggestions (especially puns) as possible. So, this book was pretty terrible, but it was squarely aimed at the people who enjoy the series. It's a crowd-sourced novel, which is interesting in itself. It's a bad novel, and Anthony seems more than a little defensive about it, but why should he care? He's got an audience, they like him, he likes them, and he's written a heck of a lot of books. Not bad.
In short, this is a juvenile, sexist, simplistic book, but one that committed Xanth fans will love.
September 28, 2019
4 Stars
Isis Orb is the fortieth book in the Xanth series by Piers Anthony, Hapless really is, well, hapless. Even thought everyone in Xanth has a unique ability, his really doesn't 'help' him. Magician Humfrey takes pity on him and decides to help- you guessed it- by sending him on a quest. Hapless, and his quirky companions will need to find the Isis Orb- easier said than done when the Orb is protected by the Egyptian Goddess herself.
The Xanthe Series is quite a really long series that has spanned many decades. I remember reading the first few books back in the very early 1980’s and was totally captivated by the epic fantasy that unfolded before my eyes. I collected all the books as each new one was released and have revisited them a few times over the years.
I can honestly say that although these books didn’t blow me away as they did the first couple of times I read them- I still really enjoyed all the adventure, magic, swords & sorcery like, epic fantasy that Mr. Anthony is renowned for.
He has imbued his stories with plenty of humour, a playfulness, lots of fun, action, some history, conspiracies, secrets, surprising developments, and much, much more. We meet so many varied and original characters along the way- the books are full of wonderful fictional beasts and paranormal creatures. From centaurs, to demons, dragons, fauns, gargoyles, goblins, golems, harpies, merfolk, elves, nymphs, ogres, zombies, and curse fiends- and a few more I am sure have slipped my mind.
The world of Xanthe is wonderfully rich and vividly descriptive. It is really well written and is so easy to imagine, it came to life before my eyes. Each ‘person’ in Xanthe is born with their own unique magical ability, which is called a ‘talent’. We follow along on many epic adventures and explore the world as the story unfolds.
I have many fond memories of reading this book/series and it’s definitely a series that’s worth exploring- especially for any epic fantasy lover who loves some fun and humour served with their adventure.
Thank you, Mr. Anthony!
Isis Orb is the fortieth book in the Xanth series by Piers Anthony, Hapless really is, well, hapless. Even thought everyone in Xanth has a unique ability, his really doesn't 'help' him. Magician Humfrey takes pity on him and decides to help- you guessed it- by sending him on a quest. Hapless, and his quirky companions will need to find the Isis Orb- easier said than done when the Orb is protected by the Egyptian Goddess herself.
The Xanthe Series is quite a really long series that has spanned many decades. I remember reading the first few books back in the very early 1980’s and was totally captivated by the epic fantasy that unfolded before my eyes. I collected all the books as each new one was released and have revisited them a few times over the years.
I can honestly say that although these books didn’t blow me away as they did the first couple of times I read them- I still really enjoyed all the adventure, magic, swords & sorcery like, epic fantasy that Mr. Anthony is renowned for.
He has imbued his stories with plenty of humour, a playfulness, lots of fun, action, some history, conspiracies, secrets, surprising developments, and much, much more. We meet so many varied and original characters along the way- the books are full of wonderful fictional beasts and paranormal creatures. From centaurs, to demons, dragons, fauns, gargoyles, goblins, golems, harpies, merfolk, elves, nymphs, ogres, zombies, and curse fiends- and a few more I am sure have slipped my mind.
The world of Xanthe is wonderfully rich and vividly descriptive. It is really well written and is so easy to imagine, it came to life before my eyes. Each ‘person’ in Xanthe is born with their own unique magical ability, which is called a ‘talent’. We follow along on many epic adventures and explore the world as the story unfolds.
I have many fond memories of reading this book/series and it’s definitely a series that’s worth exploring- especially for any epic fantasy lover who loves some fun and humour served with their adventure.
Thank you, Mr. Anthony!
July 24, 2017
40th book in the series! Yep, 40 books, one series. Which is why I get annoyed when people tell me they've never heard of Piers Anthony or his books, because there are so damn many they should float across your vision from time to time haha. Oh well.
Common knowledge; I love Xanth. Yon Ill Wind remains my favorite book of all time, but I still find the rest of the series enjoyable. Woofer gets a small part this time around, so even still there is reference to past books.
As always there are groan worthy puns, a nondescript hero with women falling over themselves to be with him, naughty bits and a Quest. There is also plenty of planning foreach stage, and just talking things out, which I hate. Every character has their part to play; the problem is that they tell you what that part is and more.
Still though, this is the series that simply will not die off. Will I read the 41st book? Damn right!
Common knowledge; I love Xanth. Yon Ill Wind remains my favorite book of all time, but I still find the rest of the series enjoyable. Woofer gets a small part this time around, so even still there is reference to past books.
As always there are groan worthy puns, a nondescript hero with women falling over themselves to be with him, naughty bits and a Quest. There is also plenty of planning foreach stage, and just talking things out, which I hate. Every character has their part to play; the problem is that they tell you what that part is and more.
Still though, this is the series that simply will not die off. Will I read the 41st book? Damn right!
August 19, 2016
A very fun book! If your looking for an epic fantasy or series mystery, this is not it. This is just a fun story in the wacky world of Xanth. It has humor, puns, and a bit of puzzle solving. The thing about Xanth novels, is your told what the quest a person will be on and why, but you never know the twists and turns of how it gets too that end.
My first Piers Anthony book, many many years ago, was the first Xanth novel, A Spell for Chameleon in 1977, and I loved it! I have read most of his books since then. Xanth is probably the only series of his that I have not read in its entirety, because there are so many. Isis Orb is #40
This is a typical Xanth novel, in where the Good Magician Humphrey gives out a quest to a citizen of Xanth, to give them a chance to find what they want. In this particular story, Hapless is the name of the main character who can conjure any musical instrument, but cannot play any of them, in fact, he is excruciatingly horrible at all of them. He wants to find the one instrument that he can play well. Humphrey sends him on the quest for the Isis Orb, a powerful device that may help him.
Not to spoil anything, Hapless is joined by 5 other companions seeking there own answers to their problems, that the Isis Orb can help with as well.
Its a fast and fun read, has zany characters, a good overall plot, and lots of juvenile humor... as is expected in Xanth novels. Its not a serious, epic, fantasy story, but no Xanth novel is. It is meant to be fun and is. I highly recommend this book to Xanth fans!
My first Piers Anthony book, many many years ago, was the first Xanth novel, A Spell for Chameleon in 1977, and I loved it! I have read most of his books since then. Xanth is probably the only series of his that I have not read in its entirety, because there are so many. Isis Orb is #40
This is a typical Xanth novel, in where the Good Magician Humphrey gives out a quest to a citizen of Xanth, to give them a chance to find what they want. In this particular story, Hapless is the name of the main character who can conjure any musical instrument, but cannot play any of them, in fact, he is excruciatingly horrible at all of them. He wants to find the one instrument that he can play well. Humphrey sends him on the quest for the Isis Orb, a powerful device that may help him.
Not to spoil anything, Hapless is joined by 5 other companions seeking there own answers to their problems, that the Isis Orb can help with as well.
Its a fast and fun read, has zany characters, a good overall plot, and lots of juvenile humor... as is expected in Xanth novels. Its not a serious, epic, fantasy story, but no Xanth novel is. It is meant to be fun and is. I highly recommend this book to Xanth fans!
July 20, 2016
Last week I reviewed a collection of Pearls Before Swine and thought I’d gotten my recommended yearly allowance of puns. So why did I pick up a Xanth? Am I that self-destructive?
In this fortieth entry in the series, we get a guy called Hapless, who is well named at the beginning, but the fact he’s willing to learn belies that. One chapter in and he’s already lost the only girl he’s ever had a chance with; Hapless indeed. He’s forced to take a quest from an ornery magician, picking up companions along the way, especially a bunch of hot babes he quickly falls in love with. Everyone wants a wish granted, although not all of them will need the magic of the Isis Orb to make it come true.
Yes, it’s as silly as expected, and thankfully fun. Nothing groundbreaking, of course; would you expect such a thing in the fortieth installment of a series? Perhaps overlong; by the end of the story Hapless had forgotten about Cylla, and so had I.
Feline never kept her promise of hunting down the rat. . .
In this fortieth entry in the series, we get a guy called Hapless, who is well named at the beginning, but the fact he’s willing to learn belies that. One chapter in and he’s already lost the only girl he’s ever had a chance with; Hapless indeed. He’s forced to take a quest from an ornery magician, picking up companions along the way, especially a bunch of hot babes he quickly falls in love with. Everyone wants a wish granted, although not all of them will need the magic of the Isis Orb to make it come true.
Yes, it’s as silly as expected, and thankfully fun. Nothing groundbreaking, of course; would you expect such a thing in the fortieth installment of a series? Perhaps overlong; by the end of the story Hapless had forgotten about Cylla, and so had I.
Feline never kept her promise of hunting down the rat. . .
August 10, 2016
I loved this so much. Of course, I might be slightly biased since Piers Anthony is one of my very favorite authors. I grew up reading Piers Anthony, so his books always give me warm feelings. Anthony also continues to write old style "epic fantasy' in the style that I love. There's always a problem, a journey, companions, "minor" problems and challenges, and a resolution. I love seeing the reoccurring characters and scenes in the world of Xanth as well. And of course, puns, I LOVE the puns so much.
Isis Orb was an interesting mix of Egyptian and Xanth. We start out with Hapless, who's name describes him well. With one exception, he's willing to try and to learn and not be defined by his name. So of course Hapless goes to the Good Magician to see if he can get his wishes granted and find love. He gets sent on a quest to fetch the Isis Orb and ends up butting heads with the Egyptian Goddess Isis. Along the way Hapless learns that maybe he shouldn't have let himself be defined by his name, and that maybe things aren't always what they seem.
Isis Orb was an interesting mix of Egyptian and Xanth. We start out with Hapless, who's name describes him well. With one exception, he's willing to try and to learn and not be defined by his name. So of course Hapless goes to the Good Magician to see if he can get his wishes granted and find love. He gets sent on a quest to fetch the Isis Orb and ends up butting heads with the Egyptian Goddess Isis. Along the way Hapless learns that maybe he shouldn't have let himself be defined by his name, and that maybe things aren't always what they seem.
February 3, 2017
Xanth #40. Anthony's losing his touch as this (still pun-based, and therefore worth something) series grinds on.
June 21, 2024
I've known for a while that Frank L. Baum's Oz series was a major influence on Piers Anthony's Xanth series. But that is even more evident after having read one from each in close succession.
These books follow the basic template established in Oz (but with an older intended audience). The protagonist has some skills and one big issue and goes on a quest to solve that issue. First they go to the local Magician to ask him how to solve the issue, and then he sends them off on the quest to accomplish the Goal or acquire the McGuffin which will solve their problem. But in reality, it's the journey which leads them to their solution. Along the way, they will make friends and those friends also have skills and one major issue, so the protagonist will invite them along to see if the (wizard) Good Magician can help them solve their problem.
For these books, the issue isn't getting home. It's usually finding a love interest. In that way, these books are a sort of Fantasy/Romance novel - though admittedly a very pervy fantasy/romance novel.
They even go through the trouble of restating their skills and issues every time they make a new acquaintance. I do like the problem solving parts and generally cringe at the excessive puns (though thankfully those weren't as much of filler lists as I saw in some previous volumes). The book did what I expected it to do, be slightly entertaining and very easy to read.
As Xanth books go, this one is pretty true to the formula. You could toss it into the teens (popular era of the series) and I don't think anyone would even notice the difference. Personally, I'd like to see the author break new ground. But maybe Piers is getting a bit old for that.
These books follow the basic template established in Oz (but with an older intended audience). The protagonist has some skills and one big issue and goes on a quest to solve that issue. First they go to the local Magician to ask him how to solve the issue, and then he sends them off on the quest to accomplish the Goal or acquire the McGuffin which will solve their problem. But in reality, it's the journey which leads them to their solution. Along the way, they will make friends and those friends also have skills and one major issue, so the protagonist will invite them along to see if the (wizard) Good Magician can help them solve their problem.
For these books, the issue isn't getting home. It's usually finding a love interest. In that way, these books are a sort of Fantasy/Romance novel - though admittedly a very pervy fantasy/romance novel.
They even go through the trouble of restating their skills and issues every time they make a new acquaintance. I do like the problem solving parts and generally cringe at the excessive puns (though thankfully those weren't as much of filler lists as I saw in some previous volumes). The book did what I expected it to do, be slightly entertaining and very easy to read.
As Xanth books go, this one is pretty true to the formula. You could toss it into the teens (popular era of the series) and I don't think anyone would even notice the difference. Personally, I'd like to see the author break new ground. But maybe Piers is getting a bit old for that.
August 4, 2023
Another Xanth book, full of puns, panties, and passion. A man named Hapless is sent on a quest by the Good Magician Humfrey to find the titular wish-granting orb, which can only be obtained by finding five elemental tokens first. The protagonist is aptly named, but his awkward honesty and gumption apparently make him irresistible to women. But this is Xanth, where everyone is irresistible to someone, and often multiple people. Everybody ends up paired up, but no one seems to particularly care if there have been previous dalliances, and even marriages of convenience can become romantic. One woman flirts with Hapless and then leaves him in the first chapter, then there's a slightly more developed romance with Feline, woman who can turn into a cat, the he falls for Merge, one of the unpaired characters from the previous two books, and the goddess Isis herself wants to keep him. There are occasional bits of classical mythology in the series beyond just types of creatures, and here deities like Isis are said to be more powerful than the basic demons of Xanth, but not as much as the celestial Demons. At the same time, some of those Demons are implied to be the same as the Greco-Roman gods the planets are named after. Eventually, Hapless decides to have a relationship with Feline and then marry Merge, and both are them are okay with that. Other new characters in this book are hybrids: a zebra centaur, a dragon naga, a harpy dragon, and a flying centaur who is afraid of heights.
March 16, 2021
This effort was so much better than the last installment, that it was almost worthy of 2 1/2 stars, but almost all of the same conventions exist in this novel when compared with the other ones, that it remains unoriginal enough to stand on its own as a compelling novel. Things that I liked about the novel: 1). The good magician actually comes out of the castle, breaking 39 prior conventions 2). I did like the use of the Goddess Isis and her story somewhat incorporated into Xanth mythology quite well 3) the main thrust of the story was a bit different than it usually is because they had to retrieve an item with active opposition instead of dumb demon bets. Otherwise, it’s just another Xanth copycat. The characters are shallowly developed to the point where you can’t remember whose who, even though the author reminds us every other chapter, there is a main quest with helpers who have similar personal ambitions, the Conspiracy exists, the puns are horrible (although not as many since they are still collecting them in the plot), the panties have power, and the author despises either himself, the male ego, or both. Onwards!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2016
I've read science fiction and fantasy for, oh, millenia it seems! but apparently had never read anything by Piers Anthony, so when I saw the title offered on Netgalley I jumped at it. Of course, I jumped in at #40 in the series (Mr. Anthony has been writing at least as long as I've been reading) so was starting from scratch with no points of reference or even a vague knowledge of his style. Finding myself on a Quest, replete with puns and a hapless hero named (wait for it) . . . Hapless, I was much reminded of "The Princess Bride." And then I realized that in point of fact (or fiction) the scentiment (for there was, in fact, a certain sweet odor) must of necessity be reversed and that Mr. Goldman, original author of "Bride," might well be beholden to Mr. Anthony. OK, the puns in the book are catchy and catching--be warned! But this is a delightful tale with exactly the right ending and a few Naughty Bits despite the Adult Conspiracy. ENJOY! (I certainly did!)
December 8, 2017
An old-fashioned Xanth quest, with few Demons or demons, royalty, or magician-level talents! Great fun, overall. I enjoy this more nonviolent Xanth, where reason and music conquer enemies, rather than brute force.
The down sides: I wasn’t thrilled with Isis as a character or the all-powerful Orb - surely Anthony could have found a more scholarly source than Budge when doing his research.m! And why would a hero, warned of the dangers of the Orb, not wish for immunity from those dangers right off the bat? The bit with the shadows was nonsense - Isis should have been unable to miss that, according to her nature. I was also underwhelmed by the final solution to the two girlfriends problem. Convenient, but not true to the characters - or to Hapless’ “sex-> marriage” philosophy, stated during his temptation. More than a little creepy to have our hero bunk down each night with two girlfriends and a five year old...
The down sides: I wasn’t thrilled with Isis as a character or the all-powerful Orb - surely Anthony could have found a more scholarly source than Budge when doing his research.m! And why would a hero, warned of the dangers of the Orb, not wish for immunity from those dangers right off the bat? The bit with the shadows was nonsense - Isis should have been unable to miss that, according to her nature. I was also underwhelmed by the final solution to the two girlfriends problem. Convenient, but not true to the characters - or to Hapless’ “sex-> marriage” philosophy, stated during his temptation. More than a little creepy to have our hero bunk down each night with two girlfriends and a five year old...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2019
Well that was upsetting. I love the Xanth series, but this one was a huge flop for me. I think this is primarily due to timing. I have been working on getting the whole Xanth collection. That is more difficult that I expected. Generally I read the books as I am able to get ahold of them. Due to this, I recently read “A Well-Tempered Clavicle”. Isis Orb seemed like that story mixed with Swell Foop and regurgitated for sales. I think the way Isis was worked into the story was neat, but another musical troop was too much for me. I really struggled with getting through this one. Maybe when I have all the books and read them in order I will feel differently, but I doubt it. I didn’t really enjoy the first overly musically focused book, but at least it was new. This was not and for that it gets 2 stars.
July 27, 2019
I have been following Piers Anthony's Xanth series since reading A Spell For Chameleon in the late 70s. Isis Orb is #40 in the series, with the usual mixture of magic, puns, some suggestive behavior, and character growth during the book.
I found a few grammatical and punctuation errors in the Hardcover text: Page 134, and sheared away / and SHEERED away ("shear" means to clip or cut; "sheer" means to avoid by veering away) ; 151, Oh shut up and sleep / Oh, shut up ; 176, Hello Hapless / Hello, Hapless ; 182, regardless whom Hapless chooses / regardless OF whom ; 183, Well of course / Well, of course ; 204, help that just might maybe could enable the Quest / just might enable ("maybe could" is superfluous) ; 246, Third I could not touch / Third, I could .
I found a few grammatical and punctuation errors in the Hardcover text: Page 134, and sheared away / and SHEERED away ("shear" means to clip or cut; "sheer" means to avoid by veering away) ; 151, Oh shut up and sleep / Oh, shut up ; 176, Hello Hapless / Hello, Hapless ; 182, regardless whom Hapless chooses / regardless OF whom ; 183, Well of course / Well, of course ; 204, help that just might maybe could enable the Quest / just might enable ("maybe could" is superfluous) ; 246, Third I could not touch / Third, I could .
January 30, 2021
A Xanthian Sex Book.
Loved the book-don’t love all the references to sex. Mr. Piers made his money from kids begging for his early books-now his main focus is revolving around children and sex, panties and showing off private parts as a game. Take all that out, and it’s a great story. Put it in, and it’s almost child pornography. I’m ashamed for the author who evidently feels that he needs to cater to rapists and kidnappers. I’ve been reading him since 1983...and now I’m done. He lost my money and my respect. He’s an 84 year old man who has changed a magic wonderland into a cesspool of sex. My children have not and will not read his books. As for me, well, I needed firewood.
Loved the book-don’t love all the references to sex. Mr. Piers made his money from kids begging for his early books-now his main focus is revolving around children and sex, panties and showing off private parts as a game. Take all that out, and it’s a great story. Put it in, and it’s almost child pornography. I’m ashamed for the author who evidently feels that he needs to cater to rapists and kidnappers. I’ve been reading him since 1983...and now I’m done. He lost my money and my respect. He’s an 84 year old man who has changed a magic wonderland into a cesspool of sex. My children have not and will not read his books. As for me, well, I needed firewood.
May 21, 2019
It's been a while since I've visited Xanth, and I think the time away helped me appreciate the world again.
The characters all had fairly interesting development arcs, and I did care what happened to them in the end.
I like the idea of thinking outside the box. It appears that Anthony did that a bit as well himself on this novel.
The puns abound of course, but most of them felt more or less natural. The comic strip makes a mostly unwelcome appearance, but Ida's moons were only mentioned in passing and were not visited.
The characters all had fairly interesting development arcs, and I did care what happened to them in the end.
I like the idea of thinking outside the box. It appears that Anthony did that a bit as well himself on this novel.
The puns abound of course, but most of them felt more or less natural. The comic strip makes a mostly unwelcome appearance, but Ida's moons were only mentioned in passing and were not visited.
March 15, 2017
Anther Xanth novel - interestingly as revealed by the author based on an idea from a young fan. Obviously dusted up and shined by Mr Anthony, but nice to see the acknowledgement.
The normal '''quest' format is followed with some quite significant additions to the Xanthian canon with Isis (the Egyptian goddess) being found in Xanth. If you like Xanth you'll enjoy, if you're new to the series you might find it charming or annoying - who knows. Probably go back and find 'A Spell for Chameleon'
The normal '''quest' format is followed with some quite significant additions to the Xanthian canon with Isis (the Egyptian goddess) being found in Xanth. If you like Xanth you'll enjoy, if you're new to the series you might find it charming or annoying - who knows. Probably go back and find 'A Spell for Chameleon'
June 17, 2018
25 years since I last read a Xanth book, and it was both exactly what I remembered and at the same time worse than what I remembered. It's light and superficially entertaining, but feels somehow forced. I still enjoyed it, but definitely groaned rather than smiled at some of the humor - which when I read it as a teenager was light and fresh to me and the author, but now seems tired and overdone for both of us.
August 5, 2022
On Talent, Intellect, and Character
Hapless, a man from Xanth feels he has none of these qualities. His talent is conjuring musical instruments he can't play. He thinks he's not smart. He struggles to do what is right, even if that is often not clear. Yet the Magician Humphrey has chosen him to lead a complex and crucial quest. He is filled with self doubt. Yet the members of his quest trust him and several of the females love him. Must be doing something right.
Hapless, a man from Xanth feels he has none of these qualities. His talent is conjuring musical instruments he can't play. He thinks he's not smart. He struggles to do what is right, even if that is often not clear. Yet the Magician Humphrey has chosen him to lead a complex and crucial quest. He is filled with self doubt. Yet the members of his quest trust him and several of the females love him. Must be doing something right.
June 15, 2020
The Xanth books by Piers Anthony were one of the first SciFi/Fantasy series I ever read. I love puns so I have always enjoyed them. Upon re-reading them I can see that they have some weaknesses but overall they stand the test of time. They are a fun and fast read that keeps me amused without any deep thinking required.
April 4, 2022
I used to read Xanth a long time ago, back when I was a teenager and it was effectively the 90s. A Spell for Chameleon, Centaur Aisle, etc... are what I was most familiar with. My library subscribes to Overdrive so I thought to check out some Xanth one night when it was too late to go in to get a book. I figured, why not, I'll try it out and see what I find.
Much like other reviews you see here there is an abundance of panty references and it started to feel like gratuitous fan service. I'm not going to get into spoilers here but some things felt rushed for sure. I'm not sure I would even recommend this to my past teenage self to read.
Much like other reviews you see here there is an abundance of panty references and it started to feel like gratuitous fan service. I'm not going to get into spoilers here but some things felt rushed for sure. I'm not sure I would even recommend this to my past teenage self to read.
November 27, 2017
I won an uncorrected proof copy of this book during a Goodreads giveaway. I am under no obligation to leave a review or rating and do so voluntarily. So that others may also enjoy this book, I am paying it forward by donating it a local library.
May 18, 2017
Loved it as usual
I love all of the Xanth series books. This book is certainly no different. It was a wonderful journey to go on.
I love all of the Xanth series books. This book is certainly no different. It was a wonderful journey to go on.
July 29, 2017
Why do I keep reading this series? Sheer stubbornness I think.
October 31, 2017
This Xanth novel didn't have as many puns as usual. Still, it is a typical journey (quest) of enlightenment for the main characters.
July 10, 2018
I remember enjoying the Xanth novels many, many moons ago. Either they haven;t aged well or I haven't. I found this one tedious and distinctly unfunny.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews