Customer Reviews

Ogre, Ogre: (#5) (Xanth)

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

First, I don't read SF as a rule, but someone left this book at my house, so I picked it up. What a great read - the puns and wordplays captured my interest, and now I've found myself reading and re-reading looking for things I missed the previous times through. I've gotten so hooked I've ordered other books from the Xanth series. I'd definitely recommend this one to SF fans and non-fans alike.

Smash is lovable. It's these types of books that make me always doubt whether it's real or not...scary... Anyway, I always rate Anthony's books a 5 star. But in Xanth (my fave series) the style of writing is a lot better in the first trilogy of 9 or so then in the later parts of the series, while the later part of the series all have better plots. It's a balance. I still like the idea of magic being so close yet inacessible because I don't believe hard enough... Read the whole series (in order). If not the whole series, then start reading with A Spell for Chameleon and stop when you feel like it (not in the middle of a book, of course, the endings are always great.) Anthony Rocks!

Ogre, Ogre has a myriad of magical creatures residing in the land of Xanth: ogres, fairies, nymphs, centaurs, goblins, dragons, dryads, brassies and more. As in a typical Xanth novel, our two heroes, Smash the Half Ogre and Tandy the Nymph Girl, approach the Good Magician Humphrey for answers to their questions. When Smash arrives, Tandy has served the customary year for her answer. Smash, being a normally stupid ogre, couldn't even remember what question he wanted to ask the Magician. The quest for both of their answers pairs Smash and Tandy up on the way to the home of the Ancestral Ogres. Along the way, Smash also becomes the protector of 6 other females with quests of their own. Plot twists occur as Smash battles for his and Tandy's souls in the gourd world from the Night Stallion himself. There are violent battles with several kinds of monsters, and Smash must decide whether to draw upon his ogre strength or his human intellect. It is only after Smash and Tandy reach their destination that they both realize how the Magician answered their questions for the best.

I don't necessarily see how the conclusion of this story makes sense, even in Xanth, but it was still enjoyable to read. I like the orge rhyming speech.

While not a fan of Piers Anthony's mass market, book-pumping, auto-pilot, assembly line machine scheme, there are some noteworthy books in his otherwise generic and bland Xanth series. Having read all 18 or 20 books of the series, (they begin to grate on the mind) I must say that his first few books were his best. Ogre, Ogre, written so long ago was still fresh, the puns whimsical and the characters lovable. Good popcorn reading. Three star rating is given because I do not believe it is a classic, it does not distinguish itself enough from its brethren and all in all people are too generous with their ratings.

I have read all the Xanth books up to Vale of the Vole, and Ogre, Ogre is my absolute favorite! It's fabulous! This is a romantic and adventurous story about an ogre-human cross, Smash, who finds out that he's not quite as stupid and fierce as he (and everyone else) always thought he was. My favorite part is '"Ogre, ogre, burning bright-" "Ogres don't burn!" "They do when they're stepping across the firewall," Tandy said, "trying to fetch a boat so the rest of us can navigate past the Loan Sharks. That's what reminded Chem of the poem, she said. The flaming ogre. Anyway, the poem tells how they go through the jungle in the night, the fiery ogres, and are fearfully awful." "Yes," Smash said, becoming pleased with the image. "We had a good laugh. You aren't fearful at all, to us. You're a big, wonderful, blundering ball of fur, and we wouldn't trade you for anything." "No matter how brightly I burn," Smash agreed ruefully.'

This book is hilarious. Great puns. Smash is an ogre. They love to fight, the uglier the better and brains is something to be avoided. It has some great fights which shiows the strength of an ogre. Smash runs into an Eye Queue (IQ) vine and becomes smart. He regards it as a curse, as ogres are proud of their stupidity. Ogres are also soulless, emotionless creatures, and Smash is not; over the course of the adventure he becomes more and more of what we would call humanlike. Though Smash knows he is an Ogre. His adventure triggers new feelings, which at first he doesn't understand, and eventually becomes comfortable with the idea of being a soulful human being while maintaining the ability to bash someone's brain in at need. When you remeber Smash's speach panterens, you forget how horrible Ogres' are suppose to be. A must read.

I just finished Ogre, Ogre,and I must say it isn't quite what I expected, but it is pretty good none the less. The usual odd plants and creatures abound,
but the end of the story could be the begining of a whole new story line. I really don't wish to give the story away, but if there is a tender spot in
your soul, I believe you will like this book.

have fun

I LOVED THIS BOOK. Me and my children read it all huddled up in my living room. So much family fun. ENOUGH SAID.

I'm a longtime Piers Anthony fan. When some of my earlier copies of his Xanth series began to become worn through multiple readings, I decided to order new copies for myself. However, it turns out that the publisher no longer produces this series with the same quality that they used to. The font is blurry and difficult to read; I ordered 4 new Xanth novels, and every one of them suffered the same problem.

Disappointed, I contacted the publisher directly with my concerns. They instructed me to email them the UPC codes for each of the books, as well as some other information about each book. Then, they told me to ship the books to them via UPS and to include a copy of my shipping receipt in the package. They told me that I'd be sent a check to compensate me for the amount of the return shipping.

A day after following the publisher's instructions, they've emailed me to tell me that the problem with the clarity of the books' text is the fault of the font they used; thus, they can do nothing for me except send me replacement copies of all 4 books that have the exact same problem.

I can't say how disappointed I am. I will never order Del Ray books again--at least, not until they correct their quality problems.

We started reading this book because we found it on a bookshelf at a bar, and the inside cover was so intriguing/absurd that my boyfriend wanted to steal it!! Sooo, I said if he didn't still it I would buy it for him, and here we are...

Ogre, Ogre came well within the delivery date time frame, and looked as great as it does in the picture. I had absolutely no problems with this order, and it came in perfect condition.