Phthor [Paperback]

Piers Anthony (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1987

Phthor is the sequel to Chthon, less intricately structured and less complicated in plot, but still quite dark and ugly in theme and detail. Rather than flashbacks and flashforwards, it has a Y outline, with the stem the initial story and the ends alternate futures, neither of which is acceptable to Aton’s son Arlo. Arlo has his own encounter with a Minionette, and naturally destruction is upon him and all with whom he associates. Write/editor Charles Platt was so impressed with the chthonic setting that he wrote two additional sequels, Plasm and Soma, which are even darker and grimmer.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Piers Anthony is the acclaimed author of more than 100 novels and short story collections. His works include the Xanth series, the Mode series, Chthon and Total Recall. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 1 pages
• Publisher: Ace (June 1, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0441662382
• ISBN-13: 978-0441662388
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,624,231 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Piers Anthony is one of the world's most popular fantasy authors, and a New York Times bestseller twenty-one times over. His Xanth novels have been read and loved by millions of readers around the world, and he daily receives hundreds of letters from his devoted fans.In addition to the Xanth series, Anthony is the author of many other best-selling works. Piers Anthony lives in Inverness, Florida.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Classic Piers Anthony, March 6, 2003

By 

Hoodie Wilson (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Phthor (Paperback)

Phthor is certainly one of Anthony's better works, written during his more prolific period, and serving as a reminder that there's much more to Piers Anthony than Xanth. While Chthon is the preferable book in the series (there are 4, the first two written by Mr. Anthony himself, the latter two written by Charles Platt), Phthor holds its own as a good sequel. The subject matter is dark, and often frank (in the case of many of the main characters' perennial nudity), and presents many interesting themes throughout.

Worth the time, especially if you've read (and enjoyed) Chthon.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Phthor is a very good book, June 11, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Phthor (Paperback)

I really liked this book. The main character, Arlo, was pretty cool and the minionettes were also intriguing. Their inverse emotion telepathy was confusing at first, but once I got into the book, I understood it. This is a very good book. Read it, you'll enjoy it.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Phthor is B - A - N - A - N - A - S You will never forget the world of Chthon, March 18, 2010

By 

L. Nelson "The Bookkeeper" (Albuquerque, NM USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Phthor (Paperback)

I first read this story 25 years ago. I had never read Chthon. Phthor has remained with me to this day. What a wild, provocative, thought-provoking (I'm repeating myself, but wow) sci-fi re-imagining of Norse mythology, and specifically the concept of Ragnarok. HIGHLY recommended.

The world building is fantastic, and feels real. I had never read a story before where the concept of a society's failures not seeing themselves as failures but as normal, and the impact of that... I just really, really enjoyed where Piers Anthony went with that. This wasn't a utopia, it wasn't a dystopia, it was just life. Who is to say what is normal and what is not normal? Who is to say what is beautiful and what is grotesque? Who is to say what is acceptable and what is not acceptable? Who is to judge?


I would have loved to have seen some fantasy roleplay books based on this world (in spite of............. what happens at the end). I also would have loved to have known what was going on in Anthony's mind when he conceived of this living world. Again, HIGHLY recommended based only on the impact it had on me 25 years ago. I will give a new review if I happen to get my hands on a reprint, after reading it again.