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186 of 189 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Be it ever so humble, there's no penis like your own, March 22, 2001
I'm not certain a wilder fantasy can be had. An incubus/succubus, magical smegma, a set of detachable, interchangable penises of various sizes & functions, demons, & a woman scientist who doesn't know the meaning of the word "No" nor how a man values his own penis. This is Piers Anthony boldly rushing in where Mrs. Grundy fears to tread. I enjoy his novels, and this one was no exception. I read it long before I had discovered Xanth, Tarot, or the Incarnations of Immortality. I don't think I had yet read the first Phaze trilogy. What an introduction! This book stood alone in it's own right--one doesn't have to be an Anthony fan to enjoy it. I was attracted to the taboo-violating nature of the basic plot device: Evil scientist removes man's stubby little penis & gives him a wide range of accessories (with full sensate functioning) to replace it. Man goes on quest to obtain techno-magical item to exchange for his original organ. The theme of "a quest to obtain something magical so the wizard will return what is rightfully yours" is a tired old theme. Applying it to a man's =PENIS= returns it to novelty! Once you get past the creative audacity, this reads like any other Anthony novel. The characters don't have a lot of depth (the hero seems to occupy a fractal dimension larger than two but fails to achieve a full three dimensions). Who cares? His creativity is legendary--and this book showcases it well. Lots of challenges, action & even the odd pun, all played out in a sci-fi-magico-phantasy-sexual arena. Yes, there are some very interesting forms of coupling portrayed in this book. I would hesitate to label it erotica, and certainly =NOT= consider it pornography. It's not a one-handed read. Think of it more as a Xanth novel you'd hate to explain to a pre-pubescent! This is as violent as any quest novel, but the sexual arena for the quest makes the violence less palatable. Three stars for characterization. Four stars for plot. Five stars for shear audacity. If you've got an open & adventurous mind, don't miss this unique book. (If you liked this review, please read my other reviews at Amazon.com. Thanks, Elderbear)
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58 of 60 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
HOLY SMEGMA!, September 1, 2003
This review is from: Pornucopia (Paperback)
When I picked up my first Xanth book at 14 and learned about the adult conspiracy, little did I know what I was going to get myself into later. Pornucopia was a completely different beast than the punny Xanth series, whimsical Adept series, the more philosophical Incarnation series, or anything else by my favorite author. Although the writing style had the same basic flavor as Anthony's other writing, Pornucopia had a distinct campy flavor to it, as if there was not put alot of effort into the book. On the other hand, the story was well connected to itself and the plot flowed very smoothly. As usual, the book was incredibly amusing and entertaining...but this one had the added plus of being ultimately naughty. The book showed us even more of Anthony's playful side. Each section was well written and entertaining, and the characters all had a presence that was impossible to ignore. It was hard not to be enchanted with a succubus, demons, venereal disease-healing smegma, detatchable penises of a variety of forms, wanton sexual exploits and abundant ejaculations of creativity. Highly recommendable!
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32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Strangely Interesting Story, January 5, 1998
By A Customer
Pornucopia is a combination of fantasy and erotica. Piers Anthony only sells this book to persons over 21 years of age. It is the story of a man who finds he holds a cure for venereal disease on his, um, genitalia (sp?). Because this is so important, his genitalia is/are removed and he is given a substitute. The rest of the book details his quest to get his genitalia back. The premise of this book is so outlandish and ludicrous that it is enjoyable to read. I did a lot of laughing and eye-brow raising. However, it is not for the conservative or faint of heart. If you are an adult and a diehard Piers Anthony fan, I would recommend this book. Especially if you are open-minded. Otherwise, you probably won't enjoy the story. It's pretty darn wierd. I'd have to say that I've never read anything quite like it.
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