The Willing Spirit [Hardcover]

Piers Anthony (Author), Alfred Tella (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1996

Hari leaves his native village on a quest for true wisdom, but unbeknownst to him, his journey becomes the subject of a wager between two immortals, the beautiful Mohini and the evil Ravana.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Bestselling fantasist Anthony (Yon Ill Wind) collaborates with the lesser-known Tella (Sundered Soul, 1990) to cook up a tale of light eroticism and occult adventure inspired by mythic Indian tales including the Ramayana. Mohini, the beautiful goddess of love, and the god Ravana, ugly and cruel and lustful, gamble over the fate of a human named Hari. If Hari, with Mohini's help, can seduce (or be seduced by) seven women before Ravana can get him killed, Mohini will win a century of peace from Ravana; if not, she'll owe the dark god "a century of erotic frenzy." Despite Ravana's best efforts, Hari's life rarely seems to be at serious risk, with the ensuing story emphasizing the human's romantic adventures and misadventures with lovers, including a servant girl, a she-demon, a man-hating priestess of Kali and an invisible ghost. Finally, political plots are uncovered, and Hari, rescued from Ravana's last trap, marries the only partner suitable after such escapades. This smooth confection provides spirited entertainment for adults and just enough sexual detail to interest Anthony's large adolescent readership.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

The goddess Mohini wants romance and peace, while the male god Ravana wants sex and violence. To stop his incessant sexual advances, Mohini proposes a game. Hari is their unwitting human pawn. If Mohini can seduce Hari with seven different women before Ravana's mortal men kill Hari, she wins a century of peace. If not, she succumbs to Ravana's erotic frenzy. Hari travels from his village to discover himself while the gods tweak those around him to provide sensual temptation, pleasure, and danger. An unusual plot, skillfully rendered. Recommended for fantasy collections.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 287 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books; 1st edition (December 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312862660
• ISBN-13: 978-0312862664
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,219,328 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:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful adventure in the land of India, February 21, 2000

By 

Marisol Ramos - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Willing Spirit (Hardcover)

The Wlling Spirit is a must read novel for those in love with mythology, India, playful deities and honest but sometimes naive males:-)This first novel of Alfred Tella in collaboration with Piers Anthony was great. Full of details about Indian religions and beliefs, it opened a window to a wonderful world full of colors and smells. The idea of a wager between a horrible demon and beautiful deity is not new, but in this novel it is innovative and fun to read. If you want a fun reading, with colorful characters and places, this is the book to read.

Enjoy! I know that I already did :-)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A novel novel, April 18, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Willing Spirit (Hardcover)

In this modern world of computers and skyscrapers it's always nice to be able to escape into the realm of fantasy. This little sojurn takes the reader to the India of the past where a young Brahmin, Hari, goes out into the world to learn of life only to become a pawn in a game of the Gods. Who shall win? Shall Hari be killed or seduced? Only the Gods know and this will keep you in suspense the whole time. There are amusing adventures that will make you laugh out loud, but hang on to your seat or you'll be lost in the action. There is no hidden plot and very little hidden meaning, but this is a great little novel just to read for the sheer pleasure of it. Happy reading!

4.0 out of 5 stars A Hindu Fantasy, June 24, 2004

By 

Joshua Koppel (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Willing Spirit (Paperback)

THE WILLING SPIRIT by Piers Anthony and Alfred Tella is a very refreshing novel. Written mostly by Tella with only a small involvement by Anthony this is a tale straight out of Hindu mythology. Two spirits, one female and pulchritudinous and the other male, crude and violent, form a wager as to the effectiveness of their methods. They will each have seven chances to cause a chosen mortal's seduction or destruction. The target is a young Brahmin who has decided to take a journey of discovery.

During the Brahmin's travels he becomes involved with nobles, the Rajah, powerful religious figures and many other interesting and colorful people. Needless to say he is still alive at the end when he returns to his home village.

I do not pretend to be an expert on Hindu mythology and beliefs but the story seemed consistent and well researched. The only flaw I found involved a pair of conjoined twins who were not identical (while possibly lifted from some Hindu tale it is scientifically impossible). With the usual assortment of Arthurian and Medieval European fantasies stocking the shelves THE WILLING SPIRIT bings the same fresh approach that BRIDGE OF BIRDS did last decade. While I hope I don't have to wait another decade for something similar, this one is well worth seeking out.