Customer Reviews

Xone of Contention (Xanth, No. 23)

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

 

 

Xone of Contention is one of the most witty, funny and intelligent novel that Piers has written for the Xanth series. It really show how much Xanth has grown too since the first novel, Spell for Chameleon.

Although the book synopsis place Breanna and Justin as main characters, the reality is that this is Pia and Edsel show.

I really enjoy the novel. The parody about the Internet and computers are fun and to the point. The puns are nice too without being overbearing :-) In short this is a most buy book!!!

Hurry up and get your copy soon!

Piers Anthony has done it again this time. The latest Xanth novel is still filled with wonderful puns and imaginative adventures but is taking on a more adult tone as serious issues are explored. Not just sex, although there are the delightful sprinklings here and there, but themes like divorce and other mature situations are considered.

Several times in the Xanth series we have seen through mundanes' eyes as they explore and discover the magical world of Xanth. Now we get the almost child-like innocence of one of the most powerful beings as he explores Mundania ... without his awesome powers.

Since Piers has recently joined the world in surfing the internet, Xone of Contention playfully shows us how the world wide web and all of its components are viewed by Xanthians. Sometimes you wonder if the WWW is magic ... well in Xanth it is!!

Plenty of puns abound in this tale as well but they are not overdone this time. All in all a wonderful addition to the most magical place on Earth, Xone of Contention does the series proud.

Way to go Piers!

As a longtime reader of Piers Anthony's and also a longtime fan of Xanth, I always enjoy another good Xanth novel. I've been reading his books for about 15 years now and have read all of the Xanth books numerous times.

I take these books for what they are - a lighthearted romp in fantasy. They are fun, humourous, enjoyable, and also very interesting.

Xone of Contention is no different. If you are a Xanth fan, you'll enjoy this book also! Piers had some delightful new puns in here, as some other reviewers have pointed out. And I always enjoy it when he ventures into Mundania.

If I had to rank this book among all his other Xanth books, I'd put it in the top 75% of them. Not my most favorite, but very good. He explored some new themes in this book, like marriage and divorce, that were intriguing and make me want to re-read it. Of course, there was only 1 Xanth book that I was bored with, and that was the one that told the history of Good Magician Humfrey. Otherwise, they are all a lot of fun and worth a read!

This book is excellent! Some critics say that puns take away from the novel :( I think the puns are a major reason to read the novel. They're hilarious! This book abounds with puns, as does Xanth. So if you don't like puns, just DON'T read it! I love this book and hope you do to! ;-)

Ok, I just have to say it; this book wasn't as good as I was hoping it would be. I started the Xanth series when I was in fifth grade with the novel 'Harpy Thyme.' I loved the characters, the humor, and the guarenteed happy ending. Over the next year or so, I bought every single Xanth book published and read all of them anxiously awaiting the next to come out in paperback. I've noticed something recently, something I'm not really liking. His emphasis on sex, freaking out the guys, or panties in general is getting a bit tiring. Yes, I enjoy the little sex jokes, puns, and inuendos, but can't he start focusing on something else insted? I've also noticed that in the last novels he's placed a heavy emphasis on Mundania, which isn't necessairly a bad thing, but I read Xanth to get away from Mundania, not learn about computers. I laughed at the computer puns, I'll admit that, but I just wish he would focus more on Xanth. The land he created has captivated millions of readers and I doubt I'm the only one who wishes he would elaborate some more on that wonderful world. I read Xanth for the centaurs, mermaids, elves, goblins, the Gourd, the exotic animals and plants; I don't want to have Nimby riding around on a motorcycle.

I was slightly dissapointed with this one, but I'm looking forward to the Dastard, it sounds like a classic Xanth to me.

This is the best I have read about Xanth yet! I started reading Xanth novels with "Demons Don't Dream" and so of course I love to see how things turned out with Dug & Kim (yes, I do realize that they are fictional characters). The book immediately captivated me, I couldn't put it down for the three days it took me to read it (it only would have taken 1 day if I didn't have to work).

This is one of the better Xanth novels to have appeared in recent times. It features the adventures of Mundanes in Xanth, always a good subject for entertaining adventure (for example, "Demons Don't Dream" and "Yon Ill Wind") and the corresponding adventures of a Xanth couple in Mundania. Edsel and Pia, whom readers may remember as supporting cast members in "Demons Don't Dream", agree to visit Xanth as a last resort to save their failing marriage. They exchange bodies with Chlorine and Nimby from Xanth, who desire to visit Mundania. Naturally, both couples run into trouble along the way, and are forced to overcome all sorts of obstacles to find their way back home!

"Xone of Contention" is imbued with Piers Anthony's characteristic sense of humour (some readers may find this a little painful!), but isn't quite as jam-packed with excruciating puns as usual. I always feel that reading one of Anthony's novels gives me a peek into what is occurring in the author's life at the time- for example, Ed's struggles with "Macrohard" on his computer obviously mirror real-life problems! Some of the jokes do get tired after several repetitions; the Adult Conspiracy, for example, has been around for far too long! About time, then, that it got bent (if not broken)- as occurs during the course of the book.

As always in Xanth, there are happy endings for everyone. This fairytale magic may grate with some readers, but I find it rather comforting. Xanth is the land of childhood, where pies grow on trees and nobody ever dies (they just retire gracefully, or drink youth elixir). When the reality of life is just too depressing, you can always retreat to the bookshelf. It's pure escapism, so enjoy it!

Xone of Contention, though marred with puns, is a really good book. It's based a little off Zombie Lover and Demons Don't Dream, two other books from the series. Doug Mundane lost a wager a bit ago... it was for his friend's cycle or his girlfriend (Pia) to his friend (Edsel), Doug loosing Pia. Edsel and Pia's relationship is on the rocks where Edsel discovers a way into Xanth and arrange to switch paces with Chlorene and Nimby (an incarnate of the demon XANTH. But is this something demon EARTH would be happy about?

Until reading this book, Night Mare was my favorite Xanth novel. I love the way Mr. Anthony mixed an adventure in modern times with one in the magical land of Xanth. Also, being a diabetic I appreciate how he handled Pia's Diabetes. Most authors would have just mentioned it in passing without telling how this disease actually would affect someone on a quest of that nature. Very suspenseful and well worth reading. Cheer's Piers!!!

Xone of Contention was a very interesting book, for those of you who appreciate Xanth, you have to read the series from the beginning to really understand what's going on. This book did have a few more puns than normal but that was Piers trying to satisfy all of his fans, aside from that truly a book to read and enjoy!