Xanth
Encyclopedia
Xanth is a fantasy world
created by author Piers Anthony
for his Xanth series of novels, also known as The Magic of Xanth.
Anthony commonly states that he originally intended for Xanth to be a trilogy
, and after the wild success of the first three books decided to expand the series to nine books. An extremely devoted fan base persuaded the author to continue writing the series, which is now open-ended. He has since declared, in the Author's Notes of Cube Route, that this 27th book ended the first "magical trilogy" and that he was beginning a new one with the 28th, punning on the fact that 27 is the third power of three, i.e. three cubed.
In an interview with Agony Booth.com, Anthony stated that he's kept the series going as long as he has because the Xanth novels are "just about the only thing the publishers want" from him.
ability, called a talent. With the exception of the curse fiends and the child Surprise Golem (Daughter of Rapunzel and Grundy Golem), these abilities never repeat exactly in individuals throughout the entire history of Xanth (although nearly identical talents show up on occasion.) Though many talents are limited in scope (called the "spot-on-a-wall" variety), the series focuses mainly on individuals with "Magician" caliber abilities (one of the criteria for serving as King of Xanth).
In addition to the human characters, Xanth is populated by centaur
s, demon
s, dragon
s, faun
s, gargoyle
s, goblin
s, golem
s, harpies
, merfolk
, naga, nymph
s, ogre
s, zombie
s, curse fiends, and other fictional beasts. Though initially introduced as obstacles to the human characters, some individuals from those groups become main characters in later books of the series.
As the series progresses, some of the half-human species are discovered to have the potential to possess magical talents. The centaurs of the primary centaur community, Centaur Isle, exile any centaurs who demonstrate a magical talent (although some centaur communities are more lenient about possession of talent); however, they tolerate talents in "lesser" races such as humans. Goblins and harpies are shown to have the potential to possess half-talents, the complementary half existing in a member of the other species, (i.e., a goblin must team with a harpy for them to utilize their talent); the hostility between goblins and harpies proved a major obstacle to any serious effort by them to work together to develop these potential talents. Other non-human species are also shown to possess potential for talents.
, which, similar to the chasm, is generally forgotten except for those who stumble upon it. The Gap is guarded by a resident dragon, known as Stanley Steamer, and is crossed by means of treacherous bridges. Many of Xanth's other geographical features are puns on those of Florida (for example, Lake Ogre-Chobee
and the Kiss-Mee River
). The Florida Keys
also exist, though they are, in Xanth, actual key
s. Other punnish features include the Isle of View ("I love you") and the Centaur Aisle created by a magician from the Centaur Isle. The moon
is close enough that flying creatures may land there; one side is sweet and honey
ish, the other has turned away and become curdled cheese
, due to observing what has happened on Earth and Xanth. Plants may bear fruit
of all descriptions (pie trees and shoe trees are common) or they may be carnivorous (such as the tangle trees), making travel in Xanth risky.
Xanth has a connection with the normal world, which is referred to as "Mundania," its people are called "Mundanes". Although any citizen of Xanth can enter Mundania at any time through an isthmus in the northwest, Mundanes enter the isthmus in Xanth from random geographic locations and time periods throughout history. In other words, Xanth does not seem to be a fixed location or time in the mundane world; and the timeline between Xanth and Mundania seems to jump backwards and forwards. For example, within a normal citizen of Xanth's lifetime, an American Mundane from 2008 could walk across the isthmus as well as an Egyptian Mundane from 3,000 B.C.; however, Mundanes seem to have trouble finding Xanth on a consistent basis, making any travel to Xanth a somewhat rare occurrence. Despite these seeming difficulties, Xanth was colonized in several waves by groups of invaders and nomads from Mundania over the course of several centuries. The series ties these colonization events to actual historical events on Earth
, most notably the Punic wars
.
At its core, the Adult Conspiracy seeks to protect child
ren from knowledge that could bring them to great harm. The precise age for entering into the world of the adults is age 18, corresponding to the age of majority
in most places. The primary principle that inducts children into the Conspiracy is the understanding of the secret of "summoning the stork
". In Xanthian terms, "summoning the stork" literally means to put out a call to summon a stork which will deliver to the couple a child. In Isle of View
, it is revealed that summoning the stork will release an "ellipsis
" (...) into the air to fly off to the stork. This is a play on the joke that all the "adult" things happen after a paragraph ends in an ellipsis. Most inductees actually discover the specifics of the act "by accident" after marriage, or under the influence of a love spring (a magical spring which causes two drinkers, not necessarily human, or even of the same species, to fall madly, and lustfully, in love with one another at first sight).
Other faculties of the Adult Conspiracy include:
It is important to note that there have been occasions when children gained access to the Adult Conspiracy prematurely. One case is that of Jenny Elf, Che Centaur, and Gwenny Goblin, three children who had to be given access to the Adult Conspiracy when Gwenny received a pair of contact lens
es that corrected her poor eyesight while giving her the ability to see others' dream
s (some of which could contain Conspiracy material). In one rare instance, a little girl was born with the magic talent of immunity to the magical censorship Adult Conspiracy, causing her family much distress. This was remedied with a vial of lethe
water which erased her memory
.
, depending on the Mundane language being spoken. Often, the language is a simple shift in the alphabet, a letter or two forwards or backwards (See Caesar cipher
). For example, the word "What?" is the Xanthan translation of "Xibu?" (one character after, when Mundanes speak modern English), "Vgzs?" (one character before, in the language spoken by King Oary in Centaur Aisle
), or "Yjcv?" (two characters after, spoken by the Avars
, also in Centaur Aisle
).
They are one of the earlier races in Xanth and are known for their talent to throw curses at their enemies. They are believed to be the primary cause for several different settings in Xanth: 1) the land of Air, 2) the land of Earth, 3) the land of Fire, 4) the land of Water (also called the Water Wing), and 5) the Void.
The story about how these regions were created is described in Demons Don't Dream
.
The curse fiends in the present day Xanth stay close to their own community where they put on plays. Because of this, they are widely known for their acting skills.
on November 2 & opened on November 13, 2011.
[Citation Needed]
Act ll
Fantasy world
A fantasy world is a fictional universe used in fantasy novels and games. Typical worlds involve magic or magical abilities and often, but not always, either a medieval or futuristic theme...
created by author Piers Anthony
Piers Anthony
Piers Anthony Dillingham Jacob is an English American writer in the science fiction and fantasy genres, publishing under the name Piers Anthony. He is most famous for his long-running novel series set in the fictional realm of Xanth.Many of his books have appeared on the New York Times Best...
for his Xanth series of novels, also known as The Magic of Xanth.
History
The name Xanth is in itself an unintentional pun, which matches the playful tone of the books. Anthony has said that the coincidence of the word Xanth sounding like a portion of his name ("Pier-XANTH-Ony") was unintentional, and in fact he only realized this years after the series was created.Anthony commonly states that he originally intended for Xanth to be a trilogy
Trilogy
A trilogy is a set of three works of art that are connected, and that can be seen either as a single work or as three individual works. They are commonly found in literature, film, or video games...
, and after the wild success of the first three books decided to expand the series to nine books. An extremely devoted fan base persuaded the author to continue writing the series, which is now open-ended. He has since declared, in the Author's Notes of Cube Route, that this 27th book ended the first "magical trilogy" and that he was beginning a new one with the 28th, punning on the fact that 27 is the third power of three, i.e. three cubed.
In an interview with Agony Booth.com, Anthony stated that he's kept the series going as long as he has because the Xanth novels are "just about the only thing the publishers want" from him.
Inhabitants and talents
Each human character in Xanth is born with a unique magicalMagic (paranormal)
Magic is the claimed art of manipulating aspects of reality either by supernatural means or through knowledge of occult laws unknown to science. It is in contrast to science, in that science does not accept anything not subject to either direct or indirect observation, and subject to logical...
ability, called a talent. With the exception of the curse fiends and the child Surprise Golem (Daughter of Rapunzel and Grundy Golem), these abilities never repeat exactly in individuals throughout the entire history of Xanth (although nearly identical talents show up on occasion.) Though many talents are limited in scope (called the "spot-on-a-wall" variety), the series focuses mainly on individuals with "Magician" caliber abilities (one of the criteria for serving as King of Xanth).
In addition to the human characters, Xanth is populated by centaur
Centaur
In Greek mythology, a centaur or hippocentaur is a member of a composite race of creatures, part human and part horse...
s, demon
Demon
call - 1347 531 7769 for more infoIn Ancient Near Eastern religions as well as in the Abrahamic traditions, including ancient and medieval Christian demonology, a demon is considered an "unclean spirit" which may cause demonic possession, to be addressed with an act of exorcism...
s, dragon
Dragon
A dragon is a legendary creature, typically with serpentine or reptilian traits, that feature in the myths of many cultures. There are two distinct cultural traditions of dragons: the European dragon, derived from European folk traditions and ultimately related to Greek and Middle Eastern...
s, faun
Faun
The faun is a rustic forest god or place-spirit of Roman mythology often associated with Greek satyrs and the Greek god Pan.-Origins:...
s, gargoyle
Gargoyle
In architecture, a gargoyle is a carved stone grotesque, usually made of granite, with a spout designed to convey water from a roof and away from the side of a building thereby preventing rainwater from running down masonry walls and eroding the mortar between...
s, goblin
Goblin
A goblin is a legendary evil or mischievous illiterate creature, a grotesquely evil or evil-like phantom.They are attributed with various abilities, temperaments and appearances depending on the story and country of origin. In some cases, goblins have been classified as constantly annoying little...
s, golem
Golem
In Jewish folklore, a golem is an animated anthropomorphic being, created entirely from inanimate matter. The word was used to mean an amorphous, unformed material in Psalms and medieval writing....
s, harpies
Harpy
In Greek mythology, a harpy was one of the winged spirits best known for constantly stealing all food from Phineas...
, merfolk
Merfolk
Merfolk may refer to mythical/fictional creatures:*Merperson *Merfolk *Merfolk *Merfolk...
, naga, nymph
Nymph
A nymph in Greek mythology is a female minor nature deity typically associated with a particular location or landform. Different from gods, nymphs are generally regarded as divine spirits who animate nature, and are usually depicted as beautiful, young nubile maidens who love to dance and sing;...
s, ogre
Ogre
An ogre is a large, cruel, monstrous, and hideous humanoid monster, featured in mythology, folklore, and fiction. Ogres are often depicted in fairy tales and folklore as feeding on human beings, and have appeared in many classic works of literature...
s, zombie
Zombie
Zombie is a term used to denote an animated corpse brought back to life by mystical means such as witchcraft. The term is often figuratively applied to describe a hypnotized person bereft of consciousness and self-awareness, yet ambulant and able to respond to surrounding stimuli...
s, curse fiends, and other fictional beasts. Though initially introduced as obstacles to the human characters, some individuals from those groups become main characters in later books of the series.
As the series progresses, some of the half-human species are discovered to have the potential to possess magical talents. The centaurs of the primary centaur community, Centaur Isle, exile any centaurs who demonstrate a magical talent (although some centaur communities are more lenient about possession of talent); however, they tolerate talents in "lesser" races such as humans. Goblins and harpies are shown to have the potential to possess half-talents, the complementary half existing in a member of the other species, (i.e., a goblin must team with a harpy for them to utilize their talent); the hostility between goblins and harpies proved a major obstacle to any serious effort by them to work together to develop these potential talents. Other non-human species are also shown to possess potential for talents.
Geography
Geographically, modern Xanth resembles real-life peninsulas. One major example to this is the Gap Chasm, an enormous canyon a mile wide which completely bisects the country, which parallels the DMZ of the Korean Peninsula. The position of the Chasm could also correspond with the Cross Florida Barge CanalCross Florida Barge Canal
The Cross Florida Barge Canal was a canal project to connect the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean across Florida for barge traffic. Two sections were built but the project was cancelled, mainly for environmental reasons. It is now a protected green belt corridor, one mile wide...
, which, similar to the chasm, is generally forgotten except for those who stumble upon it. The Gap is guarded by a resident dragon, known as Stanley Steamer, and is crossed by means of treacherous bridges. Many of Xanth's other geographical features are puns on those of Florida (for example, Lake Ogre-Chobee
Lake Okeechobee
Lake Okeechobee , locally referred to as The Lake or The Big O, is the largest freshwater lake in the state of Florida. It is the seventh largest freshwater lake in the United States and the second largest freshwater lake contained entirely within the lower 48 states...
and the Kiss-Mee River
Kissimmee River
The Kissimmee River is a river in south-central Florida, United States.-Course:The Kissimmee River arises in Osceola County as the outflow from East Lake Tohopekaliga, passing through Lake Tohopekaliga, Lake Cypress, Lake Hatchineha and Lake Kissimmee...
). The Florida Keys
Florida Keys
The Florida Keys are a coral archipelago in southeast United States. They begin at the southeastern tip of the Florida peninsula, about south of Miami, and extend in a gentle arc south-southwest and then westward to Key West, the westernmost of the inhabited islands, and on to the uninhabited Dry...
also exist, though they are, in Xanth, actual key
Key (lock)
A key is an instrument that is used to operate a lock. A typical key consists of two parts: the blade, which slides into the keyway of the lock and distinguishes between different keys, and the bow, which is left protruding so that torque can be applied by the user. The blade is usually intended to...
s. Other punnish features include the Isle of View ("I love you") and the Centaur Aisle created by a magician from the Centaur Isle. The moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
is close enough that flying creatures may land there; one side is sweet and honey
Honey
Honey is a sweet food made by bees using nectar from flowers. The variety produced by honey bees is the one most commonly referred to and is the type of honey collected by beekeepers and consumed by humans...
ish, the other has turned away and become curdled cheese
Cheese
Cheese is a generic term for a diverse group of milk-based food products. Cheese is produced throughout the world in wide-ranging flavors, textures, and forms....
, due to observing what has happened on Earth and Xanth. Plants may bear fruit
Fruit
In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...
of all descriptions (pie trees and shoe trees are common) or they may be carnivorous (such as the tangle trees), making travel in Xanth risky.
Xanth has a connection with the normal world, which is referred to as "Mundania," its people are called "Mundanes". Although any citizen of Xanth can enter Mundania at any time through an isthmus in the northwest, Mundanes enter the isthmus in Xanth from random geographic locations and time periods throughout history. In other words, Xanth does not seem to be a fixed location or time in the mundane world; and the timeline between Xanth and Mundania seems to jump backwards and forwards. For example, within a normal citizen of Xanth's lifetime, an American Mundane from 2008 could walk across the isthmus as well as an Egyptian Mundane from 3,000 B.C.; however, Mundanes seem to have trouble finding Xanth on a consistent basis, making any travel to Xanth a somewhat rare occurrence. Despite these seeming difficulties, Xanth was colonized in several waves by groups of invaders and nomads from Mundania over the course of several centuries. The series ties these colonization events to actual historical events on Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
, most notably the Punic wars
Punic Wars
The Punic Wars were a series of three wars fought between Rome and Carthage from 264 B.C.E. to 146 B.C.E. At the time, they were probably the largest wars that had ever taken place...
.
The Adult Conspiracy
First mentioned in Crewel Lye, the Adult Conspiracy is one of the prominent features of the Xanth world. Nearly all subsequent books contains references to the Conspiracy and its effects, particularly those novels in which the main characters are children.At its core, the Adult Conspiracy seeks to protect child
Child
Biologically, a child is generally a human between the stages of birth and puberty. Some vernacular definitions of a child include the fetus, as being an unborn child. The legal definition of "child" generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger than the age of majority...
ren from knowledge that could bring them to great harm. The precise age for entering into the world of the adults is age 18, corresponding to the age of majority
Age of majority
The age of majority is the threshold of adulthood as it is conceptualized in law. It is the chronological moment when minors cease to legally be considered children and assume control over their persons, actions, and decisions, thereby terminating the legal control and legal responsibilities of...
in most places. The primary principle that inducts children into the Conspiracy is the understanding of the secret of "summoning the stork
Sexual reproduction
Sexual reproduction is the creation of a new organism by combining the genetic material of two organisms. There are two main processes during sexual reproduction; they are: meiosis, involving the halving of the number of chromosomes; and fertilization, involving the fusion of two gametes and the...
". In Xanthian terms, "summoning the stork" literally means to put out a call to summon a stork which will deliver to the couple a child. In Isle of View
Isle of View
Isle of View is the thirteenth book of the Xanth series by Piers Anthony.-Plot introduction:Che, Chex Centaur’s winged foal, has been kidnapped by a group of goblins. It is up to Jenny, a girl from the world of Two Moons, to save him. Dolph finally has to decide who to marry: Electra or Naga...
, it is revealed that summoning the stork will release an "ellipsis
Ellipsis
Ellipsis is a series of marks that usually indicate an intentional omission of a word, sentence or whole section from the original text being quoted. An ellipsis can also be used to indicate an unfinished thought or, at the end of a sentence, a trailing off into silence...
" (...) into the air to fly off to the stork. This is a play on the joke that all the "adult" things happen after a paragraph ends in an ellipsis. Most inductees actually discover the specifics of the act "by accident" after marriage, or under the influence of a love spring (a magical spring which causes two drinkers, not necessarily human, or even of the same species, to fall madly, and lustfully, in love with one another at first sight).
Other faculties of the Adult Conspiracy include:
- CensorshipCensorshipthumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
of foul languageProfanityProfanity is a show of disrespect, or a desecration or debasement of someone or something. Profanity can take the form of words, expressions, gestures, or other social behaviors that are socially constructed or interpreted as insulting, rude, vulgar, obscene, desecrating, or other forms.The...
- All foul words contain the ability to cause various effects (the wilting of plants (negative), removal of curse burrs (positive), etc.). These are automatically bleepedThomas BowdlerThomas Bowdler was an English physician who published an expurgated edition of William Shakespeare's work, edited by his sister Harriet, intended to be more appropriate for 19th century women and children than the original....
when said in the presence of someone who has yet to be inducted. - Visual access to underwear - Because underwear is so closely tied to sexualityHuman sexualityHuman sexuality is the awareness of gender differences, and the capacity to have erotic experiences and responses. Human sexuality can also be described as the way someone is sexually attracted to another person whether it is to opposite sexes , to the same sex , to either sexes , or not being...
(even more so than nudity in Xanth), men become automatically "freaked out" when they view panties. This is made a common joke, most prominently in the novel The Color of Her PantiesThe Color of Her PantiesThe Color of Her Panties is the fifteenth book of the Xanth series by Piers Anthony.-Plot introduction:Mela Merwoman, one of the protagonists of The Color of Her Panties, was introduced in Heaven Cent attempting to trick Prince Dolph into marrying her. Still desperate for a husband, Mela goes to...
, and is often used by women to gain advantage over men. Panties only carry their effects when worn, but because of their nature, they are forbidden to be shown to children. - Inability to have childish fun - Children believe that once they join the Adult Conspiracy, they will no longer have pillow fights, eat sweets and drink "tsoda popka" (soda popSoft drinkA soft drink is a non-alcoholic beverage that typically contains water , a sweetener, and a flavoring agent...
), or want to have funFunFun is the enjoyment of pleasure and, according to Johan Huizinga, "an absolutely primary category of life, familiar to everybody at a glance right down to the animal level." Fun may be encountered in many human activities during work, social functions, recreation and play, and even seemingly...
. While this belief is exaggerated, the entry to the Conspiracy does cause the couple to lose their bed monster, inadvertently creating the appearance of losing all childhood spirit under the responsibility of Adulthood.
It is important to note that there have been occasions when children gained access to the Adult Conspiracy prematurely. One case is that of Jenny Elf, Che Centaur, and Gwenny Goblin, three children who had to be given access to the Adult Conspiracy when Gwenny received a pair of contact lens
Contact lens
A contact lens, or simply contact, is a lens placed on the eye. They are considered medical devices and can be worn to correct vision, for cosmetic or therapeutic reasons. In 2004, it was estimated that 125 million people use contact lenses worldwide, including 28 to 38 million in the United...
es that corrected her poor eyesight while giving her the ability to see others' dream
Dream
Dreams are successions of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations that occur involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep. The content and purpose of dreams are not definitively understood, though they have been a topic of scientific speculation, philosophical intrigue and religious...
s (some of which could contain Conspiracy material). In one rare instance, a little girl was born with the magic talent of immunity to the magical censorship Adult Conspiracy, causing her family much distress. This was remedied with a vial of lethe
Lethe
In Greek mythology, Lethe was one of the five rivers of Hades. Also known as the Ameles potamos , the Lethe flowed around the cave of Hypnos and through the Underworld, where all those who drank from it experienced complete forgetfulness...
water which erased her memory
Memory
In psychology, memory is an organism's ability to store, retain, and recall information and experiences. Traditional studies of memory began in the fields of philosophy, including techniques of artificially enhancing memory....
.
Mundania
Whenever Xanth characters visit the nonmagical land outside of Xanth, called Mundania, its natives (Mundanes) speak what sounds like gibberish to the Xanth characters. The gibberish can be translated by a simple replacement cipherCipher
In cryptography, a cipher is an algorithm for performing encryption or decryption — a series of well-defined steps that can be followed as a procedure. An alternative, less common term is encipherment. In non-technical usage, a “cipher” is the same thing as a “code”; however, the concepts...
, depending on the Mundane language being spoken. Often, the language is a simple shift in the alphabet, a letter or two forwards or backwards (See Caesar cipher
Caesar cipher
In cryptography, a Caesar cipher, also known as a Caesar's cipher, the shift cipher, Caesar's code or Caesar shift, is one of the simplest and most widely known encryption techniques. It is a type of substitution cipher in which each letter in the plaintext is replaced by a letter some fixed number...
). For example, the word "What?" is the Xanthan translation of "Xibu?" (one character after, when Mundanes speak modern English), "Vgzs?" (one character before, in the language spoken by King Oary in Centaur Aisle
Centaur Aisle
Xanth's King Trent has left for drear Mundania, leaving Dor to practice governing the magical kingdom of Xanth. Dor's magical talent is communication with the inanimate which for information gathering is very helpful, but for dealing with citizens needing discipline it leaves room for improvement...
), or "Yjcv?" (two characters after, spoken by the Avars
Eurasian Avars
The Eurasian Avars or Ancient Avars were a highly organized nomadic confederacy of mixed origins. They were ruled by a khagan, who was surrounded by a tight-knit entourage of nomad warriors, an organization characteristic of Turko-Mongol groups...
, also in Centaur Aisle
Centaur Aisle
Xanth's King Trent has left for drear Mundania, leaving Dor to practice governing the magical kingdom of Xanth. Dor's magical talent is communication with the inanimate which for information gathering is very helpful, but for dealing with citizens needing discipline it leaves room for improvement...
).
Curse Fiends
Curse fiends are a fictional race created by Piers Anthony for the series Xanth.They are one of the earlier races in Xanth and are known for their talent to throw curses at their enemies. They are believed to be the primary cause for several different settings in Xanth: 1) the land of Air, 2) the land of Earth, 3) the land of Fire, 4) the land of Water (also called the Water Wing), and 5) the Void.
The story about how these regions were created is described in Demons Don't Dream
Demons Don't Dream
Dug, a Mundane, is transported in to the magic land of Xanth when he plays a computer game introduced to him by his friend for a bet. The game consists of the player having a companion, who is usually a well known Xanth character, and being led through the magical world of Xanth, defeating...
.
The curse fiends in the present day Xanth stay close to their own community where they put on plays. Because of this, they are widely known for their acting skills.
Books
As of 2011 there are 35 Xanth books published and two in progress. Here they are listed in order of publication.- 1 A Spell for ChameleonA Spell for ChameleonA Spell for Chameleon is the first book of the Xanth series by Piers Anthony.-Plot introduction:In this adventure, Bink is exiled to Mundania because he has broken Xanth law by not having a magical talent...
(1977) - 2 The Source of MagicThe Source of Magic-Plot introduction:This novel begins one year after the events of A Spell for Chameleon, and describes the adventures of Bink after he has settled down with his pregnant wife, Chameleon. King Trent had appointed Bink the Official Researcher of Xanth at the end of the previous book, and given him...
(1979) - 3 Castle Roogna (1979)
- 4 Centaur AisleCentaur AisleXanth's King Trent has left for drear Mundania, leaving Dor to practice governing the magical kingdom of Xanth. Dor's magical talent is communication with the inanimate which for information gathering is very helpful, but for dealing with citizens needing discipline it leaves room for improvement...
(1982) - 5 Ogre, OgreOgre, Ogre-Plot introduction:Smash the half-ogre goes to see the Good Magician Humfrey to get his question answered, although he doesn't know what his question is. The magician's answer: Travel to the Ancestral Ogres to find what you seek...
(1982) - 6 Night MareNight MareNight Mare is the sixth book of the Xanth series by Piers Anthony.-Plot introduction:Xanth is under threat of a barbarian invasion from Mundania...
(1983) - 7 Dragon on a PedestalDragon on a Pedestal-Plot introduction:This book centers on Princess Ivy, the 3-year-old daughter of King Dor and Queen Irene, the search for her, and the spell on Gap Chasm that caused people to forget it existed breaking apart into "Forget Whorls".-Plot summary:...
(1983) - 8 Crewel Lye (1984)
- 9 Golem in the Gears (1986)
- 10 Vale of the VoleVale of the VoleVale of the Vole is the tenth book of the Xanth series by Piers Anthony.It begins a trilogy including Heaven Cent and Man from Mundania. The novel was written as a satirical jab at the canalization of the Kissimmee River in Piers' native state of Florida as a result of the effects of the 1947...
(1987) - 11 Heaven CentHeaven CentHeaven Cent is the eleventh book of the Xanth series by Piers Anthony. It is the second book of a trilogy beginning with Vale of the Vole and ending with Man from Mundania.-Plot introduction:...
(1988) - 12 Man from MundaniaMan from MundaniaMan from Mundania, the twelfth book of the Xanth series by Piers Anthony, concludes the trilogy of Vale of the Vole and Heaven Cent.-Plot introduction:...
(1989) - 13 Isle of ViewIsle of ViewIsle of View is the thirteenth book of the Xanth series by Piers Anthony.-Plot introduction:Che, Chex Centaur’s winged foal, has been kidnapped by a group of goblins. It is up to Jenny, a girl from the world of Two Moons, to save him. Dolph finally has to decide who to marry: Electra or Naga...
(1990) - 14 Question QuestQuestion Quest-Plot summary:The book begins with Lacuna, one of the mischievous Castle Zombie twins, seeking a way to fix her "dull" life. To do so she comes to ask Grey, Ivy's betrothed and pro-tem magician of knowledge, for the answer. However, Grey doesn't want to answer her question because he knows that...
(1991) - 15 The Color of Her PantiesThe Color of Her PantiesThe Color of Her Panties is the fifteenth book of the Xanth series by Piers Anthony.-Plot introduction:Mela Merwoman, one of the protagonists of The Color of Her Panties, was introduced in Heaven Cent attempting to trick Prince Dolph into marrying her. Still desperate for a husband, Mela goes to...
(1992) - 16 Demons Don't DreamDemons Don't DreamDug, a Mundane, is transported in to the magic land of Xanth when he plays a computer game introduced to him by his friend for a bet. The game consists of the player having a companion, who is usually a well known Xanth character, and being led through the magical world of Xanth, defeating...
(1992) - 17 Harpy ThymeHarpy Thyme-Plot summary:Gloha Goblin-Harpy is searching for love, and decides to ask the Magician Humfrey where she can find it. He tells her to ask his second son Crombie the Soldier. Gloha goes on a quest for love, accompanied by Magician Trent and Cynthia, a winged centaur filly....
(1993) - 18 Geis of the GargoyleGeis of the Gargoyle-Plot introduction:SUMMARY:Seeking a spell that will restore the polluted river Swan Knee to a state of purity, guardian Gary Gargoyle finds himself face-to-face with the Good Magician Humfrey.-Characters in Geis of the Gargoyle:Gary Gargoyle...
(1994) - 19 Roc and a Hard PlaceRoc and a Hard Place-Summary:One year after the events of Geis of the Gargoyle, Demoness Metria, whilst making her husband Veleno deliriously happy, finds that the stork will not acknowledge her summons. Seeking to summon the stork, Metria are sent on a quest by the Good Magician Humphrey...
(1995) - 20 Yon Ill WindYon Ill Wind-Plot summary:Hurricane Happy Bottom is causing problems in Mundania and Xanth.The Mundane Baldwin family is blown into Xanth by a Yon Ill Wind.Also, Demon Xth has made a deal with Demon JUter that he could get one Xanthian to shed...
(1996) - 21 Faun & GamesFaun & Games-Plot introduction:A young faun discovers his friend has gone missing into the Void and thus, the tree that nymph is bound to will wither and die. The hero wishes to save his friend's tree but in doing so, he risks his own tree.-Characters in Faun & Games:...
(1997) - 22 Zombie LoverZombie LoverZombie Lover is the twenty-second book of the Xanth series by Piers Anthony.-Plot summary:Breanna, a beautiful young newcomer to the enchanted land of Xanth, must deal with a distressing dilemma...
(1998) - 23 Xone of ContentionXone of ContentionXone of Contention is the twenty-third book of the Xanth series by Piers Anthony.-Plot introduction:Dug, the Mundane who had had an adventure in Xanth through the Companions of Xanth computer game, is now happily married to Kim. His friend Edsel on the other hand is on the rock with his marriage...
(1999) - 24 The DastardThe Dastard-Plot introduction:The Dastard is a vile, loathsome man with the power to travel back in time. He uses this to neutralize people's joyous moments and if this includes removing the existence of sentient beings, so be it. Despite this selfish, amoral attitude, The Dastard finds himself involved with...
(2000) - 25 Swell FoopSwell FoopSwell Foop is the twenty-fifth book of the Xanth series by Piers Anthony.-Explanation of the novel's title:The title is taken from a spoonerism for the Shakespearean phrase "one fell swoop," first spoken by the tongue-twisted Peter Sellers character in the 1964 movie The Pink Panther.-Plot...
(2001) - 26 Up In A HeavalUp In A Heaval-Plot introduction:An innocent piece of Mundane Snail Mail has provoked the dreaded Demon JUter to hurl his Red Spot at the magical land of Xanth...
(2002) - 27 Cube RouteCube Route-Plot summary:Cube Route contains a crossover to Phaze, a world in Anthony's seven-book Apprentice Adept series.-Summary:In the magical land of Xanth, wishes are far more than mere words...
(2003) - 28 Currant EventsCurrant EventsCurrant Events is the twenty-eighth book of the Xanth series by Piers Anthony, and the first book in the second Xanth trilogy.-Plot summary:...
(2004) - 29 Pet Peeve (2005)
- 30 Stork NakedStork Naked-Plot summary:Surprise summons the stork with Umlaut, only to discover with dismay that the stork refuses to deliver her baby due to a clerical error. Off on an adventure to find her child, she seeks the aid of Pyra, who wields a tool that can find, and enter, alternate realities...
(2006) - 31 Air ApparentAir ApparentAir Apparent is the thirty-first book of the Xanth series by Piers Anthony, which was first mentioned in the "Author's Note" in Currant Events. Piers Anthony stated that notions from his readers have already been set aside for use in this installment in the same "Author's Note."-Plot...
(2007) - 32 Two to the FifthTwo to the Fifth- Plot introduction :According to Pier Anthony's newsletter,"Two to the Fifth" is "the story of Cyrus Cyborg, a playwright who is considered a catch by several of the lovely actresses in his plays. The Princess Rhythm, age twelve, confesses to having a crush on him. He refuses to take that...
(2008) - 33 Jumper CableJumper CableJumper Cable is the 33rd book of the Xanth series by Piers AnthonyJumper Spider, the descendant of the spider who accompanied Magician Dor on his adventure to the past, has been caught by a narrative hook and dropped into the human realm of Xanth...
(2009) - 34 Knot GneissKnot GneissKnot Gneiss is the 34th book of the Xanth series by Piers Anthony-Plot introduction:This is about Jumper's friend Wenda Woodwife, who has a nymphly front but no back, being hollow from behind, who speaks with the forest dialect: "I wood knot dew that to yew." She has to transport a boulder made of...
(2010) - 35 Well-Tempered Clavicle (2011)
- 36 Luck Of The DrawLuck of the DrawLuck of the Draw may refer to:* Luck of the Draw , an album by Bonnie Raitt* Luck of the Draw , a drawing game* "Luck of the Draw", an episode of Sliders...
(2012; in production) - 37 Esrever Doom (2013; being written)
Related works
- Encyclopedia of Xanth (1987, by Jody Lynn NyeJody Lynn NyeJody Lynn Nye is an American science fiction writer. She has frequently collaborated as a co-author or the author of a sequel....
) a Crossroads Adventure role-playing game book - Piers Anthony's Visual Guide to Xanth (1989, with Jody Lynn NyeJody Lynn NyeJody Lynn Nye is an American science fiction writer. She has frequently collaborated as a co-author or the author of a sequel....
) - Letters To JennyLetters To JennyLetters to Jenny is a collection of letters written by Piers Anthony to Jenny Gildwarg, a 12-year old girl who was run over by a drunk driver on Dec 9th, 1988. The book also contains news of Jenny's progress after the accident.- Origin of the letters :...
(1993, nonfiction) - Companions of XanthCompanions of XanthCompanions of Xanth is an adventure game published in 1993 by Legend Entertainment. The game is based on Piers Anthony's Xanth novels and is loosely based around much of the plot of his novel Demons Don't Dream, in which a young man uses a computer game to enter and explore the world of...
(a computer game described in and following the plot of Demons Don't Dream) - A tongue-in-cheek French adventure comic series, Lanfeust of TroyLanfeust of TroyLanfeust of Troy is a French language long running comic series written by Christophe Arleston, drawn by Didier Tarquin, and published by Soleil Productions.-Synopsis:...
, has also come up with a few characteristics similar to some from the World of Xanth, such as: humans possessing a single magical talents ranging from benign to powerful, jungle medieval/fantasy land with weird and extensive fauna, a young villager with an unknown-yet-powerful talent bound to become the hero, an arch-enemy wanting to conquer and rule the world, a quest for the source of magic ending up in the discovery of a fabulous creature, hero's love interest shifting from a beautiful and vain girl to a more complete type of women, humorous play on words on many names and titles, and so on.
Stage musical
The Broadway production began performances at the Broadhurst TheatreBroadhurst Theatre
The Broadhurst Theatre is a legitimate Broadway theatre located at 235 West 44th Street in midtown Manhattan.It was designed by architect Herbert J. Krapp, a well-known theatre designer who had been working directly with the Shubert brothers; the Broadhurst opened 27 September 1917...
on November 2 & opened on November 13, 2011.
[Citation Needed]
Musical Numbers
Act l- "The Magic of Xanth" - Dana and Company
- "Goblins In The Woods" - Jonathan, Rana, Lacuna, Goblins
- "Saving the Kingdom" - Merwin, Pia
- "We Are Still Dragons" - Dana, Kamcatka and Dragons
- "Meet the King" - Ryver
- "If You Don't Need Me Anymore" - Lacuna, Merwin, Rana and Company
- "Don't Save the Kingdom" - Dana, Jonathan and Company
- "That Makes The Magic Happen" - Kamcatka, Quan
- "Angry" - Pia
- "Monsters In The Castle" - Kamcatka, Lacuna, Merwin, Rana
- "Joyful Joyful" - Dana, Jonathan and Company
Act ll
- "Saved the Kingdom" - Dana, Jonathan and Company
- "There Is No Monsters" - Lady Ashley Rose, Rana
- "Kill the Dragon" - Kamcatka, Lacuna, Merwin, Pia
- "Run Into the Woods" - Dana
- "Don't Be Scared of the Storm" - Dana, Jonathan, Merwin and Company
- "He Is A Barbarian" - Lady Ashley Rose
- "The Ghosts Are Still In The Castle" - Kamcatka, Quan, Ryver and Company
- "Casting His Spell" - Pia
- "It's Time To Celebrate" - Dana, Jonathan, Rana and Company
- "Not So Magical Magician" - Lady Ashley Rose, Merwin and Company
- "Together Forever" - Dana and Jonathan
- "I Will Follow Him" - The Company
External links
- Xanth on Hipiers.com
- The Xanth series page at Tor BooksTor BooksTor Books is one of two imprints of Tom Doherty Associates LLC, based in New York City. It is noted for its science fiction and fantasy titles. Tom Doherty Associates also publishes mainstream fiction, mystery, and occasional military history titles under its Forge imprint. The company was founded...
- I was a captive of Xanth a review of the long-lived series from SalonSalon.comSalon.com, part of Salon Media Group , often just called Salon, is an online liberal magazine, with content updated each weekday. Salon was founded by David Talbot and launched on November 20, 1995. It was the internet's first online-only commercial publication. The magazine focuses on U.S...
(December 7, 2000) - Xanthians Online the largest Xanth fan-based community and website
- The timeline of Xanth
- XanthDb A new Xanth fansite with databases of characters, books and more.