Kevin's Watch

It's called Prostho Plus, and is one of my favourites as well. It's nothing serious, but makes for some fun and light-hearted reading.

I'm especially fond of the descriptions of the great university of dentistry that he attends. Reminds me of the Sector General books in a way, but focused obviously on dentistry. (Or prosthodontics.)



--Avatar

Piers Anthony used to be one of my faves. Now he's fallen into self imitation and self parody, and that's sad.

Anthony and Harry Turtledove have to be the most prolific authors out there right now. They each crank out a new book about every three months.

Anthony's best works came early on, IMHO - Bio of a Space Tyrant, Battle Circle, Chthon, Prostho Plus, Mute, Split Infinity, and arguably his finest novel, Macroscope.

The early Xanth stuff was okay - now it's just repetitive and boring.

Most of the rest of his series are just variations on earlier themes and plots.

And recently he is lending his name as collaborator to some really God-awful garbage. Has anyone suffered through Spider Legs? Anthony supposedly wrote this one with a scientist (whose name escapes me) and it might very well be the worst novel I've read in the last two decades. I sincerely hope Anthony didn't actually contribute anything but his name to this one.

CovenantJr wrote:

CovenantJr wrote:Considering my affinity for puns, I'd probably like Xanth. Not sure I'm willing to fork out the full price until I know though, so I'm keeping my eyes peeled for one popping up on Ebay.

I found A Spell for Chameleon by chance in a second hand book shop in Bangor; it cost me a mighty £1.25. So we'll soon see what I make of it.

Reasonably fun. Nothing special, but moderately enjoyable lightweight reading.

I used to be hopelessly addicted to Xanth back in my middle school days. In fact, thanks to Piers Anthony's work, I was the top-rated point-gatherer in the school since every book we read earned us a number of points that went towards rewards.

However, as the years went by and I read more and more, I started to think of the later Xanth books as garbage. It had gotten to where the books were so formulaic and trashy that I felt ashamed for even owning them; I eventually gave them away at a yard sale. The only two Xanth books I have left are A Spell for Chameleon and Castle Roogna.

Giving away books is something I just can't identify with, I must say. I've still got every book I ever owned or was given, from the age of three or so on up. Sure, most of the childrens books are in storage, but it's easier to get me to give up a leg than a book, even if I didn't particularly like it. Must be some weird obsession I have.

--A

Avatar wrote:Giving away books is something I just can't identify with, I must say. I've still got every book I ever owned or was given, from the age of three or so on up. Sure, most of the childrens books are in storage, but it's easier to get me to give up a leg than a book, even if I didn't particularly like it. Must be some weird obsession I have.

--A

If it's a weird obsession I have it too!! I can't even give up text books. I have all from my BS and MBA. In fact, I almost had to go to therapy when my wife started giving away her trashy romances!! And I didn't even read them!!

Don't worry about it. I know exactly how you feel.

--A

I'm the same way, usually . . . but I've had maybe three or four books that stank so badly I couldn't bear having them around. Those, however, I didn't give away. I threw them away.

I admire your strength of will. Even the worst of mine are still with me. Packed away perhaps, never seen or thought of, but still in my possession.

It's probably incurable.

--A

Grr, every time I tried to get rid of a book, it started talking to me.

I have all the books that've ever been in my possession. it's scary.

danlo wrote:Just make sure you don't read Orn--that'll ruin the whole thing for you...

I take it you didn't get turned on by the sex scenes between the rolly-polly bags of goop?

I was an avid Piers fan back in the 80s. I loved the first 6th Xanth books and would recommend them. I finally stopped somewhere around the 13th. Can't blame him as he started warning his readers that he was only writing for the money now around the 10th I think, in author's notes.

Other PA I enjoyed:

Bio of a Space Tyrant series:
Refugee
Mercenary
Politcian
Executive
Stateman not so much.
Haven't found Iron Maiden yet to see how it is.

Incarnations, the first two. Went downhill from there and the 6th and 7th were pure garbage.


Split Infinity, only the first three. Read the second three but wish I hadn't.

Cthon

Shade of Tree

Never read Macroscope? It's a good one. I wish I hadn't read the Robot Adept series, too. I knew at the time that I shouldn't do it, but I did anyway. I think I read the first three Bio books. They were pretty good; kind of gritty like the Gap books. The Battle Circle trilogy is one of his better collections, and I recall liking Mute. I'm not sure that I could read any more of his books, though. Maybe I could re-read Macroscope, but that's probably about it.

I had Macroscope on my shelf for years, but never got around to reading it and finally donated it to the local library when i was cleaning off my bookshelf.

aTOMiC wrote:I enjoy many Anthony books. I followed Xanth until Vale of the Vole. My favorite series is Battle Circle. Sos the Rope, Var the Stick, Neq the Sword. I admit that PA can stick with a series a bit too long and his more recent works can seem pretty childish but if you sample his books from the 60s and 70s you may find some genuine hidden treasures.

I tried to tell Anthony that those two decades saw his best works, but he basically turned into an ogre and told me that those works didn't sell and that he's now just in it for the money.