Piers Anthony - Page 2

HarryT · 11-13-2011, 03:03 PM

Mr Anthony is the ultimate exponent of "try a formula and if it works, repeat it over, and over, and over, and over, etc. " again. That's not to say that I don't enjoy many of his books, but there's only so much of him that I can take at one sitting.

Kevin8or · 11-13-2011, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I remember the Incarnations of Immortality holding my attention for two or three books. I enjoyed them, but as with most genre series, he tried to get too many books out of one idea and I eventually became bored and moved on.

This seems to be a contagious illness among Fantasy authors.

I'd entirely forgotten about Piers Anthony. I read the first 3 or 4 books when I was a teenager but never re-visited Anthony later.

BenG · 11-14-2011, 07:25 AM

I haven't read much of his work since the 70s except for the first Apprentice Adept trilogy and the first one of the Incarnation series.
I read the first few of the Xanth series but soon grew tired of them.

I did enjoy his early science fiction like Chthon and Macroscope which were both nominated for Hugo awards.

TheLongshot · 11-14-2011, 10:10 AM

I was a huge fan of Piers Anthony. (Only saying was because nowadays he doesn't write much that is worth a whole lot.) Incarnations of Immortality is his best series. Next for me was the Mode series (which I still haven't read the last book) and then the Apprentice Adept series (at least the first three books.) I also liked his Bio Of A Space Tyrant series, even if it is a thinly veiled metaphor for world politics.

One issue you will run into with Anthony is that usually when he extends a series, the quality tends to go down. For example, the first trilogy of Apprentice Adept is good, the second trilogy is ok, and the last book is crap. As for Xanth, that probably continues because the books sell and it is the only series book publishers will buy from him anymore. As others have said, it is pretty much the same thing over and over again. (tho, occasionally he can write a Xanth novel that rises above the fray, like "Yon Ill Wind", which was better than average.)

The only Anthony book I didn't enjoy was his Battle Circle series. I just couldn't get through it.

The nice thing about Anthony is that big on releasing his stuff on eBooks. For the stuff he has the rights to, he self publishes and it is redily available on Fictionwise. He occasionally writes new stuff that he can't sell to publishers (I've read the first two CHROMagic books, which aren't bad, but doesn't really break new ground for Anthony.)

bfisher · 11-22-2011, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgalbrecht

About the only book of his that I'd like to buy as an ebook is Macroscope, but it's only available as a PDF.

Thanks, I hadn't realized it was available in e-book, and at a nice price too ($4.79 at Kobo) - sweet.

Keloff · 11-23-2011, 12:31 AM

The Xanth series absolutely enchanted me as a kid! I was learning English at the same time I discovered the books in our library, so they helped a lot in that regard.

I remember learning the correct pronunciation of "Ogre", being delighted by word play, discovering the best super power ever and researching the Adult Conspiracy.

So yeah, definitely a fan.

11-13-2011, 03:03 PM	#16
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,556 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Mr Anthony is the ultimate exponent of "try a formula and if it works, repeat it over, and over, and over, and over, etc. " again. That's not to say that I don't enjoy many of his books, but there's only so much of him that I can take at one sitting. Last edited by HarryT; 11-13-2011 at 11:04 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Biography Trollope, Anthony: The Autobiography of Anthony Trollope. V1. 22-Mar-2011	weatherwax	ePub Books	0	03-22-2011 02:38 PM
Romance Hope, Anthony: A Man of Mark. V1. 23 June 2010	crutledge	ePub Books	0	06-23-2010 11:24 AM
Other Fiction Trollope, Anthony: Can You Forgive Her?, v1, 03-09-08	Strether	Kindle Books	2	03-18-2008 01:31 PM
Other Fiction Trollope, Anthony: Phineas Redux, v1, 03-09-08	Strether	Kindle Books	0	03-09-2008 07:43 PM

11-14-2011, 07:25 AM	#18
BenG Home Guard Posts: 4,730 Karma: 86721650 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Alpha Ralpha Boulevard Device: Kindle Oasis 3G, iPhone 6	I haven't read much of his work since the 70s except for the first Apprentice Adept trilogy and the first one of the Incarnation series. I read the first few of the Xanth series but soon grew tired of them. I did enjoy his early science fiction like Chthon and Macroscope which were both nominated for Hugo awards.

11-14-2011, 10:10 AM	#19
TheLongshot Groupie Posts: 190 Karma: 7758 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: Sony Reader	I was a huge fan of Piers Anthony. (Only saying was because nowadays he doesn't write much that is worth a whole lot.) Incarnations of Immortality is his best series. Next for me was the Mode series (which I still haven't read the last book) and then the Apprentice Adept series (at least the first three books.) I also liked his Bio Of A Space Tyrant series, even if it is a thinly veiled metaphor for world politics. One issue you will run into with Anthony is that usually when he extends a series, the quality tends to go down. For example, the first trilogy of Apprentice Adept is good, the second trilogy is ok, and the last book is crap. As for Xanth, that probably continues because the books sell and it is the only series book publishers will buy from him anymore. As others have said, it is pretty much the same thing over and over again. (tho, occasionally he can write a Xanth novel that rises above the fray, like "Yon Ill Wind", which was better than average.) The only Anthony book I didn't enjoy was his Battle Circle series. I just couldn't get through it. The nice thing about Anthony is that big on releasing his stuff on eBooks. For the stuff he has the rights to, he self publishes and it is redily available on Fictionwise. He occasionally writes new stuff that he can't sell to publishers (I've read the first two CHROMagic books, which aren't bad, but doesn't really break new ground for Anthony.)

11-23-2011, 12:31 AM	#21
Keloff Electronic media explorer Posts: 64 Karma: 169796 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Pretoria, South Africa Device: Kindle (6" Display, Global Wireless, Latest Generation), iPad 2	The Xanth series absolutely enchanted me as a kid! I was learning English at the same time I discovered the books in our library, so they helped a lot in that regard. I remember learning the correct pronunciation of "Ogre", being delighted by word play, discovering the best super power ever and researching the Adult Conspiracy. So yeah, definitely a fan.

Advert

Advert