Xanth was the enchanted land where magic ruled - where every citizen had a special spell only he could cast. It was a land of centaurs and dragons and basilisks. For Bink of North Village, however, Xanth was no fairy tale. He alone had no magic. And unless he got some - and got some fast! - he would be exiled. Forever! But the Good Magician Humfrey was convinced that Bink did indeed have magic. In fact, both Beauregard the genie and the magic wall chart insisted that Bink had magic. Magic as powerful as any possessed by the King or by Good Magician Humfrey - or even by the Evil Magician Trent Be that as it may, no one could fathom the nature of Bink's very special magic. Bink was in despair. This was even worse than having no magic at all..and he would still be exiled!

Ordered by King Trent to determine the source of Xanth's magic, Bink and his companions were harried by an unseen enemy determined to thwart them. When even their protector turned against them, Bink still managed to reach his goal and carry out the King's orders...but the king did not expect Bink's next act—to destroy utterly the magic of Xanth!

Millie, a ghost for 800 years wants only one man—Jonathan, and he's a zombie. To prove himself, Magician Dor volunteers to get the potion that can restore Jonathan to full life. But he has to go back through time to do it, to a peril-haunted, ancient Xanth, where danger lurks at every turn....

Dor agreed to act as King of Xanth so long as Trent was gone for a week. But the weeks passed and Trent did not return. Dor knew he had to rescue his king but with no magic powers, how could it be done...? From the Paperback edition.

Smash, himself, was part ogre. Although ogres were considered so stupid they coud hardly speak, and spent their time eating young girls, seven assorted females had suddenly turned to him for guidance and saftety? In Xanth, one visit to the Good Magician Humfrey worked wonders.... From the Paperback edition.

Although the Nextwave of barbarian warriors was invading Xanth, Mare Imbrium discovered that ever since she had gained the half soul, the night mare had begun to mishandle her job of delivering bad dreams. Exiled to the day world with a message for King Trent, Mare met the relentless, unforgiving Horseman. For the night mare, it began to be all a horrible nightmare! From the Paperback edition.

There is trouble in Xanth again. The Gap Dragon had escaped and was ravaging across the land, the forget-spell was causing mass amnesia, three-year-old Ivy was headed right for a hungry dragon. Could things get any worse? Probably.... From the Paperback edition.

Jordan was a ghost in Castle Roogna now. Although once he had been the most valorus of knights—that is, until he was betrayed by two wily magicians and the woman he loves. Now, if he only can remember how he was killed, he'll be able to reassemble his body. And he is getting impatient....

Grundy Golem got no respect. So, to prove himself, he volunteered for a quest to find the long-lost dragon, Stanley Steamer. On the way, he somehow manages to free a damsel in distress—but not without incurring the wrath of the Sea Hag in the process. And when it comes to avenging herself on Grundy, the Sea Hag will never give up.... From the Paperback edition.

When Esk, a young ogre-nymph-human, began his pilgrimage to the Good Magician Humfrey to rid himself of a seductive demoness, little did he know it would become a mission of mercy. A running river paradise and its harmless inhabitants were perishing in the wrathful wake of a greedy demon horde. Now it is up to Esk and his companions—a beautiful winged centaur named Chex and a brave burrower Called Volney—to search Xanth's treacherous reaches, gathering together a mind-boggling company of creatures to defend the precious Vale of the Vole.

In the mind of Xanth's precious shapeshifting Prince Dolph, the perfect way to see the world is to search for the missing sorcerer, Humfrey. Setting off with his faithful companion, Marrow, an enchanted skeleton, Dolph will penetrate an island of illusion, escape a goblin kingdom, outwit a husband-hungry mermaid, save Marrow from bone-starved harpies, and find romance with a slinky snake princess—all on his way to discovering a magic coin with all the answers!

For a bored, young princess of Xanth, there's nothing more exciting than a Quest. Especially when all you do is sit around Castle Roogna. But when Ivy uses the Heaven Cent, it takes her not to the top of Mount Rushmost, where the winged monsters gather, not to the sea where the merfolk swim—but to Mundania, a world much like our own (that is, boring). It is here that she meets a young college student so dull that he doesn't even believe in magic, or princesses, or Xanth! Does he have a lot to learn. The thrilling climax to the trilogy started in Vale of the Vole and continued in Heaven Cent.

Lovelorn Loveworn Love LostPerplexed Prince Dolph, Xanth's precocious shapeshifter, should be in love but isn't. Nonetheless, he must choose between two fiancées—Nada the uninterested and Electra the uninteresting—or all three of them will suffer the most dire consequences. Luckily a convenient catastrophe has popped up to distract Dolph from his dilemma—the foal-napping of young Che Centaur by goblins. And the only one who knows where Che is is a nice but remarkably naive elflike girl named Jenny from the World of Two Moons. If anyone can save the missing centaur...she sure can't.

Youth is Wasted on the Young Being grown up is a drag . . . or so thinks Lacuna, one of the mischievous Castle Zombie twins. So she makes the Good Magician Grey an offer he can't refuse. Thirsty for a taste of the Elixir of Youth, she'll help him outwit the evil Com-Pewter if he'll send her to Hell (in a handbasket, no less) to find Humfrey, the missing sorcerer. And while there, she'll learn the True History of Xanth (simplified) and help rescue a blushing Rose from the demon X(A/N)th . . . with the help of a gorgon or two.

We See England, We See Xanth, We See Mels' Underpanth. In fact, Gwenny Goblin, Che Centaur and Jenny Elf are just about the only creatures on Xanth who have been spared the sight of Mela Merwoman's undergarment—preoccupied as they are with helping Gwenny beat out her awful half-brother Gobble for chiefship of the goblin horde. But first they must master space and thyme . . . and find the fabulous egg that sits between the Roc and the hard place. While Mela—who would gladly relinquish her oft-viewed undies for a new husband—joins the Adult Conspiracy . . . and quickly discovers the power of a perfect pair of panties!

Beloved by millions of readers around the world, Piers Anthony's Xanth novels are among the most popular fantasy adventures ever published. Demons Don't Dream begins a thrilling new Xanth sequence, as a pair of young adventurers play for the highest stakes of all: the future of Xanth—and of Earth as well! Drawn into Xanth by a harmless-looking computer game, two young people find themselves competing for a precious prize: Dug, who is beguiled by a beautiful serpent-princess, and Kim, who discovers her favorite fantasy realm has suddenly become frighteningly real. In a desperate race against time, Dug and Kim battle their way across the wondrous, perilous land of Xanth, testing their courage against dozens of fearsome obstacles (and their wits against a host of outrageous puns!) But when treachery, danger, and deceit place Xanth itself in peril, Dug and Kim learn that some things are more important than winning or losing. A breathtaking, madcap quest filled with fearsome monsters and far-fetched fun, Demons Don't Dream is vintage Xanth, an unforgettable escapade from fantasy's most imaginative storyteller.

Gloha is the only creature of her kind in all the world of Xanth, the beautiful offspring of a chance mating between a harpy and a goblin. As she grew to womanhood, she wondered where she would find the one true love with whom she could share her life. So, naturally, she sets off to find the Good Magician Humfrey to ask him for an Answer to the riddle of her heart's desire. But Humfrey, for mysterious reasons of his own, propels her instead on a perilous quest in search of truth, friendship, and, just possibly, happiness.

Since Xanth began, the gargoyles of that magical place have been under a magical compulsion to protect the purity of the Swan Knee River which flows into Xanth from dreary Mundania. But recently the pollution from the outside world has grown ever greater, and young Gary Gar, latest in a long line of gargoyle guardians, is finding it ever more difficult to fulfill his responsibilities. So Gary does what any sensible Xanth resident with a dire dilemma would do. He goes to see the Good Magician Humfrey, who sends him on a peculiar quest—to transform himself into human shape, tutor a precocious child with more than her share of wild magical talents, and find a philter which can restore the river to its previous pristine state.

Seeking a solution to a perplexing personal problem, the delectable Demoness Metria asks for help from the wise Magician Humfrey. But before he will help her, she must perform a perilous mission: Rove the length and breadth of Xanth in search of a suitable jury for the trial of Roxanne Roc—a notably noble and virtuous bird charged with a most improbable offense. Exciting, exhilarating, and brimming with hilarious hijinks, Roc and a Hard Place is Xanth at its most enchanting.

An All-New Xanth Adventure First Paperback Edition! A fickle flux in the fabric of space has allowed a horrendous hurricane to blast into Xanth, stirring up mischief and madness wherever she goes. Trapped in a preposterous form by a cosmic wager, the Demon X(A/N)th must join forces with a vexatious vixen named Chlorine to save Xanth from this terrifying and tempestuous threat. Their companions on this haphazard quest are a hapless human family - Jim and Karen Baldwin and their two teenaged sons, David and Sean - gusted into Xanth from the mundane world beyond. Together they encounters a host of turbulent misadventures as they struggle to keep Xanth from being blown off the map forever. A brisk and breezy adventure in the grand Xanth tradition, Yon Ill Wind is sure to bring gales of laughter and excitement to Piers Anthony's legion of loyal readers.

The miraculous and mirth-filled land of Xanth holds many marvels. But now an extraordinary new aspect of this remarkable realm unfolds as young Forrest Faun’s quest takes him to a tiny planet hidden in the heart of Xanth. There, with a delightful “day mare” as his constant companion, Forrest will find more marvels then he ever dreamed of.

Horrors and Hilarity Collide as a Vivacious Young Visitor to Xanth Faces a Fate Far Worse than Death. Breanna, a beautiful young newcomer to the enchanted land of Zanth, must deal with a distressing dilemma. She has unwittingly attracted the affections of King Xeth, ruler of Xanth's Zombies, who yearns to make her Queen of the Undead! Her quest to preserve her innocence, and find her destiny, takes her on an exhilarating excursion packed with perils, puzzles, and piles of puns. Zombie Lover will provide a profusion of macabre merriment for Xanth's many fans.

New York Times bestselling author of Zombie Lover A wild and wonderful new magical adventure that leads from Xanth to Earth - and back again! A cataclysmic cloud hangs over the enchanted land of land of Xanth. Three courageous couples must venture into the O-Xone, a cybernetic interface between Xanth and our own world, to rescue the enchanted realm from destruction. A xany new fantasy xaga from the Master of Merriment, Xone of Contention is chock-filled with danger, excitement and xillions of laughs! After a year filled with harrowing adventures, all Breanna of the Black Wave and her newfound love Justin Tree want is a little time to get to know each other better, and explore the wonders of the enchanted land of Xanth. But their incipient idyll is soon shattered by a stunning discovery. A climatic catastrophe is causing a massive meltdown that threatens to inundate the ancient forests of Xanth. The only way to avert this dire disaster is to undertake a voyage into the distant mists of the past, to find the moment when this ghastly greenhouse effect began. And the only people who can safely make that journey are those unaffected by Xanth's magic - normal, ordinary humans from our own world. So Breanna and Justin turn for help to the Demon X(A/N)th (a.k.a. Nimby) and his lovely consort Chlorine. Together, they devise a daring plan. Making use of the O-Xone, a magical computer network that links the worlds of Xanth and Earth, Nimby and Chlorine make contact with Pia and Edsel, a young couple from Earth who are working on a Xanth game, and arrange to exchange bodies with them. But an unexpected surprise awaits them on their arrival. The Demon Earth has challenged the Demon Xanth to a deadly duel for the highest possible stakes - dominion over both worlds. While Pia and Edsel range through the farthest reaches of time and space to save Xanth from destruction, Nimby must learn to live by the strange rules of our world, and defeat his ancient enemy without the benefit of his own awesome powers. Brimming with magic, merriment, laughter and love, Xone of Contention is a rousing new fantasy saga in the grand Xanth tradition.

Many malevolent menaces have imperiled the magical land of Xanth in its long and storied history. But none has been as despicably dangerous as the Dastard-a craven miscreant who sold his soul to a detestable demon for the power to erase events. Now the entire future of Xanth is at the mercy of his every whim. Only a young dragon-girl named Becka has the power to stop his devious deeds! Becka is a crossbreed-the daughter of Draco Dragon and a lovely human woman who met, by chance, at a Love Spring. Now fourteen, Becka is beginning to wonder where in Xanth she belongs-on the ground with her mother's people, or flying the skies with her father's kind. So she journeys to the Good Magician Humfrey to discover her True Purpose in life. Much to her astonishment and surprise, the Magician tells her that that a great Destiny awaits her-one that will affect the future of all of Xanth.

Someone-or some thing-has kidnapped the dreaded Demon Earth. If he isn't found, the very fabric of our world will unravel, removing the Earth's gravitational field, and, incidentally, that of the magical land of Xanth as well! To combat this dastardly deed, six bold adventurers must locate the mysterious object known as the Swell Foop, and wield it in a deadly cosmic contest against an awesome enemy. The twenty-fifth exhilarating episode in Piers Anthony's fabulous saga of Xanth, Swell Foop blends laughter and romance, wonder and danger, in one of the most intricate and intriguing tales in the history of the series. Swell Foop, the twenty-fifth volume in Piers Anthony's bestselling Xanth fantasy adventures, is one of the most intricate and intriguing tales in the history of the series.

A Spot of Trouble An innocent piece of Mundane Snail Mail has provoked the dreaded Demon Jupiter to hurl his Red Spot at the magical land of Xanth. As the dire Dot draws closer, the unwelcome ordeal of saving the enchanted realm falls to Umlaut, an unlikely lad with an unknown past and an uncertain future. With a handful of colorful companions at his side, Umlaut must unravel a high-stakes intergalactic puzzle, uncover the secret of his mysterious past, and learn to understand the urgings of his own heart. It might have been the merest chance that brought Umlaut to Castle Zombie that morning and launched him on a harrowing adventure. But in the magical land of Xanth, things are seldom left to chance, and adventures lurk around every corner. An unassuming young man with a uncanny knack for attracting lovely young ladies and an uncommon talent for emulating anyone he wished, Umlaut was forced to flee a flock of overly friendly females by disguising himself as a Zombie girl. In his haste to find a hiding place, he found himself face-to-face with a dreadful dragon and feared he would soon meet his end. But in Xanth, things are seldom exactly as they seem, and he soon discovered that the dragon was really a sinuous female sea serpent named Sesame, with a gift similar to his own, who had become accidentally entrapped in the Castle's dungeon. When the two happen upon a packet of mail from Earth delivered by mischance to the Zombie King, they inadvertently set in motion a sinister scheme that could spell the end of Xanth. A letter they forward to the Demon Jupiter unexpectedly enrages him, causing him to send his own Red Spot hurtling toward Xanth. Soon everything is up in a heaval, for no one knows how to avert this interplanetary peril. Even the Good Magician Humfrey is baffled, for some strange force has obscured the future. In desperation, he instructs Umlaut and Sesame to deliver the remaining letters to their far-flung recipients, in the faint hope that this may somehow stop the Spot. As they set out on their appointed rounds, Umlaut and Sesame are soon joined by two feline friends, Jenny Elf's companion, Sammy Cat, and a lovely, prescient creature named Claire Voyant who can sometimes see the future. Beguiled and bedeviled by the delicious Demoness Metria, who uses her shapely assets to distract him from his goal, Umlaut leads his allies on an unforgettable odyssey to the farthest reaches of the enchanted realm, from the submicroscopic Nth Moon of Ida, and the home of all dreams and nightmares, to the unmagical land of Euphoria, where he meets a sweet and sprightly young girl named Surprise who captures his heart. But before Umlaut can complete his quest and return to his beloved, he must unravel the unfathomable puzzle of his own existence, which is somehow inextricably entwined with the fate of Xanth. A satisfyingly suspenseful tale filled with mystery, magic, and merriment, Up in a Heaval is exciting and entertaining fantasy adventure from the pen of a master storyteller.

For nearly three decades, Piers Anthony's bestselling Xanth series has been delighting tens of thousands of fantasy fans around the world. Now, with Cube Route, the series' twenty-seventh adventure, Anthony has penned a tale that adds another dimension to this exciting saga. In the magical land of Xanth, wishes are far more than mere words. So when a Plain Jane called Cube whispers a wistful wish to be beautiful, she finds herself leading a company of colorful companions on a search for the mysterious Cube Route—a perilous path that leads to danger, adventure, and perhaps her heart's desire as well. This curious quest takes them all over Xanth, into the mythical realm of Phaze, and even to our own world, where Cube rescues a beautiful human woman from a very ugly situation, ending at last in a mysterious Counter-Xanth where things can be transformed into their opposites in the wink of an eye. A rollicking tale brimming with laughter, wonder, and enchantment, Cube Route is also a moving exploration of the beauty that dwells within all of us.

When Clio, the Muse of History, sat down to pen the twenty-eighth volume in the Chronicles of Xanth, she was stunned to discover it was already there! And, what was worse, it was totally unreadable, for the words on its pages were fuzzed beyond comprehension. Vexed and bewildered, and more than a little concerned, Clio resolved to leave the quiet comfort of her study on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, and ask her old friend, the Good Magician Humfrey, to search a solution to her problem in his Book of Answers. But, much to her consternation, Humfrey required her to perform a magical Service before she could acquire her Answer: to rescue Xanth's dragons from the verge of extinction before the delicate balance of its wildlife was permanently thrown out of whack. Her momentous mission lead her to a dangerous Dragon World hidden amongst the Moons of Ida, across a perilous landscape filled with wonder and danger, in search of the fabled Currant, a very rare red berry that might hold the secret she sought. Along the way she acquired a fellowship of companions, including the brave and beautiful Becka Dragongirl, a pair of pocket dragons named Drew and Drusie, a charming young child called Ciriana whose destiny was somehow entwined with hers, and Sherlock, a sweet but homely man from Mundania who might just be a master magician himself. Together they gradually began to unravel the momentous mystery of Xanth's missing history. And Clio began to realize that Sherlock's enchantments had begun to work their way into her heart.

A relentless horde of renegade robots has plunged the fate of Xanth in dire peril. All that stands between the enchanted land and destruction is a most unlikely hero, a moody, mild-mannered Goblin named Goody, who must summon all of his courage and determination to overcome this abominable army of automatons. Brimming with heart-stopping adventure and heart-warming delight, overflowing with wicked wit and wanton wordplay, Pet Peeve is Piers Anthony in rare form, an exceptional new chapter in the continuing chronicles of Xanth.

Surprise Golem and her beloved husband, Umlaut, were more than delighted when, after a most delicious and delightful honeymoon, the stork arrived with their long-awaited baby boy. But their delight turned to consternation when the stork, a rookie named Stymie, refused to deliver him! He disqualified Surprise on a technicality, claiming she was too young, just because she had been five years old when she herself had been delivered. Before Surprise could protest, Stymie absconded with her little one, setting off in search of a more suitable set of parents. But when Surprise attempted to track them down, she found they had vanished without a trace! Anxious and outraged, she took her problem to the Good Magician Humfrey. To her utter astonishment, he refused her request, choosing instead to pair her up with Che Centaur, who was also looking for a lost one—the all-wise bird called the Simurgh, who watched over the universe. And to make matters worse, Surprise was required to take an odd group of companions along on her quest, including the two half-demon children of the Demoness Metria—Demon Ted and DeMonica—a foul-mouthed fowl known as the Pet Peeve, and an ageless infant known as Woe Betide. After much investigation, Surprise and Che discovered the terrible truth. Their misplaced charges had each fallen through a freakish fissure into an alternate universe, a parallel Xanth where everything was just slightly different. And the only means to locate them was the fabled Reality Mask, which could sift and sort through the infinity of all possible worlds. But the Mask was in the custody of Pyra, a fiery nymph on Lion Mountain, protected by marauding monsters. To reach their goal, they were forced to traverse a treacherous Love Spring that caused anyone who waded in it to have amorous thoughts. Torn between their desperate longing for one another and their solemn vows to those they loved, Surprise and Che continued their quest through a host of alternate Xanths, despite unseen forces that were determined to lead them into temptation.

Wira is wild with worry. Her beloved husband, Hugo, has suddenly disappeared—and on the same night that they had planned to start a family. Could he have gotten cold feet—or has something more sinister happened to him? And what is worse, there is a strange, seemingly lifeless body in his place! To unravel the riddle of Hugo’s vanishment, Wira asks her father-in-law, the Good Magician Humfrey, to seek the solution in the fabled Book of Answers, only to discover that the pages of that magical tome are hopelessly scrambled, leaving only a few vague clues behind. Though gifted with the magical talent of Sensitivity, Wira is also sightless, making it difficult for her to search for her mate alone. Desperate, she enlists the services of a young girl named Debra, who has come as a querent to the Magician’s castle seeking a cure for an annoying curse that causes men to have unworthy thoughts about her. In exchange for Wira’s help in lifting the bane, Debra agrees to be transformed into the shape of a buxom, winged centaur, acting as Wira’s escort and her eyes. Meanwhile, far across the enchanted land of Xanth, Hugo is having troubles of his own, suddenly finding himself imprisoned in the dungeon of Castle Maidragon. The renegade rogue known as the Random Factor has used his mysterious powers to swap places with Hugo and gain his freedom. Hugo’s only hope of escape lies in the claws of a lovesick fruit bat named Bathos who can change bodies with others at will. As these two star-crossed soul mates set out to find each other, their separate quests become curiously intertwined with several of Xanth’s most unusual denizens, including Nimbus, a numinous boy with a mysterious heritage; Happy and Fray, two tempestuous cloud creatures from a rarified realm; and Ilene, the youngest daughter of the Magician Trent and the Sorceress Iris, whose magical gift is the power to make illusions real. Their journeys lead them through realms of danger and desire, intrigue and astonishment—from the High Castle of the Air King and the Hidden Village of the voracious vixens known as Vila to an infinitesimal planetoid at the farthest end of space and time—only to discover they are players in a much greater game older even than Xanth itself.

Cyrus, a naïve young Cyborg, is in a curious quandary. His father, Roland Robot, expects him to become a leader of robots like himself. His mother, Hannah Barbarian, wants him to capture and marry a lovely wild-haired uncivilized woman like her. But Cyrus has a secret ambition of his own, which is likely to please neither of them—to write and direct plays. Puzzled and perplexed, Cyrus sets out to present his dilemma to the Good Magician Humfrey, accompanied by his smart-ass companion, Don the Mechanical Donkey. But the Magician has troubling news for Cyrus. An imperious bird known as Ragna Roc is using his awesome magical powers to achieve total domination over the land of Xanth. Those who swear loyalty to him are spared. But those who oppose him are simply disappeared. So powerful are Ragna’s sorceries that even the Good Magician Humfrey dares not confront him directly. Until the peril is dealt with, he cannot help Cyrus with his own problem. Instead he uses Cyrus’s own secret desires to advance a stealthy subterfuge—sending him out to gather a company of players to put on a play so beguiling it might cause Ragna Roc to let down his defenses. Unaware that he has been created with a handsome countenance that is all but irresistible to all manner of femails, Cyrus is surprised when a bevy of beautiful maidens begins to gather around him. Among them are Tess Tosterone, a strapping young barbarian; Dusti, a horny horned Dust Devil; Xina, a lovely lass who changes her hair as often as she changes her mind; and Acro Nymph, a curvaceous sprite who plays with hearts as well as words. And hidden in disguise among the beautiful young actresses are the young princesses, Melody, Harmony, and Rhythm, whose combined magics might just be a match for the evil bird. But Ragna has planted a spy in the midst of the troupe, who knows their deepest secrets, including the true nature of Cyrus’s forbidden love for one of the young princesses. Only a mysterious child called Kadence, and a cryptic clue—“Two to the Fifth”—may give the companions the edge they need to free Xanth from the tyrannical grip of the Roc’s deadly talons.

In the thirty-third thrilling escapade in Piers Anthony€™s rousing Xanth fantasy series, an adventurous arachnid named Jumper must assume human form to save the enchanted realm from a cosmic peril.A cataclysmic battle between two all-powerful Demons has severed a mystical connection that joins Xanth to our own world. The key to restoring it is hidden within a cryptic prophecy that Jumper discovers when he is suddenly transformed from spider to man. As he sets out to discern the prophecy's meaning, he gathers about him a half dozen alluring damsels who do their best to help him solve the riddle while vying for his attentions. But a seductive siren and her demonic consort have determined to use their wiles to lure Jumper and his lovely companions away from their urgent mission. In a madcap adventure that is alternately harrowing and hilarious, they soon discover that danger, deception, and even true love may be found where they least expect it.In Ju

Wenda Woodwife expected to live Happily Ever After once a magical spell turned her carved wooden body into lovely human form and won her the heart of the dashing Prince Charming. But now Wenda finds herself cross and confused, beset by emotional upheavals that are driving her beloved away. When she seeks a solution from the Good Magician Humfrey, he refuses, asking her instead to volunteer for an arduous assignment that has little chance of success. For in the depths of the Gap Chasm, a gigantic Knot of reverse wood has become petrified, transforming it into a beacon of terror that no one dares approach. If Wenda’s own magical mastery of wood cannot neutralize the Knot’s powers, nothing can. As she travels toward the source of the danger, she gathers about her a company of remarkable allies, each with their own special talents, and their own personal crises. Meryl Mermaid is a winged creature who despairs of ever finding a proper mate. Wenda’s old friend Jumper, a giant spider who can assume human form, is struggling to find happiness with the Demoness Eris. The brave Prince Hilarion is searching for his vanished soul mate. Angela Angel was exiled from Heaven for tasting forbidden love. And the kindly Princess Ida has begun to wonder if she has grown too old to ever find true romance. The path to the object of their quest is filled with myriad mysterious obstacles, including a Reverse World where everything changes into its opposite, a perplexing invisible maze that confound one’s deepest wishes, and even an armada of bug-eyed space aliens. Wenda and her Companions find themselves transformed, in body, mind, and spirit, and begin to realize that the solution to the problem, and their hearts’ desires, may be far closer than they have suspected.

For an animated skeleton, kept alive by the Magic of Xanth, Picka Bones has lived a fairly uneventful life. The high points of his day consist of patrolling graveyards with his sister, Joy’nt, and picking out tunes on his ribs with his own collar bones. All that changes, however, when three curious creatures, a dog called Woofer, a bird called Tweeter, and a cat known as Midrange, challenge Picka to discover what magical talent he might possess by seeking out the enchanted princesses Dawn and Eve. But Princess Eve has gone to Hades, and Princess Dawn has troubles of her own. At the ripe age of twenty-one, she is still unmarried, having failed to find a suitable prince who is not intimidated by her power and beauty. When Picka, Joy’nt, Eve, and the three musical pets ask the Good Magician Humfrey for answers to their perplexing problems, he responds by dispatching them on a daring mission—to locate and tame Caprice Castle, a feral palace so errant that even Humfrey can’t determine its whereabouts. For legend has it that the Castle contains the fabled Pundora’s Box, which once contained the worst puns in Xanth, until they were carelessly released a century before.

For eighty-year-old Bryce, life didn’t hold much hope or promise. Since his wife had died and his children had grown, his health had failed, and his doctors doubted he would live more than a year or two. But all that changed one fateful day as he was clearing out his rat-infested garage. For among the debris and detritus of his long life, he discovered a miraculous find—a magical box of brilliant yellow that had the power to transport him to the magical land of Xanth! And there he found himself transformed by a mysterious spell that gave him the body of a much younger man. A high-stakes wager between three cosmic Demons decreed that Bryce would face competition from a slew of suitable suitors to win the hand of the Princess Harmony. The only advantages Bryce possesses in this quest he has been forced to enter are a magical pen and pad that allow him to bring whatever he sketches to life, and the wisdom of his long years that tells him he is far too old for an impetuous princess barely out of her teens. As the half-dozen contestants travel together to the far corners of Xanth, facing obstinate obstacles, tantalizing temptations, and pun-filled perils, Bryce begins to realize that in this enchanted realm nothing is quite what it seems, and the loser in this dangerous game might be the greatest winner of all.

Piers Anthony's 37th adventure in Xanth changes the Mood to one of Doom! Kody woke up in a hospital bed, not knowing how he got there. Before his questions could be answered, he was told that he was about to undergo surgery, and that there could be some side effects…. And then he woke up again, this time in Xanth. Kody is the only person in Xanth who has not been affected by a dreadful spell that reverses how people see each other. What was adorable is now loathsome. What was ugly is now beautiful. What was loved is now hated. Kody has clearly arrived just in time! Only he has any hope of reversing the spell, turning Esrever Doom into Reverse Mood.

"I'm actually a smart girl who would make any man an excellent wife. But no man sees that. No man is interested in my mind or personality, just my whatevers. So here is my I'm board stiff. I want Adventure, Excitement, and Romance.” So begins Piers Anthony's 38th Xanth novel, in which Irrelevant Candy, looks at her reflection in the water of the shallow well and sees luxuriant midnight black hair to her breathtakingly slender waist, matching dark eyes in a lovely face. A torso coming yea-close to absolute perfection. She was man's desire. That was part of the problem. And in the shallow magic of a wishing well, she asks her wish to be granted. Something happens. A sudden whirlwind surrounds her, lifting her up and ripping off her clothing. She is changing, somehow. Then she falls flat on the ground. Literally. She has been transformed into a flat, stiff board with two knotholes for eyes.

The magical land of Xanth is in peril in this follow-up to Board Stiff by New York Times–bestselling author Piers Anthony. “It occurs to me that you folk are no ordinary group,” the troll said. “We're on a special mission to eliminate the last of the anti-pun virus. We are a bit unusual.” Astrid Basilisk-Cockatrice is the daughter of anonymous parents who whiled away a dull minute by generating her on a warm compost pile, then went their own deadly ways, never to see her or each other again. She found herself a soul, but her gaze is fatal and her touch is toxic. That’s not so strange in the Land of Xanth, where everyone has a unique magical talent, and charms, curses, and enchanted puzzles lie around every corner. Now, Astrid and her companions are finishing the cleanup of a virus that ravaged the puns of Xanth, and new Quests are already popping up. For instance, Astrid is attempting to fulfill her mission in life, if only she can figure out what that is. And then there’s the missing Question from the Good Magician’s Book of Answers. Not to mention the small matter of a Demon Wager regarding the impending destruction of Xanth. But it’s nothing Astrid and her motley crew of lovely maidens and strapping men can’t handle . . . they hope.

A quest to fulfill a lifelong wish turns into an adventure rife with magical creatures and arduous tasks and puns, of course when New York Times bestselling author Piers Anthony revisits the enchanted land of Xanth In Xanth, everyone has a talent. But that doesn t mean everyone loves his talent, and no one understands that better than Hapless. Endowed with the ability to conjure any instrument he wants, Hapless could be an extraordinary musician if only he could play a tune that didn t fall ear-piercingly flat. His one desire is to find an instrument he can play and maybe a girlfriend or three. But like music, women have never been his forte. When the Good Magician hears about Hapless' desperate desire, he sends the young man on a quest to find the elusive Isis Orb, a magical talisman that could fulfill his wish. But the mysterious Egyptian goddess for whom the orb is named guards the enchanted object and won t let anyone see it let alone use it. Setting out to achieve the impossible, Hapless meets an eclectic mix of creatures that join him on his journey. Like the musically challenged Hapless, they all have wishes they hope the Isis Orb will grant. But the only way they can control the orb is to capture the five totems from the regions of Xanth: Fire, Earth, Air, Water, and the Void. Together, this motley crew will heroically fight dragons, a six-headed griffin, and even a beautiful, seductive water gorgon who tries to rain on Hapless s parade. With its thrilling exploits and endless humor, the newest addition to Piers Anthony s beloved Xanth series is sure to keep readers enthralled. Isis Orb is the 40th book in the Xanth series, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order. "

Two Ordinary People from Mundania travel to Xanth to defeat a rogue Night Colt in the latest in a beloved series from bestselling author Piers Anthony. The Night Colt has one ambition: to deliver dreams to the deserving. Unfortunately, only Night Mares can take on this task, and the Colt has no hope of leading his own herd if he can’t get any practice... So he’s struck a deal with a Mundane. During the hours when the Night Mares rest—dusk and dawn—the duo plants stories in the air, compelling the people of Xanth to enact them—whether they want to or not. Unwilling to participate in these fantasies, the princesses of Xanth, Dawn and Eve, come up with a plan to fight the menacing pair, but they’ll need the help of two unlikely heroes to succeed. In Mundania, a mysterious painting entrances Ordinary People Tartan and Tara. But why do they each see something different when they look at it? They quickly learn that it’s not a painting after all, but a portal to a magical world. With nothing to lose, they climb through the portal into Xanth and are met with a plea to help stop the Night Colt and his ghost writer. Tartan and Tara don’t hesitate to join the quest to save Xanth from the ultimate pun-tastrophe. Together with their new friends, they’ll begin a journey full of magic and romance—and, of course, puns—that will lead them to a long-lost prince, a beautiful dragoness, the goddess Isis, and a demon named Ted. With rip-roaring humor and nonstop adventure, the newest addition to Piers Anthony’s popular Xanth series is sure to enchant fans of epic fantasy. Ghost Writer in the Sky is the 41st book in the Xanth series, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.

The New York Times –bestselling series continues with this pun-tastic epic quest and far-flung fantasy adventure. Lydell, a shy, naive man of twenty-one, and world-weary grandmother Grania could not be more different. But when their paths cross on the way to beseech the Good Magician to add some excitement to their extraordinarily dull lives, the one thing they have in common is about to get them more than they bargained for . . . Lydell and Grania’s exceptional integrity makes them valuable to the Good Magician. He promises to fulfill their hearts’ desires on the condition they pilot a fireboat to its new proprietors, whoever—and wherever—they may be. Along with an obnoxious bird and a robot dogfish as shipmates, they unfurl their sail of flame and cruise through the skies of Xanth, guided by cryptic clues. Picking up a crew of future children along the way, Lydell and Grania must plan a royal wedding, detonate an F-Bomb, evade illusion dragons, rescue Jack and Jill, find a princess for a werewolf prince, and face their greatest fears—all while remaining true to their compulsively honest selves. Fire Sail is the 42nd book in the Xanth series, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.

All of Xanth is a stage as an unlikely hero saves the show in the New York Times–bestselling series. There’s no shortage of laughs when Jess is around; she’s been cursed to have nobody take her seriously. But her dubious talent comes in handy when she meets the very handsome showman Magnus. He promises to fake taking her seriously—if Jess joins his traveling show. But first they must see the Good Magician. He will give them the use of the flying Fire Boat to tour the realm if they complete a quest. The only problem is, he can’t remember what quest. Something to do with night mares, day mares, and one or two future princesses. As Jess and Magnus try to unravel the mystery, they discover their true mission: to save Xanth from a big bird with a bone to peck . . .

There’s no dancing around a demonic threat in the fantasy world of Xanth in the New York Times –bestselling series. Squid, the alien cuttlefish, is getting an a boost to her shape-changing talent so she can lead a mission against a foreign Demon who’s stirring up trouble in Xanth. At Squid’s side are her rescued siblings and one very special child—Larry, a girl in a boy’s body, who will act as a secret host for their adoptive mother, the Demoness Fornax. Aboard the Fire Boat, they form a plan to disguise themselves as a traveling dance troupe. Each child is paired up with a native Xanthian. But it’s the friendship that blossoms between Squid and Larry that will power their quest, and they’ll have to do some fancy footwork to avoid the trials and tribulations that await them.

You're better wed than dead—even in Xanth—in the hilariously punny new adventure in the fantasy series soon to be adapted for film and television! Squid may only be a tween alien cuttlefish, but her feelings for Chaos, her Demon boyfriend, are real, which is why she's more than ready to let someone else take over as the protagonist of this story. Being a main character is exhausting—and it's drastically cutting down her flirting time with Chaos. But their alternate future is dependent upon their completion of one final mission . . . Seven years from now, in another reality frame, things are not so picture perfect. Squid's dream of happily ever after turns into happily never after when Chaos' human host is murdered the night before their wedding. So before they become newly dead instead of newly wed, Squid and Chaos must travel through time in order to meet their maker . . . Praise for Piers Anthony "Piers Anthony is one of those authors who can perform magic with the ordinary... [He] is a craftsman." —A Reader's Guide to Science Fiction "Anthony's unflagging sparkle, verve and wordplay spin everyday trials of Mundane life into storytelling gold." —Publishers Weekly

In this heroic Xanth adventure from the New York Times–bestselling author, there’s no time like the present to free six plucky princesses from the past. Young Vinia is enjoying her life with her boyfriend, Prince Ion. They complement each other perfectly: her telekinesis helps him walk, and his ambiance abolishes all allergens, allowing her to breathe freely. But Ion and his twin, Hilda, are bored with their easy royal lives and are restless for an adventure . . . While telling the story of how their parents met, the twins remember their mother was once captured by a dragon and frozen in crystal along with a half dozen other strong-willed princesses. She managed to escape, but the six other maidens continue to be held captive—which gives Vinia, Ion, Hilda, and Hilda’s caprine-crossbreed boyfriend the perfect excuse to embark on a quest. But first they must get the approval of their parents—and the Good Magician. Since Vinia is the protagonist in this story (though she’s much more comfortable as a background character), it’s up to her complete the Magician’s challenges. And then comes their greatest test: to free the princesses from their patriarchal prison, frozen in place by the Dragon with the Girl Tattoo . . .

No one’s safe when a pundemic spreads through the land of Xanth in this madcap adventure from the New York Times–bestselling author. What’s a single prince to do when confronted with the baton of protagonism? Why, become the hero of his own story of course! And in Xanth that usually means embarking on a quest. For Prince Nolan Naga, there’s only one thing missing from his life: a wife. He needs a royal match by the time he assumes the throne. But to make sure he lands the right spouse, he must consult with the Good Magician. After completing the three challenges necessary to see the Good Magician, Nolan learns that the ideal bride for him does exist. She is Apoca of the Lips Tribe. From the Queendom of Thanx—a matriarchy that is the opposite of Xanth—she is a formidable woman, one whose very kiss can seduce a man into love slavery. But before a happily ever after, they’ll have to team up to put an end to a curse that’s causing every baby in Xanth to be born with the same magical talent, all while navigating through a realm plagued by endless puns. It could be the end of the world as we know it . . .

The world of Xanth is a jumbo pun fest, a confabulation of convivial confections, where cottages are made of cheese, and bees are excellent spellers. Almost everyone in Xanth—whether centaur, ogre, human, or unicorn—has a magical ability, and uses it to wreak complicated and amusing mayhem. Quests to restore order are the order of the day. This hardcover volume contains the complete texts of books four, five, and six in the Xanth series—Centaur Aisle, in which the future monarch of Xanth, 16-year-old Dor, has to negotiate with nonmagical Mundania; Ogre, Ogre, which tells the romantic story of an Eye Queue-enhanced ogre and a lovely nymph; and Night Mare, in which Imbri, a former night mare, must help stave off the invasion of Xanth by Nextwave barbarians. The first novel in this series, A Spell for Chameleon, appeared in 1977. Piers Anthony is an exceedingly popular author, and the humorous and long-lived Xanth series is why. —Blaise Selby