Third Quarter Outside Reading Book Review
The Source of Magic by Piers Anthony, Del Rey Books, 1979.
The Source of Magic is the second Xanth novel. In the first book A Spell for Chameleon the character Bink is introduced as the protagonist. In The Source of Magic he is also the protagonist. The land of Xanth is a magic place with breadfruit trees for bread picking and Midas fly’s that can turn you to gold. Everyone in Xanth has a spell they usually eventually discover. Bink impregnated his wife Chameleon and she was in a foul mood, his friends, Crombine the Soldier and Chester the Centaur were both having women troubles too. King Trent then conveniently assigns them to a quest, to find the source of Magic in Xanth. He also turns Crombine into a griffin so he could keep up with Bink who was riding Chester. They eventually get to the good magician Humphrey’s castle so Chester could possibly ask if he too had magic (centaurs aren’t supposed to have magic). Bink had to go through a series of challenges to even reach the magician (Humphrey didn’t want to be bothered). When Bink found him he joined their quest with the golem Grundy so they could translate Crombine’s squawks. They encounter many bumps in the road that provide clues. Using Bink’s leadership, Crombine’s directional spell, Humphrey’s knowledge, and Chester’s strength they manage to find where the source of magic lies, however the problem is getting there.
The book jacket reads nothing, perhaps suggesting the author is Modest. “Anthony’s imagination shines through in this novel.” Nathaniel Laurin.
This book really is the brainchild of Piers Anthony. He puts new thoughts and pictures into your mind of things like gluebark trees, fruit with wings, and other comical plants and animals. He describes enough to get a picture into your head of the protagonist surroundings, but he doesn’t overwhelm you with description. Also you don’t know the real enemy at all until you finish and reflect on it. Also the author uses dialogue to move the story along and keep it fresh and interesting.
I also read another Xanth novel by Piers Anthony called A Spell for Chameleon. In both books there is a whimsical aspect along with the serious part. In both books I have read by Piers Anthony he always makes an ending different then you expect. I personally enjoy the surprise aspect.
“Now the constellation centaur shot his arrow. The missile blazed as it flew, forming brilliant streaks across the sky, growing brighter and yet brighter as it drew near. Suddenly it loomed frighteningly close, as if flying right out of the sky-and cracked into a nearby tree. It was a dogwood; it yelped with pain, then growled and bared its teethlike inner branches in canine fury, seeking its enemy. In a moment it had torn the arrow to shreds.” (162) [example of Piers Anthony’s comedy with imagination]
I like the Xanth novels because I enjoy fantasy books. Piers Anthony makes comedy out of some of the most intense scenes in a book. Something serious and dangerous can happen but Anthony might decide to lighten the mood with a joke or two. His stories have an important theme in the end despite all of the whimsical and silly aspects.
