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Summary: A contradiction in terms...
Review: Piers Anthony has presented an interesting paradox in writing for quite some time. I still find it fascinating that one author can tackle such complex and intense metaphysical and existential issues, and yet remain so utterly simplistic as to almost suggest the whole thing was a 13-year-old's idea. Our protagonist becomes responsible for the balance of souls, discussing numerous facets of afterlife philosophy and religious issues in the process. This is serious stuff we're supposedly dealing with. And yet, Zane at first seems like a middle-school kid with a bunch of new gadgets to play with. Purgatory and Hell are sketched in with minimal detail rather than being explored and described. Women exist either to lust after the men, or fall in love with them like they're in a Disney movie. With some depth and realism this could have become a wonderful epic on a grand scale. As it is, it stands as mindless escapism - not much else.
Rating: 
Summary: He has done it again.
Review: Piers Anthony has done it again with th Incarnations of Immortality series. I actually read this one second. The first one I read in this series was BEARING AN HOURGLASS.The second one in the series. But I have read ON A PALE HORSE, again and again. I really enjoyed it. It made my imagination run wild. I really liked the way the Piers Anthony represented Death or shall I say the physical figure of death. This book has romance, drama,and the ongoing battle of Good vs Evil. This book will forever linger in my mind and keep me reading it again and again. Worth the Money, in this writers opinion.
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Summary: Xanth for Adults
Review: "On a Pale Horse" is a fun look at an alternative Universe where Newton discovered the basic principals of Science and Magic. As a result, the 20th Century has magic carpets, dragons and wizards, as well as fast cars, microwave ovens and laser beams. Zane, a luckless Bohemian with a questionable past, accidentally kills "Death" in a botched suicide attempt. He soon learns that Death is an office which one earns by killing the prior occupant. Zane is now responsible for killing everyone on Earth, when their time comes. In particular, Zane existence allows death to occur. He also has to personally kill those who souls are close to "balance," that is, where their evil and good, are about equal throughout their lives. While involved in his grim task, in death, Zane finally begins to appreciate life, even as he questions the rules by which we all live. He ultimately falls in love with Luna, the young daughter of a deceased wizard and gets deeply entangled in a conflict with Lucifer, kings of lies. "On a Pale Horse" can be read and enjoyed as a simple fantasy adventure. It is, however, more then just that. "On a Pale Horse" is also the author's attempt to answer some of the basic issues of life. Why do we die? Why do some people die so soon? What happens after death? Some of Mr. Anthony's answers here are interesting, other fall a little more flat. Since, by his own admission, Mr. Anthony is, or was, an agnostic, it is curious that he is so concerned about what happens to us after we die. I guess Mr. Anthony suffers from the same doubts as the rest of us. "I fear a just God, even while I doubt his existence." But, don't let this distract you. If you want a good fantasy/fun book, this is it. For me, the intelligent questions about ourselves and our place in the Universe were just added bonuses.
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Summary: Funny
Review: One rarely considers a science fiction book to be funny but this one is humorous. The main character fumbles through taking souls, riding his stead, and dealing with the devil. Talk about learning on the job, this book made me laugh out loud. The part where he took the baby's soul was especially poignant.
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Summary: Zane's Is Death
Review: Once Zane had lost a beautiful woman and had no money to pay his rent he decided to kill himself. With the gun pointed to his head the door opened and death walked in. The only thing to do was shot death and that is what he did. Once death was killed Fate walked through the door and said that Zane had to take Death's postion. Fate handed Zane the death clothes and items and then she left. And with Zane having noidea what he was supposed to do he went out the door and down the stairs and saw a car. The lights were on so death went to it and went in it. Zane started driving and noticed that he didn't exactly need to drive. Once at his first client he had to take the soul of a woman in a car crash. Zane had to go through a lot of things, but the worst of all was that he was in a trap planned by the king of lies, satan. Satan was planning for Zane to kill LUna the woman he loved. Well. That's a start on the book you really should read this book and the series
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Summary: Read this, then read the rest. You wont be disappointed...
Review: Piers Anthony is, in my opinion, one of the most talented authors in the sci-fi/fantasy genre that I have ever read. Simply the idea of the Incarnations of Immortality being run by mortals, and their trials and tribulations of those people make for a wonderful story that one cannot stop reading. I must give you a fair warning though: This book begins a plot that doesnt end for another six books. If you are an avid reader and can't put a book down, I would suggest you don't start reading this...as I could not force myself to stop. I found myself going from store to store buying the rest of the series and reading them all within a 3 month period. If you like this genre, you WILL like this book. I hope everyone else enjoys this book as much as I did.
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Summary: the not-so-grim Reaper
Review: This is the first Piers Anthony book I ever read, and I read it for all the wrong reasons. I read it because the title intrigued me. I read it because it had a really cool cover. I was young and still judged many books on that basis. Fortunately, I hit the jackpot with this one. I give this book five stars because it earned each and every one of them. I can be stingy with my stars at times, but I wonder if five is enough for this one. On A Pale Horse is book 1 of the Incarnations of Immortality, but don't be intimidated by the prospect of buying all the others because this one's a heavyweight all by its lonesome (it's the only one I've personally read so far). The main character is Zane, who is forced to take over the position of Death when he accidentally shoots and kills the previous Death (who had the misfortune of barging in a bit prematurely during Zane's suicide attempt). This sounds a little wacky, and it is, but wonderfully so. From there, the book continues to tell the story of Zane as he learns the ropes of Reaping. The main plot involves Satan trying to lure Death into a scheme that involves him killing this girl he's come to love. The whole idea of Satan vs. Death is very cool, and is worth the price of the book alone. However, said plot, while awesome, was not my favorite part of the book because there's just so much dang cool stuf in here! For one thing, the book is hilarious, while several humorous moments in which Zane finds that Reaping isn't as easy as it looks. There's also a wonderful world Anthony has created that blends science and magic. And one thing that Anthony pulls off that few can is to, among a book filled with both laughs and adventure, weave in some deeply profound philosophical perspectives (on Death, of course). This book just had it all, and it had some very unique ideas about Death and salvation. One thing I must say, though(and I hate having to say it, but I have to because there are some really stupid people out there) is that this is a work of fiction. I am a Christian and realize that some of the ideas presented in this book are at odds with my own personal beliefs, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy and appreciate the originality and creativity of them. In other words, for all you "muggles" out there, Piers isn't trying to convert anybody to his way of thinking. He just wants to give us a good book and he does. As for those of you who may disagree with me, I say this: if you are really afraid that reading things like this will actually cause you to change your deepest beliefs, it's high time you took a look inside yourself and determine just how deep your belief is in the first place. Your beliefs should come from within yourself, not the most recent thing you've read.
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Summary: Forget Xanth, this is Great!
Review: I read the first Xanth book (A Spell for Chameleon.) I picked up the second one (The Source of Magic) and got frustrated with it. The subject matter of the Xanth series only reaches so far as to cater to the 11-15 age range. Once you get beyond that, or at least for me, it becomes a little childish. This book, however, was wonderfully mind stimulating. It probably would classify as a sci-fi book, which accounts for the futuristic Earth setting, but Anthony draws on his fantasy expertise to add flavor and gusto to this novel. It really is in a league of its own. I haven't even heard of a book or series that portrays the Incarnations (Death, Fate, Time, etc.) in such a special way, let alone have them as characters. The main reason I picked this book up in the first place was because of its unusual cover portraying Death in a yellow car (which we later learn is his Death Steed named Mortis.) The story itself is riviting, drawing on many of the author's own feelings and thoughts to create an allegory (a work that can be read on two levels, in a literal way and then usually a deeper, more thought out way.) It has great action (sword fights, or actually scythe fights, damsels in destress, magicians, ect.) But what really got me was, the arch enemy of Death, the protagonist who is actually a human who assumed the post of Death after killing the previous Death, is Satan himself! What better foe could there be? On a Pale Horse is a truly uncommon and unique book. It is fast paced and extremely interesting. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
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Summary: If I could be any Incarnation...
Review: This book got me hooked on to the Incarnations of Immortality series. A great read, you won't put the book down until you have reached the end.
Rating:
Summary: Great Adventure
Review: After reading this excellent book I was addicted to the series! I read every book at least 3 times each. It's a great novel to enjoy and an even better series to read. I gaurantee you'll love it.
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