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And Eternity (Incarnations of Immortality Series, Book 7)

And Eternity (Incarnations of Immortality Series, Book 7)

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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A good ending to a good series
Review: "And Eternity" serves as a good ending to Anthony's excellent Incarnations of Immortality series. Throughout the series we are given hints as to the role of God. His position has been described as aloof, even to the point of doing little or nothing to counter the machinations of Satan. This book attempts to answer the question of God's laissez faire attitude. The story revolves around three main characters. Jolie returns from the last book in spirit form. Orlene, daughter of Gaiea also returns. A new character, Vita is introduced. Vita is a troubled teenager, trying to make ends meet through prostitution. Orlene and Jolie show up in an attempt to save Vita, for she is supposed to play a role in the fate of humankind. The trio wind up on a grand adventure in an attempt to replace the incarnation of God. The story climaxes with appearances by all of the incarnations, culminating in a marvelous plot twist. The end is a satisfying conclusion to the series.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Tackling An Ultimate Question
Review: "And Eternity" is the last book of the "Incarnations of Immortality" series which takes place in a version of our reality where magic holds equal status with science, and each major aspect of reality - death, time, fate, war, nature, good, evil - is run by an ex-mortal who has, by choice or chance, inherited the job of running that aspect.

Many atheists, agnostics, skeptics, and disillusioned semi-believers have asked how an all-powerful, all-knowing, and caring God can allow the world to be as bad as it sometimes is. In "And Eternity", Piers Anthony tackles that question head-on. His answer is that, while God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and caring, He is also passive and self-absorbed. In the story, that is about to change, as the current occupant of the office of God has been voted out and a replacement is being sought. What are the qualifications? How flawed can someone be and still be a candidate? How will the rules and criteria change with the change in office-holder?

This is not dry, heavy-duty, philosophical reading, but takes a semi-humorous, semi-serious look at all these questions. It's a fast-paced, fun read, and makes an excellent ending to the series. By the way, as many of the characters in the series recur throughout, it works much better if you read the books in sequence. Seven books might sound like a lot of reading, but it's all fun, interesting, and coherent. You won't be wasting your time.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A good ending to a good series
Review: "And Eternity" serves as a good ending to Anthony's excellent Incarnations of Immortality series. Throughout the series we are given hints as to the role of God. His position has been described as aloof, even to the point of doing little or nothing to counter the machinations of Satan. This book attempts to answer the question of God's laissez faire attitude. The story revolves around three main characters. Jolie returns from the last book in spirit form. Orlene, daughter of Gaiea also returns. A new character, Vita is introduced. Vita is a troubled teenager, trying to make ends meet through prostitution. Orlene and Jolie show up in an attempt to save Vita, for she is supposed to play a role in the fate of humankind. The trio wind up on a grand adventure in an attempt to replace the incarnation of God. The story climaxes with appearances by all of the incarnations, culminating in a marvelous plot twist. The end is a satisfying conclusion to the series.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Refreshing end to a long, enjoyable series!!
Review: And Eternity was a very enjoyable read. The addition of new characters made this story refreshing, but it also was sure to tie in all the characters from previous books in the series. The adventures of the new characters are exciting, as well as interesting because of the way their paths cross with the Incarnations and other characters you've met through the other six books. Anthony uses the characters whose personalities he has already developed with the new characters-- their interactions are fascinating; The end's twist is great! The settings in the book are just as interesting as always, and you are always kept on the edge of your seat from all the changes of scenery and also the plot developments. The underlying plot revolves around the need to replace the God of non-interferece (and non-action) and keeps hinting that different characters might become the next God, but who is finally chosen and the way he/she/it was chosen is great, and draws support and meaning from For Love of Evil. If you've read the other books from Incarnations of Immortality and are interested in the characters, and especially if you have an interest in mythology and theology, this is a Must-Read!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Just Okay
Review: As a seasoned reader of Everthing Anthony, I can honestly say that I think Aspects Of Immortality is his very best series. Unlike the happy world of Xanth, these stories truly make the reader think. The characters are amazing, and I like the way Peirs always seems to find the meaning of his little universe.

This is undoubtedly the best book in the series in my opinion. It ties everything up buetifully.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A perfect ending
Review: First of all, for anyone who has not yet read a book by Piers Anthony: Piers is an outstanding writer. He has written many series in various genres, and has proven apt at all of them. Whether he's writing Xanth or Adept books (to pay the bills), Incarnations or Mode books, or his Geodyssey series, his words are almost enthralling. I tend to read a book at night to help me go to sleep, but without fail his books keep me up until I hear birds singing outside my window and I realize that the sun has risen on a new day. At that point I have to reluctantly put the book down and go to sleep still imagining the worlds he has created on the page and in my mind. He is a gifted writer, regardless of the genre.

Secondly, this series has been especially thought-provoking. Whether or not we believe in the Incarnations is irrelevant. It's the idea of these incarnations, moral rules, and the basis of our own humanity is what makes these books so worthwhile to read. The fact that Piers can make these heady and intricate issues so very exciting, captivating, and entertaining is the mark of a talented writer.

To say that one book in the series is better than another is very difficult to do. I enjoyed them all immensely. This one was particularly good, in part because it dealt with the one Incarnation that I, as someone that was raised in the Christian faith, was already familiar with. Piers didn't create an Incarnation of Good (aka God) that was one iota different from the Christians believe. So we're entered into a story where there are a bunch of deities that exist only in this series (essentially), plus one that we already believe in, and everyone around us believes in too. It's a fascinating experience, because Piers starts with God as we know "him", but then takes that groundwork and evolves it into a new and belivable dogma.

I won't say anything at all about the plot. I will say that the story was not as strong as some of the previous Incarnations books'. However, the ideas he discussed within the telling of the story were better than the other books, in my opinion. And when you reach the big finale, you realize that the story worked very well to support the ending of the Incarnations of Immortality series.

All-in-all, this is a fantastic book. Piers is a master storyteller and writer, and this book is particularly thought-provoking and entertaining. Of course you should only read this book after you've read the six preceeding books. If you've done that, then of course I recommend this book. But if you have read those six already, I'm sure you don't need my recomendation -- you've already bought this book and are halfway through it by now.

(If you're interested in anthropology, studying human history through the past millenia, try his Geodyssey series. As an anthro. minor in college, I know more than enough to know that he knows exactly what he is writing about.)

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Kinda boring
Review: I enjoyed the series as a whole, and even liked Love of Evil, because it was interesting. However, nothing really interesting actually happens in this book. The three main characters walk around, and make observations that God doesn't do anything. Plot-wise, I felt this last book of the series to be a disappointment.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: uncomfortable reading
Review: I loved books from this author as a child. This series kept me thinking the the author is a bit of a chauvinist and a bit dirty minded. Did I miss that as a child? Are the Xanth and Adept series like that? I may have to re-read them and see. For this book I feel way too much time seemed spent on the sexual situations with a minor. After a while, I just couldn't see past it.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Seriously people!
Review: I was so excited to grab this book the other day. I loved the rest of the series and except for some slow spots gave this series a solid four out of five stars. Ten pages into this book and I had to take a double look at the front to make sure I had the right author. I can't think of a single reason why this book is getting good reviews here on Amazon but I just have to clear the air in case someone has the idea to read this book to cap off a great series. Skip it.

I still have about fifty pages to go but even if the ending is wonderful and totally takes me by suprise it still won't make up for this book ever having been written. Now just so it doesn't seem like I am giving such a negative review for no reason, I will tell you why it is so awful.
First, it is very repetitive. You basically know what is going to happen at every turn and even if you didn't, it really is boring. Also, this introduction of Vita, the new underage character who loves sex (not being paid, just doing it for free) is very annoying. As a character she is pretty shallow. Actually all the characters in this book are shallow. Orlene has to ask all the incarnations for a favor and EACH one tests her before they give her the item or perform the favor she asks, even though they all basically are related to her (Mother, Grandmother, Father, Stepfather, Lover, etc.). Very unrealistic (I know it's fantasy but c'mon, a little real human emotion wouldn't hurt.)

And the asking of favors and the testing her (them, actually but that is another boring aspect of this book I won't get into) is literally 200 pages. You know she will get the items in the end, so why strech it out? Why have Vita/Jolie/Orlene banging away with the Judge for pages on end? Boring, Boring stuff Piers and I wish you would have stuck to your guns and not wrote this piece, or at least tried to make it interesting.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: great series
Review: Its more like 2.5 stars. I read the other books in this series at a rate of a book every 2 days, they were that good. After finishing "For Love Of Evil", i could not wait to read this book. I cracked it open expecting to FINALY get to see God's point of view.....what a let down! I am curently more than half way through this book and there is no sign of God, just 3 women in 1 body (sound familiar?) doing what basicaly amounts to nothing. It seems Mr. Anthony just could not put himself in the mindset of God, and so decided to write this fluff. I will finsh this book sometime in the future because i want to see how this series ends, but as of now im to dissapointed to continue. I give the other books in this series no lower than 4 stars (most 5), but i couldnt do the same for this one. I'm sorry Mr. Anthony but you could have done much, much better.


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