Cube Route (Xanth)

Rating:
Summary: A Beauty Quest
Review: Cube Route is the twenty-seventh novel in the Xanth series, following Up In a Heaval. In the previous volume, Umlaut completed his quest by delivering all the letters, so the Demoness Fornax lost Counter Xanth to the Demon Xanth and she has committed herself to an extended visit with the Demon Jupiter. Surprise convinced the Demons to allow Umlaut to continue his existence and even provided him with half her soul. The dragon girl Becka also convinced Brusque Brassie to visit with her for a while.

In this novel, Cue is a very plain girl, downright ugly in fact, who is called Cube because she is so square. Boys notice her face and figure, then glance aside. When she explains her desire to be beautiful to Demoness Metria, she is asked why she has not taken her Question to the Good Magician. Since she had not previously thought of doing so, Cube immediately sets off to the Good Magician's castle.

On the way, Cube meets Ryver Human and Karia Centaur. When the Good Magician declares that she must gather nine companions and follow the Cube Route to find a way to Counter Xanth, Cube decides to start recruiting with these two. Sofia Socksorter, the Magician's current designated wife, provides her with a magical pouch made from one of his old socks that can hold anything of any size in stasis. Cube is to use the pouch to contain her Companions whenever someone else might notice them, for the quest must not attact unfavorable attention.

When Metria shows up, Cube recruits her as the first Companion, then sends her to ask Karia to come to her. When they meet, Karia agrees to join the quest and they fly to Ryver's house. Although Ryver is disappointed that she is not yet beautiful, he finally agrees to join. They go next to Castle Roogna and recruit the Princesses Melody, Harmony and Rhythm. Then the Princesses conjure a magical thread that shows them the path that they must follow and they add Drek Dragon, the sidestepping Mundanes Cory and Tessa, and the dog Diamond to their band.

While they are searching for the Companions and even afterwards, strange things happen around them. Since the level of magic they are facing is extremely high, they conclude that the Demoness Fornax is interfering with the quest. When one of the interventions causes Cube to drop the pouch, with all her Companions within it, into a stream that soon carries it underground, Cube immediately finds a way to the castle of Nimby and Chlorine to ask for their help, which Nimby provides.

All throughout the quest, Cube is faced with situations and people for which she has to strain her abilities to handle properly. Although the route is extremely winding and indirect, the Companions believe that the path is preparing her for the final resolution of the quest. Cube is definitely having new experiences and learning new skills and insights.

This story has a running joke about fractional moments, the length of silences and other timespans. There are the usual puns and situational jokes aglore. Moreover, Cube gets the grand tour of Xanth and Ida's moons in addition to Mundania, Phaze and Counter Xanth. Of course, she completes her quest and becomes beautiful; however, the payoff is not quite what she expected.

Highly recommended for Anthony fans and for anyone else who enjoys comic fantasy with some basic humor and a humane message.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Rating:
Summary: Xanth at its best
Review: In the land of Xanth Cube feels depressed and unwanted because as she knows that once you peel away a dimension from her what you have left is a wholesome usable but ugly square. In spite the warning labels, Cube desperately asks the Good Magician Humphrey to help her attain her wish of being beautiful for she thinks that will bring her happiness and contentment.

As is Humphrey's typical response that means nothing yet everything to anyone else but himself including the requestor (aside: is Humphrey a reincarnation of Professor Irwin Corey?), he tells her to search for the CUBE ROUTE. There he insists she will find her heart's desire. Thus, Cube begins a journey in which she does not understand the instructions, the objective, or the time it will take to complete (aside two: sounds like American nation building missions). Soon with a retinue of characters that can only live in Xanth, Phaze or Mundania, she treks towards the realm of Counter-Xanth where anything can change so just don't blink or miss the transformation.

As is usual with the Xanth tales (this is number twenty-seven), Piers Anthony uses puns and multiple entendres to satirize human frailty within a strong epic fantasy adventure. The story line is the usual epic quest of an individual, who this time seeks beauty. Mr. Anthony does a delightful job with Cube and company as she learns what the true essence of beauty is. Though clearly for fans of the author (can't just say the series as the crew travel to Phaze), CUBE ROUTE is a refreshing witty morality tale that lovingly escorts the audience across the complex Anthony galaxy.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: 4+ stars.
Review: Very enjoyable. Good characters. Great ideas and values.
One of his best efforts.