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A Spell for Chameleon

A Spell for Chameleon

List Price: $7.50
Your Price: $6.75
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Love at first read
Review: I am not a fantasy reader. I never have been, until I read this book. It seems to me that all of the other fantasy novels include such ridiculus names that you can't seem to remember who is who which really frustrated me, so I never took a liking to them. Well, at least that was how it was with me! But with this book, the characters that Piers Anthony portrays is a whole different story. You come to form a bond between them. You learn about their families, their lives and follow them throughout their adventures and trials of love and challenges. They aren't much different from us except that they harvest pies from trees in their backyard and everybody has a magical talent! I was very skeptical at first when my friend gave it to me to read. I opened it up and read the first 10 pages and I was like Noooo way! This is crazy! What are all these puns doing in here and WHY? But, my friend just told me to keep reading. That was 2 1/2 years ago! I am STILL reading the Xanth novels today. So far I am on book 21. But, I have to say the original characters, Bink, Chameleon, Trent, Iris, and their children Dor and Irene, Old Magician Humphrey, and the centaurs Chet and Chem are still my favorite today. I miss those old characters! And what is really wonderful is that they age right along with you! Every book is (in Xanth) about 3 years apart to keep things moving. But old Binker is still my favorite! So...if your not a Fantasy lover currently, just pick up this book and give it a good read. I think you will change your mind. I can't tell you how many times I laughed out loud or (Shhhh) sniffled, or was on the edge of my seat!
This whole series is very light-hearted, easy to read and just a lot of fun to ecsape from reality with.
But, I must say if you do start reading this series I strongly recommend not skipping any books (unless you absolutely must).
Just have fun with it and don't take it too seriously.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: ***FASCINATING***
Review: I LOVE this book. I'm not a huge fan of science ficiton, fantasy or otherwise, but this book is absolutely enchanting. A Spell For Chameleon was the first Xanth novel I read and I've since read every one that I could get my hands on. A "must-read" for anyone looking for lighthearted, engrossing books.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I'm finally interested in reading again!
Review: After college, I lost interest in picking up a book and reading for pleasure -- most of the books I read had put me to sleep, and I always thought of reasons to put it off. This book sparked my reading interest. Xanth is a very mystical place to visit, and this magic-filled fantasy land took me places I had never imagined. If you enjoy fantasy, magic, adventure, and a little bit of dragons, this book is a MUST READ!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Wild and Crazy
Review: I couldn't decide whether to keep puzzling over this book or just laugh myself silly, its that good.

Young Bink is in trouble. Unless he can prove to the senile old king that he has a magical talent al his own, out he goes. Only the magical may stay in Xanth, and facing life in the outside world, Mundania (you guesses it, here), is more than Bink can take, particularly since it means parting from the girl he loves. So, he sets out on a quest to find his talent, and his place in the world.

The book has its fair share of bad puns and clever lines, but most of the humour comes from the ridiculous situations that can happen only in Xanth. Imagine a world where everything is magical to some degree. Than imagine a world where everything is completely weird. Than ad the fact that every tiny little problem always escalates to a huge catastrophe. Multiply by ten. Than you have Xanth.

If you like Terry Pratchets Discworld, you will probably like Xanth too. Give it a try. And have fun!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: a fun beginning
Review: This is the book that first got me reading fantasy novels. I read this for the first time when I was in 8th grade, I believe (now 23 years old). At the time I found it to be a simple, fun to read novel that got me interested in the world Piers Anthony created. It also got me interested in other fantasy novels, and I moved along from Anthony to Eddings, Brooks, McCaffrey, Feist, Jordan, and Martin. Anthony's Xanth series is what got me started, however.

I think I've read about half of the Xanth series, and it is apparent that the novels are becoming less and less serious. The books become filled with puns, and everything magic is punned. A Spell for Chameleon is the first Xanth novel, however, and there is very little of the punning that the series is known for (and may be the downfall of the series). This first novel sets up the series and defines what Xanth is and what kind of land this is. Xanth is shaped like Florida, but is not actually connected to the United States. It is a separate world filled with magic. Anthony teases that all of the magical creatures in Earth's legends actually were real (dragons, centaur, harpy, sphinx, etc), but they came from Xanth by mistake. Xanth is a magic land is somehow connected to our world, but not in any fixed location. The human population of Xanth was settled by Mundanes (our world is called Mundania) in a series of waves of Invasion, as the Mundanes (from various parts of the world) discovered passages to Xanth. While humans don't naturally have magic when they arrive, any children born in Xanth do in fact possess magic.

When this novel begins, we know there is a Shield blocking any more Waves of invasion from Mundania (prior waves had been mostly violent). The king is an old man with failing health and he has decreed that any citizen who has reached his 25th birthday must be able to demonstrate his magical talent (everyone has just one) or be exiled to Mundania (beyond the Shield). Bink is a young man nearing his 25th birthday and he has not yet discovered his talent. He is journeying to the Good Magician Humphrey to discover his talent. As Bink travels, we learn more about what type of land Xanth is, and discover some of the most prominent features of the land. Humphrey knows that Bink has a Magician level talent, but is unable figure out what the talent is. Bink is still to be exiled.

While I feel that the novel has lost something over the years, it was still a very enjoyable read and it is fun to revisit the world of Xanth.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A good beginning.
Review: This book is an excellent read, and is great way to introduce kids into the world of novels.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: a spell for the reader
Review: I love Xanth. Piers Anthony's writing style is a flowing read of puns, sarcasm and common figuratives made literal. He still gives plenty of detail, enough to make you sigh and wish you lived there, or gasp and glad you're mundane. The characters are relatable, even though they are "magical". The adventure starts off quickly and maintains a romping pace thoughout. I couldn't put it down!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: First Book
Review: A Spell for Chameleon is the gateway to the magical, pun-filled world of Xanth. This is a definit must read, even if you don't want to read the entire series.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Finally, a book that I can actually enjoy!
Review: It's been a long time since I've been able to really enjoy the books that I read. A lot of the sci-fi/fantasy books out there just don't catch my attention and make me want to read more -- this one did! I'm now reading Harpy Thyme, so you can imagine how much I enjoy his series! This first book was probably the best one of the series (so far that I've read), but they are all very enjoyable!!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Disappointed is an understatement
Review: I've read two of Anthony's books, "Spell For Chameleon" and "Centaur Aisle". Now, I think that he has potentials. I think that he's somewhat good at thinking up plots and I like his whole idea of the Xanth world. I also like the idea of the people. And the different magic talents he thought up are something I would never have thought of myself (well, some of them I would, but far from all of them).
However, I think he's a poor writer. I don't think he knows how to make things interesting. I have, I admit willingly, only read two of his books, but I disliked the main character in both of them. Actually, I dislike all of the characters and if there might be one I don't actually dislike then I feel indifferent towards him/her. The only reason why I continued to read the story is because I wanted to know how it ended, but I skipped several passages and just glanced at the words because it's far too dull for me to read. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone and despite the good ideas in it I don't see what the big fuss is about.


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