Rating: 
Summary: Oh, how I love to read about Xanth!
Review: As a longtime reader of Piers Anthony's and also a longtime fan of Xanth, I always enjoy another good Xanth novel. I've been reading his books for about 15 years now and have read all of the Xanth books numerous times.I take these books for what they are - a lighthearted romp in fantasy. They are fun, humourous, enjoyable, and also very interesting. Xone of Contention is no different. If you are a Xanth fan, you'll enjoy this book also! Piers had some delightful new puns in here, as some other reviewers have pointed out. And I always enjoy it when he ventures into Mundania. If I had to rank this book among all his other Xanth books, I'd put it in the top 75% of them. Not my most favorite, but very good. He explored some new themes in this book, like marriage and divorce, that were intriguing and make me want to re-read it. Of course, there was only 1 Xanth book that I was bored with, and that was the one that told the history of Good Magician Humfrey. Otherwise, they are all a lot of fun and worth a read!
Rating: 
Summary: Okay, but not great.
Review: I guess I must be outgrowing the Xanth books, because this one really disappointed me. I've read nearly all of the Xanth novels, but I just could NOT get into this one. I read 20 pages, put the book down, and then promptly forgot I had even started it. To me, that does not indicate a good book. A good book is one you don't want to put down. And if you have to put it down, you can't stop thinking about it and can't wait to get back. This book I finished just so that I could put it back on the shelf.
Rating:
Summary: Okay, but not great.
Review: I guess I must be outgrowing the Xanth books, because this one really disappointed me. I've read nearly all of the Xanth novels, but I just could NOT get into this one. I read 20 pages, put the book down, and then promptly forgot I had even started it. To me, that does not indicate a good book. A good book is one you don't want to put down. And if you have to put it down, you can't stop thinking about it and can't wait to get back. This book I finished just so that I could put it back on the shelf.
Rating: 
Summary: X is for X-rated wannabe.
Review: I have read every Xanth book from the beginning, but this will be the last one I read. My wife said she gave up on this series long ago, about the time the Adult Conspiracy subplot started. At first, the AC was just an annoyance, but it has now just about completely taken over. As I mentioned in my review of "Zombie Lover," it is not the sexual references themselves that bother me, just the fact that they seem to me to be jarringly out of place in Xanth books. As bad as the AC is, this book is pretty lame all the way around. Other than a few well-placed zingers at Microsoft in the first chapter, there is little fun in this book. For all the enjoyment I have had from reading Xanth in the past, I am grateful. I am just sad that it has come to an end.
Rating: 
Summary: Another great Xanth novel
Review: I just love Xanth novels. They're light-hearted, easy to read, upbeat, funny, and suspenseful without being really scary. All of the characters, whether good or bad, are sympathetic. This one fits right in. This novel has some great premises, e.g. that there is something about Xanth's magic that prevents married couples from falling out of love and that, in Xanth, women's panties have a mysterious magic. I would have given it five stars, but there were some very heavy pun clusters that dragged it down. If you don't know Xanth, you should understand that the magic of Xanth is largely based on puns. I'm not the world's biggest pun fan, but still some the punning is a lot of fun. In this book, though, there were sections where you just hit one pun after another and it was pretty rough going. I like it better when there is just a light sprinkling of puns. Another slight problem is name dropping of familiar characters from earlier books. There have been enough books, now, that it's really hard to keep track of all the characters. Maybe there should be a little chart in each book, tracing the royal family lines, at least, or which characters were introduced in which books. A good thing about Xanth novels is that each character is presented with a challenge that is suitable for that character's level of accomplishment. The characters have to struggle to win, but the struggle is appropriate to them and makes them grow. I am not sure I like the Nimby character as much as some of the previous ones. He's just too powerful. It kind of tips the balance toward him too much. P. Anthony does a good job of putting him in situations where he is nevertheless challenged, despite his seemingly overwhelming power. Still, there is something a bit too close to God about Nimby that makes me uncomfortable.
Rating:
Summary: Another great Xanth novel
Review: I just love Xanth novels. They're light-hearted, easy to read, upbeat, funny, and suspenseful without being really scary. All of the characters, whether good or bad, are sympathetic. This one fits right in. This novel has some great premises, e.g. that there is something about Xanth's magic that prevents married couples from falling out of love and that, in Xanth, women's panties have a mysterious magic. I would have given it five stars, but there were some very heavy pun clusters that dragged it down. If you don't know Xanth, you should understand that the magic of Xanth is largely based on puns. I'm not the world's biggest pun fan, but still some the punning is a lot of fun. In this book, though, there were sections where you just hit one pun after another and it was pretty rough going. I like it better when there is just a light sprinkling of puns. Another slight problem is name dropping of familiar characters from earlier books. There have been enough books, now, that it's really hard to keep track of all the characters. Maybe there should be a little chart in each book, tracing the royal family lines, at least, or which characters were introduced in which books. A good thing about Xanth novels is that each character is presented with a challenge that is suitable for that character's level of accomplishment. The characters have to struggle to win, but the struggle is appropriate to them and makes them grow. I am not sure I like the Nimby character as much as some of the previous ones. He's just too powerful. It kind of tips the balance toward him too much. P. Anthony does a good job of putting him in situations where he is nevertheless challenged, despite his seemingly overwhelming power. Still, there is something a bit too close to God about Nimby that makes me uncomfortable.
Rating:
Summary: not his best
Review: I liked the newer concept, but Anthony's later books are so mired in puns that it actually takes away from the story. And can we say masogynist? The relations between the sexes reminds me of a filthy mouthed 12 yr old trying to look up ladies skirts. Very unnecessary, Piers
Rating:
Summary: Xone of Contention
Review: I loved this book, and also the one before it, and this is one of the most exciting book of the series. As Clio, the muse of history said, 'The next volume will have a special meaning'. It surely does. Also, I ahve noticed that all the old-time characters have been getting married off, like Imbri, and Justin Tree. Coincedence? I think not!
Rating:
Summary: An awesome book, perfect for long-time Xanthian readers.
Review: I loved this book, and also the one before it, and this is one of the most exciting book of the series. As Clio, the muse of history said, 'The next volume will have a special meaning'. It surely does. Also, I ahve noticed that all the old-time characters have been getting married off, like Imbri, and Justin Tree. Coincedence? I think not!
Rating:
Summary: Xone of Contention
Review: I was disappointed with this book. I have all the Xanth books, and have read them all numerous times, but that is the end for me. I didn't even finish Xone of Contention, I made it two thirds through, and gave of out of sheer boredom. Pia and Edsel are two dull and unappealing characters, and as for the parts about Breeanna and Justin getting it on, why is that necessary? I regret I bought it. It isn't worth the paper it's printed on.
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