Split Infinity

Rating:
Summary: Split Infinity as a concept
Review: It is true -- this is one of the best books in the series, one of the best books by Piers Anthony, and one of the best books in the genre. However, many peple do misinterpret the point. The focus of the writing is not the split society, it is the split personality that Stile has. On Proton, it is the Game. The idea is brilliant, and described exhaustively and creatively. On Phaze, it is magic. Stile adapts to different situations very well; he becomes adept at whatever he does. The book is also has a negative connotation; like the Incarnations of Immortality, something has to be forsaken or abandoned for a greater good, pleasure, posiotion, etc.

Anthony's ability to create ambiguous points of view rivals that of Kurt Vonnegut, or Robert Asprin. This book once again very well portrays it.

Reading this book improved my analytical ability, the one on which Stile so often relies. Anthony creates that effect for the reader, and many readers do not see the deeper idea behind all of Stile's troubles and adventures.

Rating:
Summary: Rife with action, but lacking literary polish.
Review: My first exposure to Anthony's work came in the 8th grade, whereupon I tore through the Apprentice Adept, Incarnations of Immortality, Xanth, and Bio of a Space Tyrant series, as well as many stand-alone novels. Since then, I have reread most of his works every five years or so. I find that, as I age, the personal politics Anthony has littered not-so-discretely through his novels increasingly overshadows the story he's telling. That I continue to read the Apprentice Adept series, while Bio of a Space Tyrant makes me too angry to continue past Refugee, is a credit to the fantastic and exciting world Anthony has created. However, those seeking enlightened, mellifluous prose should prepare to be disappointed

Rating:
Summary: A Wonder
Review: One of his best books in this series, the powerful shifts between technology and fantasy make for an original and exciting read.

Rating:
Summary: An amazing dual-plane fantasy/science fiction realm
Review: Piers Anthony captures your imagination as he throws the reader into this, the first of the Aprentice Adept series. Utterly stupendous realism in both fantasy and science fiction (at the same time). Explore not one but two worlds of adventure.

Rating:
Summary: This series opened me up to the world of sci/fi & fantasy!
Review: Readers, This is very important... The Apprentice Adept Series, which is begun with this book, is a must-have for sci/fi and fantasy lovers alike!... Split Infinity is a splenderous story of how a man from a world entirely based on science is taken somehow--I won't spoil everything--to a land ruled by magic and what happens as a result... This is only book one in the series, mind you... The tale does not end here... Piers Anthony keeps you hopping from the land of science--Proton--to the land of magic--Phaze... I could not put the book down... Once I finished, I absolutely NEEDED the next book in the series... If I couldn't get it right then and there, I would just die!... I can almost guarantee that most will feel the same way... You get so inthused with the plot that you feel as if you are a part of the story... Granted, this series does have some adult content... But this does not spoil the novel itself... In my opinion, some relationships can place more suspence upon a situation and the characters involved... Anthony describes his charaters so well that you feel as if you know them... You know their feelings... You even think, or try, to guess what they are going to do... But even with this, the book surprises you... At least, it surprised me... I've probably rambled on for enough now, so I'll just leave you with this one thought... This book is truely a 'Must-Read' for everyone!... ~Storm~

Rating:
Summary: My favorite book and series of all time
Review: Split infinety has a little of everything. From science fiction to fantasy. It even has some romance mixed in. I suggest it to anyone that loves science fiction/fantasy and already hasnt read it to deffinatly give it and the whole series a read.

Rating:
Summary: Split Infinity
Review: Split Infinity is about a small man named Stile, a serf on the planet Proton. Stile's life is soon threatened, but a female robot named Sheen helps to keep him safe. Stile discovers a gateway to another world called Phaze in which magic exists. Stile meets friends there, including a unicorn named Neysa, a werewolf named Kurrelgyre, and many others. He takes the position of Adept (really powerful magician), the Blue Adept. With his new powers, Stile investigates the identity of his enemy. All the while, Stile has to avoid the attacks in both frames, Proton and Phaze, for he traverses between them at times. A fantastic novel! I suggest that all who enjoy Sci-Fi/Fantasy read this book!

Rating:
Summary: My first Piers Anthony's book
Review: Split Infinity is the first book I read by Piers Anthony. I bought this book from a very samll bookshop in a small town called Northwood in England. It was the cover that lured me into buying it. Mind you, it was the UK version I bought. There was no unicorn on the cover. Instead, it was a half naked woman robot.

Coming back to the book, I can only say that Piers Anthony is really the game master. You will know what I meant if you read the book.

I enjoy both the science world and the fantasy world. They were so alike and yet so distinct from one another.

I went on to read the entire series. My last 2 books from this series were from the states. i.e. US covers.

Rating:
Summary: Split Infinity
Review: Split Infinity is the first book of the Apprentice Adept series. Piers Anthony is best known for his Xanth series, but I enjoyed the first three novels of this series as much as I did anything else that Piers Anthony wrote. The novel (and series) deals with a dual world. Proton is a science fiction orientated world. The laws of science rule the world. The planet is desolate with the air being unbreatheable. People live in large city sized domes. People are divided into two classes. Citizens are extremely wealthy, are permitted to wear clothing, and are the rulers of Proton. Serfs do the work, are not permitted clothing (though are permitted their own diversions as long as it does not interfere with their work), and have a limited tenure on Proton. After their tenure expires, they must leave the planet (though they do get to collect a large amount of their earnings at the end of tenure). Phaze is a fantasy world where magic exists and the world is still fairly pristine. The powers of Phaze are human magician called Adepts (they are adept in one particular facet of the magic). Dragons, unicorns, and werewolves are real. The features of the Phaze are the same as Proton, except the land hasn't been ruined.

The protagonist of the novel is a man named Stile. Stile is a serf on Proton. He is a jockey for a Citizen, but in the private world of the serfs, he is a master at the Games. The Games are the main entertainment for serfs, and they get to test their skills at various sports/games/arts/activities. A master player can excel in most facets of the Game. Stile is a master player and is two years from the end of his tenure. He meets a female robot named Sheen (get the pun?). Robots on Proton, depending how they are programmed and assembled, can look, sound, feel, and touch exactly like a human. Sheen is such a robot. Sheen warns Stile that someone is trying to kill him. Her job is to protect him. Over the course of the novel, we see attempts on Stile's life and he accidently crosses a "curtain" to the magical world of Phaze. In Phaze, Stile meets a unicorn and a werewolf who will kill him if he uses magic. He is the image of a murdered Adept from Phaze, and he has the abilities of an Adept. Someone is still trying to kill him in Phaze. The novel is the beginnings of his quest to find out whom, and also to discover his own identity in Phaze.

This was one of my favorite fantasy novels when I first started reading in the genre back in high school. My favorite part of the novel was the aspect of the Games on Proton. I thought it was a wonderful idea and it was what hooked me on the books. It has been nearly ten years since I've last read any of this series, and while my taste and somewhat matured and the material is not as fresh as it once was, this is still a wonderful series and is a lot of fun to read. For any fan of Xanth or of Piers Anthony, this one needs to be read.

Rating:
Summary: lots of fun
Review: Split Infinity is the first book of the Apprentice Adept series. Piers Anthony is best known for his Xanth series, but I enjoyed the first three novels of this series as much as I did anything else that Piers Anthony wrote. The novel (and series) deals with a dual world. Proton is a science fiction orientated world. The laws of science rule the world. The planet is desolate with the air being unbreatheable. People live in large city sized domes. People are divided into two classes. Citizens are extremely wealthy, are permitted to wear clothing, and are the rulers of Proton. Serfs do the work, are not permitted clothing (though are permitted their own diversions as long as it does not interfere with their work), and have a limited tenure on Proton. After their tenure expires, they must leave the planet (though they do get to collect a large amount of their earnings at the end of tenure). Phaze is a fantasy world where magic exists and the world is still fairly pristine. The powers of Phaze are human magician called Adepts (they are adept in one particular facet of the magic). Dragons, unicorns, and werewolves are real. The features of the Phaze are the same as Proton, except the land hasn't been ruined.

The protagonist of the novel is a man named Stile. Stile is a serf on Proton. He is a jockey for a Citizen, but in the private world of the serfs, he is a master at the Games. The Games are the main entertainment for serfs, and they get to test their skills at various sports/games/arts/activities. A master player can excel in most facets of the Game. Stile is a master player and is two years from the end of his tenure. He meets a female robot named Sheen (get the pun?). Robots on Proton, depending how they are programmed and assembled, can look, sound, feel, and touch exactly like a human. Sheen is such a robot. Sheen warns Stile that someone is trying to kill him. Her job is to protect him. Over the course of the novel, we see attempts on Stile's life and he accidently crosses a "curtain" to the magical world of Phaze. In Phaze, Stile meets a unicorn and a werewolf who will kill him if he uses magic. He is the image of a murdered Adept from Phaze, and he has the abilities of an Adept. Someone is still trying to kill him in Phaze. The novel is the beginnings of his quest to find out whom, and also to discover his own identity in Phaze.

This was one of my favorite fantasy novels when I first started reading in the genre back in high school. My favorite part of the novel was the aspect of the Games on Proton. I thought it was a wonderful idea and it was what hooked me on the books. It has been nearly ten years since I've last read any of this series, and while my taste and somewhat matured and the material is not as fresh as it once was, this is still a wonderful series and is a lot of fun to read. For any fan of Xanth or of Piers Anthony, this one needs to be read.