E(A/R)th Versus X(A/N)th (Xone of Contention - Piers Anthony)

Member Name: campb3ll

Product:	Xone of Contention - Piers Anthony
Date:	08/08/01 (35 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Suitable for most age groups, Puns galore

Disadvantages: Very different to early Xanth novels, Unsuitable for Bill Gates, Puns galore

A fresh, modern approach is taken in this recent Xanth novel. This may turn off hardened Xanth fans but will surely be more comprehensible to new readers.

To set the scene, Pia and Ed Mundane arrange to switch places with Chlorine and Nimby a.k.a. the Demon X(A/N)th. This allows Pia and Ed to visit Xanth as a sort of "second honeymoon" in an attempt to salvage their failing marriage. It also allows Chlorine and Nimby to visit Mundania, where Nimby can deal with the current challenge by the Demon E(A/R)th for mastery over their respective realms. (The Demon E(A/R)th rules dreary non-magical Mundania and the Demon X(A/N)th a.k.a. Nimby rules over magical Xanth. There are various powerful demons who regularly stage challenges for increased status and mastery of various realms e.g. the Demoness V(E/N)us lords - or should that be ladies? - it over Venus and last challenged X(A/N)th in the novel "Roc And A Hard Place".)

Guiding Pia and Ed round Xanth are Breanna of the Black Wave and her boyfriend Justin the (former) Tree. Breanna is sweet sixteen and is straining against the restrictions of the dread Adult Conspiracy. Justin, on the other hand, is about 99 and, despite being recently restored to virile 19 year old manform, is a perfect old-fashioned gentleman. He refuses to "do" anything much with Breanna until she comes of age at 18. Pia, however, is a jaded mundane who has never been subject to the Adult Conspiracy and is quite happy to tell Breanna how to bend the rules.

Meanwhile, over in Mundania, Kim and Dug Mundane act as guides for Chlorine and Nimby during their visit. Things start to heat up early on, though, when D. E(A/R)th realises D. X(A/N)th has sneaked into Mundania to take up his challenge. That's just as well because Pia and Ed have no good news to report when unexpected climate changes threaten to wash out the local Xanthian flora. Distracted by seperate problems, the two couples muddle on th
rough the novel with their respective companians to keep them out of trouble.

This Xanth novel differs greatly from the 20-odd plus offerings before in that "mundane" issues like divorce and underage sex are dealt with for the first time. Naturally, the dread Adult Conspiracy still censors out anything not family rated so any youngsters bemused by "bleep", "holding hands" and "summoning the stork" are left no wiser by the end of the novel. However, you can't quite escape the feeling that innocent Xanth is gradually being corrupted by amoral Mundania - in as much the same way as Breanna is influenced by Pia. Perhaps this is not a bad thing - the Xanth series surely has to move with the times to gain new readers instead of remaining entrenched in the values of decades past. Issues like sex, divorce, prejudice, infertility, the internet and global warming do make Xanth seem more realistic without sacrificing the puns, magic and fantasy creatures. Anyone who has spent a frustrating few hours setting up their computer will surely love the sly pokes at "Macrohard" and its infernal "Doors" software. Not to mention a few other gems like "Mundania Inline", which charges mundanians a fortune to go in line and wait for an enternity to waste time in babble boxes.

Overall, I think Xanth fans who approach this novel with an open mind will not be disappointed. Just bear in mind that it has been written 20 years after "A Spell For Chameleon" (the first Xanth novel). New readers will probably find this novel easy to get into, as the concepts are familiar and the characters are easy to identify with. Check your local bookstore now: you've nothing to lose except your money!

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