Piers Anthony

A gargoyle finds himself caught between a rock and a hard place in this Xanth adventure that “should delight Anthony’s many fans” (Publishers Weekly). As a gargoyle, Gary Gar has one job in Xanth: to protect the Swan Knee River from the pollution flowing in from Mundania. But more dirt plus less rain will crack any gargoyle’s stony composure. So Gary does what any good Xanthian would do: He seeks the help of the Good Magician. But payment for his service is high. Gary must find a philter for the water, while taking on human form to tutor a wild human child, with help from the surly Sorceress Iris, and—even though time is of the essence—taking Hiatus, a known troublemaker, along for the ride. It won’t be easy, especially when they’re all transported back to the dawn of time. And if they can’t figure out what’s going on in the past, there may be no future for Xanth—come hell or high water . . . “Ephemeral amusement for pun-struck Xanthonauts.” —Kirkus Reviews

There’s no dancing around a demonic threat in the fantasy world of Xanth in the New York Times–bestselling series. Squid, the alien cuttlefish, is getting an upgrade: a boost to her shape-changing talent so she can lead a mission against a foreign Demon who’s stirring up trouble in Xanth. At Squid’s side are her rescued siblings and one very special child—Larry, a girl in a boy’s body, who will act as a secret host for their adoptive mother, the Demoness Fornax. Aboard the Fire Boat, they form a plan to disguise themselves as a traveling dance troupe. Each child is paired up with a native Xanthian. But it’s the friendship that blossoms between Squid and Larry that will power their quest, and they’ll have to do some fancy footwork to avoid the trials and tribulations that await them.

There’s no dancing around a demonic threat in the fantasy world of Xanth in the New York Times–bestselling series. Squid, the alien cuttlefish, is getting an upgrade: a boost to her shape-changing talent so she can lead a mission against a foreign Demon who’s stirring up trouble in Xanth. At Squid’s side are her rescued siblings and one very special child—Larry, a girl in a boy’s body, who will act as a secret host for their adoptive mother, the Demoness Fornax. Aboard the Fire Boat, they form a plan to disguise themselves as a traveling dance troupe. Each child is paired up with a native Xanthian. But it’s the friendship that blossoms between Squid and Larry that will power their quest, and they’ll have to do some fancy footwork to avoid the trials and tribulations that await them.

All of Xanth is a stage as an unlikely hero saves the show in the New York Times–bestselling series. There’s no shortage of laughs when Jess is around; she’s been cursed to have nobody take her seriously. But her dubious talent comes in handy when she meets the very handsome showman Magnus. He promises to fake taking her seriously—if Jess joins his traveling show. But first they must see the Good Magician. He will give them the use of the flying Fire Boat to tour the realm if they complete a quest. The only problem is, he can’t remember what quest. Something to do with night mares, day mares, and one or two future princesses. As Jess and Magnus try to unravel the mystery, they discover their true mission: to save Xanth from a big bird with a bone to peck . . .

Benny Clout and his companions have thwarted the plans of the Kudgel army; their forces scattered and in disarray after the death of their leader, Purp. However, a new leader rises from the remnants of this wicked army. Benny and his companions must beat this new foe in a race to Alfen Gulfadex, ancient city of the Frost Dwarfs. Should they fail, they risk summoning an even greater foe; the likes of which Pakk has never seen before.

The third novella in the Hair Suit series following Hair Power and Hair Suite. Quiti and her friend's child Idola, help a lost alien child they name Flower. That soon brings Galactic complications for Flower's people are like Gypsies, not welcome at most planets. They wind up tangling with the dread Worms who can change time itself. They really need to make peace

This is the sixth volume of stories in this series. This time there is one about the idealized love of a man for a mute wild girl, and another about an older woman who takes a hot young lover. There is one brief essay relating to my own relationship to writing. There are two story sets, one with an older man and young woman, the other relating to a fearsome god. Most are more or less mainstream, but some are fantasy adventure. The shortest story is only 500 words; the longest is 13,600 words. Some are erotic as hell, others not. In short, there should be something here to intrigue or offend any taste.

Two Ordinary People from Mundania travel to Xanth to defeat a rogue Night Colt in the latest in a beloved series from bestselling author Piers Anthony. The Night Colt has one ambition: to deliver dreams to the deserving. Unfortunately, only Night Mares can take on this task, and the Colt has no hope of leading his own herd if he can’t get any practice. . . . So he’s struck a deal with a Mundane. During the hours when the Night Mares rest—dusk and dawn—the duo plants stories in the air, compelling the people of Xanth to enact them—whether they want to or not. Unwilling to participate in these fantasies, the princesses of Xanth, Dawn and Eve, come up with a plan to fight the menacing pair, but they’ll need the help of two unlikely heroes to succeed. In Mundania, a mysterious painting entrances Ordinary People Tartan and Tara. But why do they each see something different when they look at it? They quickly learn that it’s not a painting after all, but a portal to a magical world. With nothing to lose, they climb through the portal into Xanth and are met with a plea to help stop the Night Colt and his ghost writer. Tartan and Tara don’t hesitate to join the quest to save Xanth from the ultimate pun-tastrophe. Together with their new friends, they’ll begin a journey full of magic and romance—and, of course, puns—that will lead them to a long-lost prince, a beautiful dragoness, the goddess Isis, and a demon named Ted. With rip-roaring humor and nonstop adventure, the newest addition to Piers Anthony’s popular Xanth series is sure to enchant fans of epic fantasy. Ghost Writer in the Sky is the 41st book in the Xanth series, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.

Two Ordinary People from Mundania travel to Xanth to defeat a rogue Night Colt in the latest in a beloved series from bestselling author Piers Anthony. The Night Colt has one ambition: to deliver dreams to the deserving. Unfortunately, only Night Mares can take on this task, and the Colt has no hope of leading his own herd if he can’t get any practice. . . . So he’s struck a deal with a Mundane. During the hours when the Night Mares rest—dusk and dawn—the duo plants stories in the air, compelling the people of Xanth to enact them—whether they want to or not. Unwilling to participate in these fantasies, the princesses of Xanth, Dawn and Eve, come up with a plan to fight the menacing pair, but they’ll need the help of two unlikely heroes to succeed. In Mundania, a mysterious painting entrances Ordinary People Tartan and Tara. But why do they each see something different when they look at it? They quickly learn that it’s not a painting after all, but a portal to a magical world. With nothing to lose, they climb through the portal into Xanth and are met with a plea to help stop the Night Colt and his ghost writer. Tartan and Tara don’t hesitate to join the quest to save Xanth from the ultimate pun-tastrophe. Together with their new friends, they’ll begin a journey full of magic and romance—and, of course, puns—that will lead them to a long-lost prince, a beautiful dragoness, the goddess Isis, and a demon named Ted. With rip-roaring humor and nonstop adventure, the newest addition to Piers Anthony’s popular Xanth series is sure to enchant fans of epic fantasy. Ghost Writer in the Sky is the 41st book in the Xanth series, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.

THE JOURNEY is an epic fantasy adventure by bestselling authors Piers Anthony and J. R. Rain. When a village's coming-of-age tradition sends Floyd into the wilderness, he encounters a fantasy world rife with mythical creatures and magical danger. Temptations abound on land and at sea, though young Floyd yearns to return as a man for his sweet Amelie. The Journey has no rules, other than to return with stories. But his flight from evil pursuers turns into a worldwide adventure where Floyd crosses paths with a demon, a djinn, and other fantastical creatures beyond his wildest imagination. It will take more than wit, strength, and a noble heart to find a legendary mystical place that could be the catalyst for his entire Journey. It will take a little magic, too. But will Floyd make the ultimate sacrifice?

Players compete in a virtual reality game of sexual challenges in this erotic fantasy from the New York Times–bestselling author of the Xanth series. In Eroma—the futuristic, multiplayer virtual reality game of erotic romance—participants can touch, taste, feel, hear, and see everything. Each male and female avatar, from fairy to elf to human, is naked and gorgeous, and sexual climaxes are immediate and mutual. Weekly, millions tune in on 3-D television to watch every intimate, passionate encounter. To win the game—and a large prize—the players must conquer difficult, arousing tests. But some challenges push the gamers beyond their comfort zones and into a whole new world of erotic possibility. How far will they go in order to win? Not for the sexually faint of heart, Eroma is an erotic fantasy novel about testing limits, exploring desire, and, surprisingly, falling in love.

A were-unicorn searches for the meaning of life, love, and sex in this novel of shape-shifting fantasy from the New York Times–bestselling author of Amoeba. In a tiny village, just off the universe-spanning trail of the Amoeba, young, telepathic were-creatures are schooled in the mystery and wonder of the human body—its practicalities as well as its pleasures. Eager to discover their alternate selves, they marvel at the possibilities. But when precocious were Wetzel, an infinitely curious and adventurous teenage boy—and unicorn—is enlisted into sexual service, his life is endangered by his own horn, a valued commodity. Villagers would kill for it, so Wetzel has little choice but to flee and find his destiny on the trail. But his personal quest takes a backseat when he joins human Tod Timmins and his bizarre band of outcasts on a calling of their own. And though they don’t know it yet, Wetzel’s sexual prowess is imperative to the success of their mission. Navigating the trail, this motley crew will discover new worlds as well as friends and foes of various species as they journey ever closer to restoring the balance of their existence and the universal justice the great Amoeba desires

An assembly of creatures searches for the meaning of existence in this reality-twisting Trail Mix fantasy from New York Times–bestselling author Piers Anthony. Before Tod Timmins meets the naked waif, the vampire, the wizard, and the others, he’s just a dull man engaged in manual labor. The job, good for the body but a waste for the mind, is the whole of Tod’s life—and it isn’t for him. So when a trail appears out of the blue, gambling on fate, he follows it through the city, across the country, and into a realm of adventure and uncertainty. Navigating the path, Tod encounters a mix of creatures—human, nonhuman, and others, something else altogether. They come from alternate realities, periods in time that aren’t being clocked, and places no one can verify, all to divine information on why they even exist. The answer is in the Amoeba, an entity neither intelligent nor conscious, yet as omnipresent as a god. In short order, it’s up to Tod to differentiate friends from foes, lust from love, and fantasy from reality to save and protect the one thing that connects them all.

A quest to fulfill a lifelong wish leads to magic, adventure—and puns—as the New York Times–bestselling author revisits the enchanted land of Xanth. In Xanth, everyone has a talent. But that doesn’t mean everyone loves his talent, and no one understands that better than Hapless. Endowed with the ability to conjure any instrument he wants, Hapless could be an extraordinary musician if only he could play a tune that didn’t fall ear-piercingly flat. His one desire is to find an instrument he can play—and maybe a girlfriend or three. But like music, women have never been his forte. When the Good Magician hears about Hapless’s desperate desire, he sends the young man on a quest to find the elusive Isis Orb, a magical talisman that could fulfill his wish. But the mysterious Egyptian goddess for whom the orb is named guards the enchanted object and won’t let anyone see it—let alone use it. Setting out to achieve the impossible, Hapless meets an eclectic mix of creatures that join him on his journey. Like the musically challenged Hapless, they all have wishes they hope the Isis Orb will grant. But the only way they can control the orb is to capture the five totems from the regions of Xanth: Fire, Earth, Air, Water, and the Void. Together, this motley crew will heroically fight dragons, a six-headed griffin, and even a beautiful, seductive water gorgon who tries to rain on Hapless’s parade. With its thrilling exploits and endless humor, the newest addition to Piers Anthony’s beloved Xanth series is sure to keep readers enthralled. Isis Orb is the 40th book in the Xanth series, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.

A quest to fulfill a lifelong wish leads to magic, adventure—and puns—as the New York Times–bestselling author revisits the enchanted land of Xanth. In Xanth, everyone has a talent. But that doesn’t mean everyone loves his talent, and no one understands that better than Hapless. Endowed with the ability to conjure any instrument he wants, Hapless could be an extraordinary musician if only he could play a tune that didn’t fall ear-piercingly flat. His one desire is to find an instrument he can play—and maybe a girlfriend or three. But like music, women have never been his forte. When the Good Magician hears about Hapless’s desperate desire, he sends the young man on a quest to find the elusive Isis Orb, a magical talisman that could fulfill his wish. But the mysterious Egyptian goddess for whom the orb is named guards the enchanted object and won’t let anyone see it—let alone use it. Setting out to achieve the impossible, Hapless meets an eclectic mix of creatures that join him on his journey. Like the musically challenged Hapless, they all have wishes they hope the Isis Orb will grant. But the only way they can control the orb is to capture the five totems from the regions of Xanth: Fire, Earth, Air, Water, and the Void. Together, this motley crew will heroically fight dragons, a six-headed griffin, and even a beautiful, seductive water gorgon who tries to rain on Hapless’s parade. With its thrilling exploits and endless humor, the newest addition to Piers Anthony’s beloved Xanth series is sure to keep readers enthralled. Isis Orb is the 40th book in the Xanth series, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.

Way out West, a bad-ass bank robber becomes Earth's last hope... Bad Buffalo is a rootin', tootin', sharp-shootin' son of a gun. He's also the roughest, toughest, meanest gunfighter the West has ever known. In fact, his only friend is a horse named Horse. When Bad Buffalo comes to town, people get out of Dodge. Literally. But when Bad Buffalo meets Dia the fairy, she begs for his help. Intergalactic worms have returned to raid the planet and suck the Earth dry of its magic. When the magic is gone-and so, the fairies-the Earth will stop turning on its axis. Bad Buffalo is a reluctant cowboy hero, so Dia strikes a tantalizing bargain with him: If he plugs up the wormholes and saves Earth, she'll be his gal. Yes, in that way...and in that order. So, have gun will travel-through space and time and the singularities. But it's sure going to take a lot of Bad Buffalo's bullets to plug those wormholes. Can this unlikely pair save the Earth from utter destruction by the voracious alien worms? In THE WORM RETURNS, bestselling authors Piers Anthony and J. R. Rain craft a rollicking cross-genre tale of an antihero gunslinger with grit and a brilliant faery who must join forces to save the planet. Fans of classic Westerns, magical fantasy and campy science fiction will delight in this hilarious, fast-paced genre mashup about a planet that's being devoured by a diabolical species-and a true love that transcends the universe.

He's half man and half bull. She's half woman and half lava. Their lives are about to collide. Carl Gray was a rodeo clown before he was fused by lightning with a bull named El Diablo. He became a half-bull, half-man superhero, complete with horns and a tail. Lavender is a native islander-her mother is lava and her father is human. As a half-human, she can read their minds. As a half-lava creature, she can change her shape and her temperature at will-and she's definitely one red-hot young lady When Lavender learns about the half-bull, half man, she must have him She heads to Arizona to meet Carl, who uses his superhero powers to help humankind. But mostly he drinks way too much. Lavender offers to become his girlfriend, but he's got to clean up his act-she also insists he start charging fees for his superhero services. When the world receives a threat from a criminal mastermind named Villainous-who threatens to destroy all primates, including the human race-the Secretary of Defense requests their help. He informs Lavender and Carl that all over the world, separate species have begun merging into powerful new creatures with human intelligence and animal strengths. With his horns of destruction and her intense heat and ability to shape lava, can Carl and Lavender thwart the most evil master plot the world has ever faced? What will it take to find the madman behind the threat? And, what will it take to shut down his unusual weapons of mass destruction before it's too late? As the danger increases, so does their passion, but will the heat of imminent danger eclipse their growing fire for each other? And, can these two unlikely misfits join forces to save the human race? LAVABULL, A Superhero Novel, is a collaboration from bestselling authors Piers Anthony and J. R. Rain. This is their seventh novel collaboration. They are also the authors of THE ALADDIN TRILOGY, JACK AND THE GIANTS, DOLFIN TAYLE, and DRAGON ASSASSIN.***"LAVABULL crackles with snappy dialogue, rollicking humor and fast-paced action in an alternate history dystopian world. Surreal, witty and engaging. Fantastic plot twists Blown away " - Eve Paludan, bestselling author of Vampire for Hire: Wolf Moon