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Xanth
Xanth (/ˈzænθ/ ZANTH), also known as The Magic of Xanth, is a series of fantasy novels by author Piers Anthony. The novels are set in the fantasy world of Xanth, a peninsula on which magic exists and every human has a magical talent. The books have been noted for their extensive use of wordplay and puns.
Anthony has stated that he has kept the series going as long as he has (currently 48 books) because the Xanth novels are "just about all that publishers want" from him.
Since the peak of its popularity in the 1970s and 1980s, the series has been criticized by many scholars and reviewers for what they characterize as misogynist and pedophilic undertones; one reviewer has called it the "most divisive non-media publishing enterprise in all of fantasy". Anthony has downplayed these critiques.
The series was optioned in 2017 for a film and TV series.
Each human character in Xanth is born with a unique magical ability, called a talent. With the exception of the curse fiends, the winged centaurs, and the child Surprise Golem (Daughter of Rapunzel and Grundy Golem), these abilities never repeat exactly in individuals throughout the entire history of Xanth (although nearly identical talents show up on occasion). Though many talents are limited in scope (called the "spot-on-a-wall" variety), the series focuses mainly on individuals with "Magician" caliber abilities (one of the criteria for serving as King of Xanth).
In addition to the human characters, Xanth is populated by elves, centaurs, demons, dragons, fauns, gargoyles, goblins, golems, harpies, merfolk, naga, nymphs, ogres, rocs, zombies, curse fiends and other fictional beasts. Though initially introduced as obstacles to the human characters, some individuals from those groups become main characters in later books of the series.
As the series progresses, some of the half-human species are discovered to have the potential to possess magical talents. The centaurs of the primary centaur community, Centaur Isle, exile any centaurs who demonstrate a magical talent (although some centaur communities are more lenient about possession of talent); however, they tolerate talents in "lesser" races such as humans. Goblins and harpies are shown to have the potential to possess half-talents, the complementary half existing in a member of the other species, (i.e., a goblin must team with a harpy for them to utilize their talent); the hostility between goblins and harpies proved a major obstacle to any serious effort by them to work together to develop these potential talents. Other non-human species are also known to possess talents, for example: Sesame Serpent and Claire Voyant. Visitors from other dimensions with talents retain their talents after arriving in Xanth.
A common feature in most of the novels is that the "Good Magician" Humfrey, whose magical ability is "information", agrees to answer one question from the story's protagonist in return for one year of service, which is tied into the motivation for the character's quest.
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Xanth
Xanth (/ˈzænθ/ ZANTH), also known as The Magic of Xanth, is a series of fantasy novels by author Piers Anthony. The novels are set in the fantasy world of Xanth, a peninsula on which magic exists and every human has a magical talent. The books have been noted for their extensive use of wordplay and puns.
Anthony has stated that he has kept the series going as long as he has (currently 48 books) because the Xanth novels are "just about all that publishers want" from him.
Since the peak of its popularity in the 1970s and 1980s, the series has been criticized by many scholars and reviewers for what they characterize as misogynist and pedophilic undertones; one reviewer has called it the "most divisive non-media publishing enterprise in all of fantasy". Anthony has downplayed these critiques.
The series was optioned in 2017 for a film and TV series.
Each human character in Xanth is born with a unique magical ability, called a talent. With the exception of the curse fiends, the winged centaurs, and the child Surprise Golem (Daughter of Rapunzel and Grundy Golem), these abilities never repeat exactly in individuals throughout the entire history of Xanth (although nearly identical talents show up on occasion). Though many talents are limited in scope (called the "spot-on-a-wall" variety), the series focuses mainly on individuals with "Magician" caliber abilities (one of the criteria for serving as King of Xanth).
In addition to the human characters, Xanth is populated by elves, centaurs, demons, dragons, fauns, gargoyles, goblins, golems, harpies, merfolk, naga, nymphs, ogres, rocs, zombies, curse fiends and other fictional beasts. Though initially introduced as obstacles to the human characters, some individuals from those groups become main characters in later books of the series.
As the series progresses, some of the half-human species are discovered to have the potential to possess magical talents. The centaurs of the primary centaur community, Centaur Isle, exile any centaurs who demonstrate a magical talent (although some centaur communities are more lenient about possession of talent); however, they tolerate talents in "lesser" races such as humans. Goblins and harpies are shown to have the potential to possess half-talents, the complementary half existing in a member of the other species, (i.e., a goblin must team with a harpy for them to utilize their talent); the hostility between goblins and harpies proved a major obstacle to any serious effort by them to work together to develop these potential talents. Other non-human species are also known to possess talents, for example: Sesame Serpent and Claire Voyant. Visitors from other dimensions with talents retain their talents after arriving in Xanth.
A common feature in most of the novels is that the "Good Magician" Humfrey, whose magical ability is "information", agrees to answer one question from the story's protagonist in return for one year of service, which is tied into the motivation for the character's quest.