One of the few things I really liked about Xanth was that time moved forward. There are lots of fantasy series in which time goes so slowly that it seems like no one ever gets older. But in this book, the protagonist is Dor--the son of the protagonist from the previous two books in the series. And he's old enough to think and act and do stuff. Of course, he has a Magician-strength talent: inanimate objects communicate with him. Which can be very useful.The portrayal of women continues to get on my nerves in this third book of the Xanth series. We introduce a new character: Millie the Ghost, Dor's nanny. And he's attracted to her in that oh-so-adorable pre-pubescent way . . . except, well, that's how ALL men react to Millie, even though she's dead. Because her magical talent is sex appeal. If there were ever a wasted talent, I swear that's it. Considering how just about every guy in these books spends a lot of his brain space lusting after a woman, I don't really see that this gives Millie any advantage. But women don't often get a lot of interesting talents in these books. There are exceptions, though. I got part of my long-used Internet nickname from one of those exceptions.Dor goes back in time on a quest to get a magical restoration for Jonathan the Zombie, 'cause Millie the Ghost is in love with him but they can't be together. He ends up meeting the first king of Xanth, an earlier version of Millie, and Jumper the spider (who was a lot of fun, though I don't remember him being significant in the long run). And preteen Dor gets to be in an adult-age Mundanian man's body. (Which was kind of awkward if you ask me.) I don't like that so many of the quests are external--so-and-so sent me to do this, and that's why this book has a plot--but when you're writing fantasy this silly, it doesn't really matter what your motivation is.
I lied. I haven't finished this book. I'm not even halfway through. But there are far too many brilliantly written life-changing novels out there for me to continue to waste time on Piers Anthony's fantastical drivel. It's not unexpected. Books that are loved in childhood rarely stand up the second time around. There are a few exceptions, Harry Potter being one that springs to mind. But with the Xanth series it has just got the point where I cannot justify carrying on, and also I'm not masochistic enough. Reading this book has been nothing short of literary torture and I have soldiered on with a mantra of: "the ones further on in the series are better; I just have to keep going". But I'm out now. Not only are they AWFULLY written, they are incredibly sexist and misinformed. Every female character is portrayed as weak and simpering, and the strength of the male characters is measured purely through physical power. As an example, I was highlighting particularly sexist sentences and I came across this little gem (context: main character has just killed humanoid creatures for first time in his life): "He had heard of girls getting upset when they lose their virginities, and now he had an inkling what it felt like." ?????These books were written in the late seventies/early eighties, but even for this time are still appallingly ill-informed. Piers Anthony clearly thinks very little of women, believing them to be weak-willed and only existing to be ogled and impregnated. Well, Piers, I don't think much of your mediocre writing style and one-dimensional characters. You are a terrible writer/person and I'm embarrassed to have wasted so much time on you in my youth. NO STARS.
What do You think about Castle Roogna (1997)?
I approached this series seemingly secure in the knowledge that so many people in my high school class adored it - mostly the males. Now I know why. I also have some insight into why the vast majority of those males treated females like trash.What sad, misogynistic shit these books are. I forced my way through the first three and that's as far as I'm willing to go. I wouldn't recommend these books to anyone and I deeply regret suggesting them as possible reading for my son. I'll be correcting that as soon as I leave this site.
—Siobhan
Castle RoognaThe 3rd Xanth NovelThis is a third Xanth novel. Castle Roogna. This book is about a magical land named Xanth. Dor is trying to do something good for someone he knows because trent, the king of Xanth, told him to. Dor is about to be king. He needs to go back in time to find the Zombie Boss to bring millie the maid’s zombie boyfriend back to life.tIf you like magic, and restrictions, I advise looking at this book. It has lots of magic, and is very realistic to be a magical land. It’s amazing that the author of the book could put in just enough details and take away the things that we don’t need to know yet still makes mysteries.tThis is the third book of all Xanth. so make sure you start with Spell For A Chameleon. Then go to Source of Magic. Then read this book. There are more books than just this one, so I am so excited to start reading Centaur Aisle, The 4th Xanth novel.
—Ian Black
B&N Synopsis:Millie, a ghost for 800 years wants only one man--Jonathan, and he's a zombie. To prove himself, Magician Dor volunteers to get the potion that can restore Jonathan to full life. But he has to go back through time to do it, to a peril-haunted, ancient Xanth, where danger lurks at every turn.... OK, let me just say, I am terrified of spiders. And what lurks on the cover of this one? A GIANT spider! It's amazing that I read this one - but I did when I was a teen - and I am so glad I did! This was the first Xanth book I ever read, because I didn't realize at the time that this was a continuing series, or that this was the third book in the series. I found myself fascinated with Xanth, with the characters, and I fell in love with Dor! Then, as the book went on, and Dor was presented with his quest, and Jumper was magically brought into the past with him - everytime I start this book, I cannot put it down until I finish! If that is not a good endorsement to read this series, I don't know what is. Highly recommend it, and the fact that it is the third one did not detract from my enjoyment the first time, so it is not necessary to read the books in order.If you love magical fantasy - YOU NEED TO BE READING PIERS ANTHONY!
—Mary Davis
