This is one of the Xanth books which i look back on most fondly. It doesn't hurt that it is targeted to exactly the audience which was me (13 year old boy at the time). I read it all in one day when I happened to be sick and had stayed home from school.One aspect of this book that I really loved is that it has 6 protagonists which their own stories and character archs. As such, even if you don't care for one character or one story, you just have a few more pages to go to get back to the one that you do care about. I also like how these stories weave together (and the twists!)A flaw of this format it that it was far too rigid. As I recall, it has 18 chapters and that means that each character has 3 chapters from their perspective and those perspectives go in a specific order. The flaw of this is that sometimes a chapter which is clearly more focused on, say, Gwenny will be from the perspective of, say, Che as it is his turn. On of the aspects that I really liked was the difference between what is considered offensive porn (walking around in ones panties) and what is not (going completely nude) in Xanth as compared to Mundania. This really asks one to question one's personal views and causes for offense.That said, the one complaint that I have about the book is the choice of cover art. Through most of the story, three of the adult female characters are walking around in very little (just their panties) so it would seem apt. But those are not the characters who were going unclothed. The characters on the cover are actually 9-10 year olds (in the book) but for some reason they are shown as being sexy near adults on the cover. It's a real mind fuck! I don't want to think about those characters in that way, stop making me!
seriously? "THE COLOR OF HER PANTIES"? like for real? this book exists and is not just some crazy joke? am i high right now or something? it's like Piers started reading all those comments about how pervy he can be and was like Fuck It, the secret's out, everyone knows i'm a perv, i'm just gonna go for it, FUCK YEAH! PANTIES WILL BE IN THE TITLE GODDAMNIT!i'm not really even trying to hate on Piers Anthony. i know like every fourth review of his books talks about how he is perverted and maybe even a pedo. i dunno. my jury's still out. he's definitely a perv (i could care less about that) and some of his more gruesome stuff gets dark & sick... but i'd be hard-pressed to say his books are pedophilic. or maybe i'm just stupid & sentimental, because i loved a lot of his books as a kid. his kid stuff like Xanth and especially his more complex spiritual-scifi books as well. like Macroscope & Battle Circle & Mute & the Cluster/Tarot series: all awesome. so anyway - i'm not one of those folks who automatically dismisses the guy.but this fuckin title. really. it is unreal. i'm rarely ashamed (more of a guilt type of person) but i'd be way too embarrassed and probably ashamed to even buy this via anonymous amazon. i can't imagine hitting that Buy button with this title in the cart. my God, what would my postman think if this package accidentally ripped open? i'd much rather be caught with straight-up porn! and i just find it hard to believe that anything with such a crazy-bad title could ever be remotely good. am i wrong? someone prove me wrong!
I think this may end up being the last Xanth book I read for awhile. It's not that the book is bad, and in fact, the story is pretty interesting. However, there's a lot of...well, there's a lot of recapping and a lot of meta references and once again, Jenny Elf, whom I personally don't think belongs in any books after her first story - look, it was cute once, but after that it's just ridiculous.The story is good, and in fact, if Anthony had stopped cramming in so many puns and meta references (the Xanth game...) he could've expanded the plot enough for two books! Between Che, Gwenny and Jenny's adventures and Ida, Mela and Okra's adventures, there's more than enough. Instead, they each get 2-3 chapters and journeys are shortened by use of griffins, time spells and the goblin wand.But mostly, you read Xanth novels knowing you are going to get pervy men, a silly quest and hundreds of puns. This book achieves that.
—Stephen
I know I'm going about this all wrong, reading the Xanth books out of order, but as a long time reader and with my deep love of Xanth, there is never a problem. I can pick up any of them, at any time, and fall back into the familiar world I so love. I think you're either a major, absolutely devoted fan, or you hate these books. The sneaky puns and half glimpsed at scenes hidden behind the dreaded 'Adult Conspiracy' are not for everyone, but they've sure got me sucked in.As number 15, this one is much more simple than later volumes. Ida is making her first appearance, and so Ptero hasn't come into it. It's just Xanth, and the gourd, with little in between. To be honest, this one makes me kind of wistful, and I half wish the new books focused more on Xanth itself, like this one.I love the characters here, Mela, Okra and Ida especially. The Panty was a funny scene, who knew there were so many? And we finally get an ending to Gwenny's how to become a female goblin chief and change goblin history story arc.Xanth, one of my favorite worlds, and this one, with it's oh so naughty title, as one of my favorite books.
—Kirsti
This is the last Xanth I've read, and possibly the last one I will read. This rating is more of a rating for the series I've read to this point. I have nothing against Piers Anthony, just against the people of Xanth. It seems to be the same basic story over and over.!!SPOILER ALERT!! If you don't want that, don't read further.1. Go to Humphrey2. Ask the question for your quest (maybe get out of payment)3. Ignore that straying from the path could kill you4. Happen upon your goal through shear stupidity5. Accomplish your goal (returning to Humphrey if you couldn't get out of the payment)6. Go home, none the wiser for your travels
—Carter
