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Source of Magic (Xanth #2)
Ordered by King Trent to determine the source of Xanth's magic, Bink and his companions were harried by an unseen enemy determined to thwart them. When even their protector turned against them, Blink still managed to reach his goal and carry out the King's orders...but the king did not expect Blink's next act--to destroy utterly the magic of Xanth!
Paperback, 336 pages
Published
July 12th 1987
by Del Rey
(first published January 1979)
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The sexist attitudes prevented me from at all enjoying the whimsy.
The first three novels of Xanth are classic fantasy novels. In A Spell for Chameleon, we are introduced to a world where everyone has a magic Talent. Some can point unerringly at trouble, others can change their appearance. In order to become a citizen of Xanth, a person must display the talent or they are exiled to Mundania (where we live). In Spell, Bink is revealed to have a talent, but the talent itself is reluctant to be revealed – as Bink’s talent, tries to thwart evidence of its existence...more
Piers Anthony really knows his audience, doesn't he? I consider myself a fantasy fan, but it has not escaped my notice that most fantasy fans are men and boys. This book speaks directly to them most of the time, and even though I kind of liked some of the silly ideas that Anthony planted in Xanth, I got tired of the constant running description of every single female that appeared. Men would have their talents and attitudes emphasized, but women were described physically (and, usually, lusted af...more
This is the second in a series of fantasy novels by Piers Anthony set in the mythical world of Xanth and stars the protagonist from the first novel, Bink
The story begins with Bink on his way to a masquerade ball hosted by Iris who is the wife of the newly appointed king of Xanth, Magician Trent.
Bink has several attempts made on his life and eventually it is decided, as a way to safeguard him, that he will travel the lands hoping to find the mythical Source of Magic.
Bink is accompanied by his fri
...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
So, I was a bit disappointed with the first book in Xanth series, but I believe in reading at least first three books of big series before the final judgement... and so.
The first part was okey.
Actually found some things funny.
Then...
The story started to drag, Bink started to be annoying again, the comments about women too hard to ignore.
And here comes the peak of whole suspension and fallout, the find of the source of magic. What does Bink do? Against better judgement, against advice of smarter...more
The first part was okey.
Actually found some things funny.
Then...
The story started to drag, Bink started to be annoying again, the comments about women too hard to ignore.
And here comes the peak of whole suspension and fallout, the find of the source of magic. What does Bink do? Against better judgement, against advice of smarter...more
I found this book very intriguing. Not only did the constant aspect of adventure and action keep me turning pages. I do however feel as though women were not discriminated or deliberately insulted but were rather frail characters, aside from those in the magic dust village. Not to say I found Anthony's references to women "insulting" or "disrespectful" despite the many descriptions of female anatomy. The involvement of various new and familiar characters kept me interested. I am very satisfied w...more
I tried, I really tried. The way that my sister was talking about this book, it sounded like so much fun, and there was so much potential. But... I just can't like this book.
First off, I think that it could have been so much shorter. It takes so much time, trying to sound more important than it really is, that it just sucks pages into bizarre explanations.
Secondly, I can only take so much of reading about nymph's pert little butts, their supple arms, and how female they are. And pretty much th...more
First off, I think that it could have been so much shorter. It takes so much time, trying to sound more important than it really is, that it just sucks pages into bizarre explanations.
Secondly, I can only take so much of reading about nymph's pert little butts, their supple arms, and how female they are. And pretty much th...more
The sequel to A Spell for Chameleonby Piers Anthony, this is the 2nd book of the Xanth saga. It follows Bink (the main character from the previous novel) through his quest to find the Source of Magic in Xanth. This book is paced much quicker than the previous novel simply because it takes very little time to explain what everything is. This makes it a bit difficult for someone to read this without reading the previous book.
Aside from this, however, the book itself is much like its predecessor i...more
Aside from this, however, the book itself is much like its predecessor i...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
B&N Synopsis:
Ordered by King Trent to determine the source of Xanth's magic, Bink and his companions were harried by an unseen enemy determined to thwart them. When even their protector turned against them, Blink still managed to reach his goal and carry out the King's orders...but the king did not expect Blink's next act--to destroy utterly the magic of Xanth!
The adventure in Xanth is off to another great start. Bink, in this one, is a little more obnoxious about morals and I wanted to sma...more
Ordered by King Trent to determine the source of Xanth's magic, Bink and his companions were harried by an unseen enemy determined to thwart them. When even their protector turned against them, Blink still managed to reach his goal and carry out the King's orders...but the king did not expect Blink's next act--to destroy utterly the magic of Xanth!
The adventure in Xanth is off to another great start. Bink, in this one, is a little more obnoxious about morals and I wanted to sma...more
Oct 16, 2012
Natalie
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fiction-read-during-6th-grade
The Source of Magic is about Xanth and Bink's second adventure. But this time he must find the Source of Xanth's magic. On the quest he encounters a siren, a gorgon, an ogre and moving constellations. With him comes Crombie, Chester the centaur and Good Magician Humphrey. The journey is harsh and there is danger at every turn.
I really loved The Source of Magic. It is my favorite book. My favorite part was when they were in the hedge maze and he almost ran into Chester who was dressed up as a p...more
I really loved The Source of Magic. It is my favorite book. My favorite part was when they were in the hedge maze and he almost ran into Chester who was dressed up as a p...more
Bink goes on another quest...
short plot description: set one year after the events of the first book we meet Bink again. His wife Chameleon is expectiong their first child and giving him a hard time and unknown enemy tries to harm him. So he gladly accepts the order from King Trent to go find the source of Magic of the land Xanth, accompanied by the centaur Chester and the soldier-turned-Griffin Crombie.....
my thoughts: again quite funny and a good read but I found some tongue-in-cheek jokes get...more
short plot description: set one year after the events of the first book we meet Bink again. His wife Chameleon is expectiong their first child and giving him a hard time and unknown enemy tries to harm him. So he gladly accepts the order from King Trent to go find the source of Magic of the land Xanth, accompanied by the centaur Chester and the soldier-turned-Griffin Crombie.....
my thoughts: again quite funny and a good read but I found some tongue-in-cheek jokes get...more
I found this novel enjoyable, but I'm not sure that I can continue with the series. I feel like each book will be more of the same. Go here, run into strange creatures, escape from danger, talk about attractive or irritating females, solve problem, return home. The characters aren't very interesting, and Xanth is no more unique than it was in the previous novel. These stories would be better with a force of evil or sense of purpose. The puns are amusing at times and irritating at others. Overall...more
I'm re-writing this review with a few second thoughts. I was not interested in fantasy during the 80's when the Xanth books and Piers Anthony were more popular. As a newcomer to the author, I don't have a lot of nostalgia about this author. But I am on the look-out for creative writing. The world of Xanth is definitely creative. It is very different from Pratchett's world and really can't be compared to it. Pratchett is philisophical. Anthony (in this series at least) is not. But Anthony has a l...more
Feb 10, 2010
Kathryn
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fiction,
sci-fi-fantasy
I think I liked this book even more than the first one in the series. Piers Anthony gives us our first look at some of the REALLY strange places (and people) in Xanth. It's also a swashbuckling boys-only adventure, (at least until the last quarter of the book) with very little of the moping that went on in "A Spell for Chameleon". At least until near the end when the main character does something unbelievably reckless that you have to admire him for. And also? There's some cute puns, but not to...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
i first discovered this series in high school for a book report... where i read demons dont dream. i found the book a couple years ago and was like hey i liked this book in high school ill read it again... and liked it again... after some research i found out it was the 16th book in a series of over 30 books... i was like... i will conquer this series... Piers Anthony's series is fun to read though not that memorable... the series does build on each book... so im excited to see where it'll go in...more
I said previously in my review of A Spell for Chameleon:
"As a general rule, Xanth novels are about a protagonist who doesn't really fit in and has no idea what their purpose in life is or what group they would fit in with. That is, they are a normal young adult. They decide to go on a Quest and over the course of said Quest they discover who they are, where they belong, and fall in love."
This is the book that breaks that general rule, and that is likely it's biggest weakness.
Bink, the protagonis...more
"As a general rule, Xanth novels are about a protagonist who doesn't really fit in and has no idea what their purpose in life is or what group they would fit in with. That is, they are a normal young adult. They decide to go on a Quest and over the course of said Quest they discover who they are, where they belong, and fall in love."
This is the book that breaks that general rule, and that is likely it's biggest weakness.
Bink, the protagonis...more
Unlike Bearing an Hourglass for On a Pale Horse, The Source of Magic is a worthy sequel to A Spell for Chameleon. It picks up only a year after Bink's prior adventure. He is now married with a child almost due and King Trent decides to send him off on the before scheduled quest to find the source of magic.
Bink is joined by other characters from the first novel, Chester, Humphrey and Crombie as he leads them on a difficult adventure into the unknown regions of Xanth.
Once again, Piers Anthony spri...more
Bink is joined by other characters from the first novel, Chester, Humphrey and Crombie as he leads them on a difficult adventure into the unknown regions of Xanth.
Once again, Piers Anthony spri...more
My 12 year-old really liked -A Spell for Chameleon- so now we're on to the next book (can't say I'm all that excited).
So my reaction to this book is the same as my reaction to the re-read of A Spell for Chameleon. Too much sexual innuendo for kids. Too much "theory" for kids. Not serious enough for adults. Not funny enough for adults. Every woman is defined by her looks and made to be either a sexual object or basically "not a woman".
So again I ask who are these books written for? If I at age 41...more
So my reaction to this book is the same as my reaction to the re-read of A Spell for Chameleon. Too much sexual innuendo for kids. Too much "theory" for kids. Not serious enough for adults. Not funny enough for adults. Every woman is defined by her looks and made to be either a sexual object or basically "not a woman".
So again I ask who are these books written for? If I at age 41...more
This book was a beyond amazing book because of the odd yet creative imagination of the author piers anthony. This is the second book of the fantastic series, The Xanth Novels. This particular book is about Bink and his Quest to find the Source of Xanth's magic for king Trent the king of Xanth. Throughout the book Bink has to deal with monsters, and mythical beasts to discover the secrets of his world along with his companions, Chester the centaur and a knight who was turned into a griffon by the...more
This book picks up approximately a year after the first book, and details the continuing adventures of Bink and his friends in the land of Xanth. This time, however, we know exactly what Bink's talent is, and he makes conscious and intentional use of it. I felt like I was returning to a well-established world, being aware of how many things work in Xanth, but also eager to learn more about the unknown. In this case, the story is about the very Source of Magic in Xanth.
This story did well to fort...more
This story did well to fort...more
Oct 01, 2007
Jessica
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
humorous fantasy fans
The Source of Magic is the second book in Piers Anthony's Xanth series. This series is usually well known for it's heavy use of puns and the resemblance of the land of Xanth to a certain North American peninsula with an oversized rodent infestation (i.e. Florida).
Bink, a Magician class Talent in a society where everyone has magic, is searching for the sourch of magic in the land of Xanth. He is escorted by two of his friends through the dangers and perils of a magical, but not at all friendly w...more
Bink, a Magician class Talent in a society where everyone has magic, is searching for the sourch of magic in the land of Xanth. He is escorted by two of his friends through the dangers and perils of a magical, but not at all friendly w...more
3.5 stars. Just finishing re-reading this one, and found that it's not nearly as memorable as the first book in the series. I had forgotten nearly everything about this book.
It's not as well-written as the first book in the series either, but it's not as bad as some would have you believe. And the sexist attitudes are certainly prevalent everywhere, but perhaps they are intended to be part of the humor.
To me, this novel was Pier Anthony's attempt at worldbuilding. While not necessarily lacking...more
It's not as well-written as the first book in the series either, but it's not as bad as some would have you believe. And the sexist attitudes are certainly prevalent everywhere, but perhaps they are intended to be part of the humor.
To me, this novel was Pier Anthony's attempt at worldbuilding. While not necessarily lacking...more
I finally got through this one. It took me a long time. I thought the first one was bad. This one was even worse. It all reminds me of a rpg gamemaster writing down his groups weird adventures. I didn't like any of the characters and the story was convoluted and without direction. I was looking forward to the end very much because I wanted the book to be over. The sexism came through much stronger than in the first book and the style of the writing wasn't improved at all. Xanth is not for me.
If you loved the first book you may like this one.
I couldn't ignore the commentary on women because it never stops, ever. I don't know if Piers Anthony was bitter but that makes it not worth reading for me.
Also, the continuous lusting descriptions of the centaurs ass. No one needs to read from the inner mind of a man who seems to think a horse's hind end is the most beautiful thing he sees.
I couldn't ignore the commentary on women because it never stops, ever. I don't know if Piers Anthony was bitter but that makes it not worth reading for me.
Also, the continuous lusting descriptions of the centaurs ass. No one needs to read from the inner mind of a man who seems to think a horse's hind end is the most beautiful thing he sees.
I didn't like this as much because there was no love, and the first book had kind of got me hooked on it. On the other hand, there is a griffon. And a dragon. And a bunch of other random cool stuff.
I remember being disappointed (and confused) by the ending, but I was a kid. Maybe it makes more sense now, or maybe it is still stupid. I'll get around to reading it again and decide.
I remember being disappointed (and confused) by the ending, but I was a kid. Maybe it makes more sense now, or maybe it is still stupid. I'll get around to reading it again and decide.
The Source of Magic by Piers Anthony is the second book in the Xanth series. It is a very fun adventure with Bink again and this time he is looking for the source of magic (obviously) and so is sent off with his friends Chester the centaur, Grundy the Golem, and Crombie the soldier. It is very fun and amusing and full of puns as the first book. I recommend it for ages 12+.
This was a good follow-up. You learn a bit more about the world but I would recommend NOT reading the back of the book or any synopsis as it decides to give too much away. I really think I would have enjoyed it more if I had no idea what was going to happen.
I did much like the addition of the good magician to the story and adventure. He added a flair that I needed.
I did much like the addition of the good magician to the story and adventure. He added a flair that I needed.
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Though he spent the first four years of his life in England, Piers never returned to live in his country of birth after moving to Spain and immigrated to America at age six. After graduating with a B.A. from Goddard College, he married one of his fellow students and and spent fifteen years in an assortment of professions before he began writing fiction full-time.
Piers is a self-proclaimed environm...more
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Dec 01, 2010 01:04pm