A Spell for Chameleon (Xanth, #1)

Jun 23, 2008 Kevin rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: nobody.

Shelves: fantasy, ya-fiction

I wish I could give this book a higher review. The storytelling is tight, the magic is interesting, and it can be occasionally funny. But the characters are mostly two-dimensional, with maybe an extra half dimension added to The Evil Magician Trent and to Chameleon of the book's title. And oh my god is this thing sexist. Chameleon herself could be a truly great character if Anthony had much interest in watch she thinks of her condition, of how her thinking changes as she changes, or in any other...more

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Feb 03, 2009 Azz Lunatic rated it 1 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 04, 2008 Jim rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, favorites

I got book 2 of this series first, read it a couple of times before I finally got the first. I think the first 4 books are well worth reading - a must read for anyone into fantasy books. I think the series is up in the 20 odd count somewhere now. The first 3 or 4 are excellent. After that, I just couldn't get too into it any more. Might just be me.

When this came out, it was unlike any series before it AND was funny on top of that. Humor in this sort of fiction is hard to pull off, but Anthony d...more

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May 29, 2010 Renee rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-scifi-horror

The other day, I saw A Spell for Chameleon on a shelving cart and realized two things. First, that I'd read it before and despite enjoying it, had forgotten it completely. Second, that the author was Piers Anthony, who's been described as an outrageous sexist even amongst sci-fi/fantasy writers. So I picked it up again, for nostalgia's sake but also to see if Anthony was really so bad (he couldn't be, right? I mean, I liked this before...). And after reading it again, all I can say is...

HOW DID...more

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KristChin Okay, I haven't read this book so I won't place judgment on whether it's well written or not, the quotation you gave seemed to be weakly worded.
Now, w...more
Jan 24, 2013 06:29pm

Renee Christian, "criticism" has several meanings, and I was not referring to my review as a literary critique, but general criticism (with strong opinions,...more
Jan 25, 2013 06:56am

Jul 22, 2008 Scurra rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: humour, fantasy

This is a stand-in for the entire Xanth sequence, since it is currently running at 30-odd books and counting. And I love all of them.

Ultimately, this is a series that you either "get" or you don't. And if you don't, then nothing I (or anyone else!) can say here will make any difference.

I don't like them for the writing quality. Even after all this time, Anthony still has trouble putting a sentence together, or making his dialogue sparkle or creating a convincing character (either male or female...more

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Jul 03, 2008 Jillian rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, summer-2008

I turned to the Xanth series because I wanted an enjoyable summer read that would remind me of my childhood instead of my thesis. Though I'd somehow never read him, I assumed Piers Anthony would be an excellent choice, what with all of the praise and awards lavished on him, but I must say I'm somewhat disappointed. He certainly creates an intriguing alternate world and is an undeniably clever writer, especially skilled at word games and puns. (I imagine he would be an ideal video game writer, th...more

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Aug 08, 2007 Chris rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasysci-fi, mindcandy, youngadult

Piers Anthony is an author who is more conceptually innovative than literary. His writing is like puff pastry and not very substantive, but his characters are likable and the plots engaging. He has moments of preachiness mixed in, and sometimes a puerile sense of humor, but if you don't mind these things (or indeed, revel in them) you should give him a try. None of Anthony's books takes long to read, and you'll be able to tell by the first 100 pages of a series whether you're into his concept.

Xa...more

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Sep 15, 2011 Stanley Townsend rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

This 1st Xanth book held my interest. I was reluctant to get into the series based on the many charges of sexism raised by reviewers. A female friend discounted these and I jumped in. Glad I did. Lots of themes in this one pertaining to characteristics and traits of the female gender - intrinsic to the plot - but this did not strike me as denigration. I'm sure some zealot could quote me line and verse in attempt to prove me wrong. I just don't see it. I thought the ending was a bit weak - like h...more

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Dec 03, 2008 Catt rated it 4 of 5 stars

Wow.

i began reading the Xanth series somewhere around the 15th or 16th book many years ago. It was filled with light-hearted drama, action and puns that made me laugh out loud.

But this first book was such an original idea & filled with an amazing amount of tension, thoughts, morals, as well as the drama & etc. that will come to follow.

Bink not only takes an amazing journey through Xanth, into Mundania & back, but also inside & outside himself.

"How many people similarly spent thei...more

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Jul 01, 2010 Stephen rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: award-nominee-british-fantasy, award-winner-british-fantasy, 1970-1979, light-and-fluffy

2.5 stars. First in the Xanth series of books. Took me a while to get around to reading this as it has been on my "to read" list for a while. A decently written, fun book with a good system of magic and interesting world-building. Definitely on the lighter side, but I enjoyed the puns and the tone of the book. Not as good as some of Anthony's other books (most notably On a Pale Horse), but still a good read.

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Jun 04, 2013 Hillary Hall rated it 3 of 5 stars

A Spell for Chameleon was Piers Anthony’s first book in his extensive Xanth series, which consists of 27 books. The Xanth series is considered a classic in the fantasy genre.
A Spell for Chameleon takes place in the magical world of Xanth, a land inhabited by humans, sentient creatures, monsters, and a vast variety of magical plants. This story follows the protagonist, 25-year-old Bink, who must discover a magical talent if he is to remain in Xanth. This is because in the magical land of Xanth,...more A Spell for Chameleon was Piers Anthony’s first book in his extensive Xanth series, which consists of 27 books. The Xanth series is considered a classic in the fantasy genre.
A Spell for Chameleon takes place in the magical world of Xanth, a land inhabited by humans, sentient creatures, monsters, and a vast variety of magical plants. This story follows the protagonist, 25-year-old Bink, who must discover a magical talent if he is to remain in Xanth. This is because in the magical land of Xanth, exhibiting a magical talent by the age of 25 is the one and only prerequisite for citizenship, and for Bink, time is running short!
All throughout his life, Bink has been bullied and teased for being a “spell-less wonder”, a freak who cannot perform magic in a society where every citizen has one magical talent, ranging anywhere from Magician-level magic such as storm-summoning to “spot on the wall” magic, which is the term for useless magical talents such as projecting a colorful spot on the wall. If Bink cannot demonstrate his talent soon, he will be exiled to Mundania, a land where there is no magic at all.
The first half of the book is dedicated to Bink’s quest to discover his talent. Bink journeys through the dangerous wilderness to seek the Good Magician Humphrey, whose magical talent lies in ascertaining the truth. Bink is willing to pay the Good Magician’s exorbitant fee, one year of indentured service, to learn the answer to his question, but even the talented Humphrey is unable to indentify what Bink’s talent is, other than to affirm that he does have one. When the time comes to prove to Xanth’s King that he has what it takes to be a citizen, the senile King, who can barely summon a dust devil, much less the awesome storms of his youth, refuses to accommodate Bink’s inability to perform out of jealousy of the Good Magician Humphrey’s power, leading to Bink’s exile. This is when the real story starts.
After he passes the killing border between Xanth and Mundania, Bink is captured by the Evil Magician Trent, a figure he has only heard about in childhood stories. Trent, a powerful magician with the power to transform any living being into whatever he chooses, was banished from Xanth 20 years ago when he tried to violently usurp the throne. Trent still harbors designs on the throne, and he plans to use Bink’s knowledge to bypass the magical border in order to enter Xanth with his Mundane army.
A Spell for Chameleon focuses on the challenges Bink faces: making the hard choice between personal gain/happiness and remaining loyal to the country that exiled him, determining the nature of his magical talent, and discovering what it truly is that he wants in a woman.
What I liked about this book:
Inventiveness: The best parts of these books focus on the magical land of Xanth and the myriad dangers of its ecosystem. The creatures that make up Xanth are what make it so special. At times heavily reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland, the plants and animals of Xanth are bizarre, magical, and prone to playing tricks on the unwary. A Spell for Chameleon places a heavy emphasis on applying normal (read: real world) evolutionary theory to the magical creatures and ecosystem of Xanth, and the book explores the repercussions of reproductive isolation that was caused when Xanth was cut off from Mundania 100 years prior. The plants of Xanth frequently possess spells of their own that aid in their survival. For example, there are trees that have spells that divert the attention of passerby so that they will not be harmed by loggers. There are carnivorous trees that cast sleep spells on any creature that gets too close… and you can imagine what happens to them once they fall asleep! There are paths that magically disappear, forests that herd people in the direction of their choosing, and a myriad of helpful plants such as trees that grow bread, blankets, beer, and other items useful for travelers.
The characters: the juxtaposition between the selfish, profiteering, crotchety, but ultimately harmless (and thus “good”) Good Magician Humphrey and the frequently noble, heroic, and powerful (and thus “evil”) Evil Magician Trent was amusing because the reality of the two Magicians’ natures are at odds with the public’s perception of the two figures. Sure, the Evil Magician Trent is a criminal who has abused his magical talent in the pursuit of power, but is he really so bad when compared with the Good Magician Humphrey who casually demands a year’s worth of hard labor from every person who comes to him seeking knowledge? The evolution that takes place in the character of the Evil Magician Trent is a treat to behold.

The plot: A Spell for Chameleon is an absolutely original story. The people, the magic system, the flora and fauna that make up Xanth’s ecosystem, and the plot are all unique and interesting. The story is fast paced, witty, frequently funny, and sometimes intelligent (hey, not all books can be deep and poignant all the time).

But before you get too excited about A Spell for Chameleon, know that it has some major flaws!
What I didn’t like about this book:
Oh my god. The RAMPANT misogyny and sexism: personally, although I really enjoyed the plot of this book and the magical world it is set in, I was very put off by the casual, persistent objectification and denigration of women featured in this book. Every time Bink encounters a new female character, the reader is subjected to Bink’s lusty evaluation of her physical attributes. As many reviewers of this series has noted, Piers Anthony seems to be obsessed with breasts: he finds the time to evaluate the breasts of every female character, including the half-human ones (apparently centaurs and mermaids have especially nice racks). Bink makes casual comments about women he doesn’t even know, saying “she could have made some farmer a marvelous showpiece” when referring to a particularly dumb but gorgeous young woman. This type of comment is endemic in this novel. Considering that a lot of the book’s plot is devoted to Bink discovering what he truly desires in a woman, which in this novel is basically a treatise on beauty versus brains, there is no escaping the objectification.
Early on in the novel, Bink is separated from his beautiful and brainy fiancée, Sabrina, when he is exiled from Xanth. Before he even reaches the border, he “realizes” that Sabrina never truly loved him, but instead loved him because she believed he had a powerful magical talent because both of his parents had been strongly talented. Firstly, this premise just seemed wrong: Sabrina had saved herself for Bink until she was 25 years old even though Bink had never manifested magic and even despite the fact that she was subject to teasing and harrassment as a result of her relationship with Bink. What was Sabrina supposed to do, join Bink in exile where she would lose her magical talent, her family, and her very way of life? But because of this encounter, Bink decides that women that are both smart and beautiful are NOT to be trusted, lamenting, “what was the matter with beautiful women, that they could not be constant?”
But these examples are the lighter side of the sexism in A Spell for Chameleon. It gets worse. When Bink encounters the gorgeous but dumb-as-rocks Wynne, who is likewise seeking the aid of the Good Magician Humphrey, Bink explains to her the cost of the Good Magician’s services (a year of servitude), which he contends she “would not want to pay”. Explaining Bink’s rationale, the author goes on to write: “The Good Magician was male, and Wynne had only one obvious coin. No one would be interested in her mind.” The obvious implication in this example is that because Wynne is beautiful but horrendously stupid, the only way she will be able to pay off her year’s service to the supposedly Good Magician Humphrey is to be his sex slave! And if that isn’t bad enough, there’s the extremely problematic rape trial scene.
At one point in the novel Bink is asked to participate in a bizarre sham of a rape trial. This scene is utterly random and has no bearing on the plot of the book, and is surprisingly light-hearted. At the trial, after asking a few questions, the judge summarily announces, "I presume [the accuser] would have fled him at the outset, had she disliked him--and that he would not have forced her if she trusted him. In a small community like this, people get to know each other very well, and there are few actual surprises. This is not conclusive, but it strongly suggests she had no strong aversion to contact with him, and may have tempted him with consequence she later regretted. I would probably, were this case to come up in formal court, find the man not guilty of the charge, by virtue of reasonable doubt." He then asks the woman if she would care to continue with the case, at which point she demurely says no. This passage is SO problematic, for so many reasons. This is victim-blaming at its worst, implying that the rape victim was falsely accusing the man in order to avoid the consequences of consensual sex, or that the victim didn’t try hard enough to get away. The passage even implies that women are never raped by people that they know and trust, which couldn’t be more wrong considering statistics show that up to 90% of reported rapes are committed by people that the victim knows. I don’t know what culture was like in 1987 when this book was written (it was published a year before I was born), but frankly, A Spell for Chameleon has not aged well. This may have been a commonplace attitude at the time it written, but in today’s climate, talking about women in this manner is absolutely wrong and inappropriate.
Would I recommend this book? It’s hard to say. Usually I like a book, or I don’t, with clearly defined reasons. Although I did like many aspects of the book, and generally it was an amusing read, the misogyny and objectification of women in A Spell for Chameleon was jarring and definitely soured my enjoyment of the book. Usually I don’t believe that there is much harm in letting kids/teenagers read books with non-graphic romance/some sexuality, especially considering what they are exposed to in today’s media, but I would NOT recommend introducing your children to A Spell for Chameleon because the messages underlying the sexuality featured in this book are inappropriate to be teaching today’s youth. If you, as an adult reader, can tolerate the sexist attitude that is present in this book without getting too pissed off, there is something to this book that made it a fantasy genre classic in the first place. But really, when it comes down to it, there are SO many good fantasy books out there that are not plagued by rampant misogyny, so why bother reading one that is? I know that I won’t be reading any further books in the Xanth series.
For more book reviews, check out my fantasy-genre book review blog at http://www.flamebreeze22.blogspot.com!(less)

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Hillary Hall A Spell for Chameleon: a Fantasy Classic that Has Not Aged Well
A Spell for Chameleon was Piers Anthony’s first book in his extensive Xanth series, wh...more A Spell for Chameleon: a Fantasy Classic that Has Not Aged Well
A Spell for Chameleon was Piers Anthony’s first book in his extensive Xanth series, which consists of 27 books. The Xanth series is considered a classic in the fantasy genre.
A Spell for Chameleon takes place in the magical world of Xanth, a land inhabited by humans, sentient creatures, monsters, and a vast variety of magical plants. This story follows the protagonist, 25-year-old Bink, who must discover a magical talent if he is to remain in Xanth. This is because in the magical land of Xanth, exhibiting a magical talent by the age of 25 is the one and only prerequisite for citizenship, and for Bink, time is running short!
All throughout his life, Bink has been bullied and teased for being a “spell-less wonder”, a freak who cannot perform magic in a society where every citizen has one magical talent, ranging anywhere from Magician-level magic such as storm-summoning to “spot on the wall” magic, which is the term for useless magical talents such as projecting a colorful spot on the wall. If Bink cannot demonstrate his talent soon, he will be exiled to Mundania, a land where there is no magic at all.
The first half of the book is dedicated to Bink’s quest to discover his talent. Bink journeys through the dangerous wilderness to seek the Good Magician Humphrey, whose magical talent lies in ascertaining the truth. Bink is willing to pay the Good Magician’s exorbitant fee, one year of indentured service, to learn the answer to his question, but even the talented Humphrey is unable to indentify what Bink’s talent is, other than to affirm that he does have one. When the time comes to prove to Xanth’s King that he has what it takes to be a citizen, the senile King, who can barely summon a dust devil, much less the awesome storms of his youth, refuses to accommodate Bink’s inability to perform out of jealousy of the Good Magician Humphrey’s power, leading to Bink’s exile. This is when the real story starts.
After he passes the killing border between Xanth and Mundania, Bink is captured by the Evil Magician Trent, a figure he has only heard about in childhood stories. Trent, a powerful magician with the power to transform any living being into whatever he chooses, was banished from Xanth 20 years ago when he tried to violently usurp the throne. Trent still harbors designs on the throne, and he plans to use Bink’s knowledge to bypass the magical border in order to enter Xanth with his Mundane army.
A Spell for Chameleon focuses on the challenges Bink faces: making the hard choice between personal gain/happiness and remaining loyal to the country that exiled him, determining the nature of his magical talent, and discovering what it truly is that he wants in a woman.
What I liked about this book:
Inventiveness: The best parts of these books focus on the magical land of Xanth and the myriad dangers of its ecosystem. The creatures that make up Xanth are what make it so special. At times heavily reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland, the plants and animals of Xanth are bizarre, magical, and prone to playing tricks on the unwary. A Spell for Chameleon places a heavy emphasis on applying normal (read: real world) evolutionary theory to the magical creatures and ecosystem of Xanth, and the book explores the repercussions of reproductive isolation that was caused when Xanth was cut off from Mundania 100 years prior. The plants of Xanth frequently possess spells of their own that aid in their survival. For example, there are trees that have spells that divert the attention of passerby so that they will not be harmed by loggers. There are carnivorous trees that cast sleep spells on any creature that gets too close… and you can imagine what happens to them once they fall asleep! There are paths that magically disappear, forests that herd people in the direction of their choosing, and a myriad of helpful plants such as trees that grow bread, blankets, beer, and other items useful for travelers.
The characters: the juxtaposition between the selfish, profiteering, crotchety, but ultimately harmless (and thus “good”) Good Magician Humphrey and the frequently noble, heroic, and powerful (and thus “evil”) Evil Magician Trent was amusing because the reality of the two Magicians’ natures are at odds with the public’s perception of the two figures. Sure, the Evil Magician Trent is a criminal who has abused his magical talent in the pursuit of power, but is he really so bad when compared with the Good Magician Humphrey who casually demands a year’s worth of hard labor from every person who comes to him seeking knowledge? The evolution that takes place in the character of the Evil Magician Trent is a treat to behold.

The plot: A Spell for Chameleon is an absolutely original story. The people, the magic system, the flora and fauna that make up Xanth’s ecosystem, and the plot are all unique and interesting. The story is fast paced, witty, frequently funny, and sometimes intelligent (hey, not all books can be deep and poignant all the time).

But before you get too excited about A Spell for Chameleon, know that it has some major flaws!
What I didn’t like about this book:
Oh my god. The RAMPANT misogyny and sexism: personally, although I really enjoyed the plot of this book and the magical world it is set in, I was very put off by the casual, persistent objectification and denigration of women featured in this book. Every time Bink encounters a new female character, the reader is subjected to Bink’s lusty evaluation of her physical attributes. As many reviewers of this series has noted, Piers Anthony seems to be obsessed with breasts: he finds the time to evaluate the breasts of every female character, including the half-human ones (apparently centaurs and mermaids have especially nice racks). Bink makes casual comments about women he doesn’t even know, saying “she could have made some farmer a marvelous showpiece” when referring to a particularly dumb but gorgeous young woman. This type of comment is endemic in this novel. Considering that a lot of the book’s plot is devoted to Bink discovering what he truly desires in a woman, which in this novel is basically a treatise on beauty versus brains, there is no escaping the objectification.
Early on in the novel, Bink is separated from his beautiful and brainy fiancée, Sabrina, when he is exiled from Xanth. Before he even reaches the border, he “realizes” that Sabrina never truly loved him, but instead loved him because she believed he had a powerful magical talent because both of his parents had been strongly talented. Firstly, this premise just seemed wrong: Sabrina had saved herself for Bink until she was 25 years old even though Bink had never manifested magic and even despite the fact that she was subject to teasing and harrassment as a result of her relationship with Bink. What was Sabrina supposed to do, join Bink in exile where she would lose her magical talent, her family, and her very way of life? But because of this encounter, Bink decides that women that are both smart and beautiful are NOT to be trusted, lamenting, “what was the matter with beautiful women, that they could not be constant?”
But these examples are the lighter side of the sexism in A Spell for Chameleon. It gets worse. When Bink encounters the gorgeous but dumb-as-rocks Wynne, who is likewise seeking the aid of the Good Magician Humphrey, Bink explains to her the cost of the Good Magician’s services (a year of servitude), which he contends she “would not want to pay”. Explaining Bink’s rationale, the author goes on to write: “The Good Magician was male, and Wynne had only one obvious coin. No one would be interested in her mind.” The obvious implication in this example is that because Wynne is beautiful but horrendously stupid, the only way she will be able to pay off her year’s service to the supposedly Good Magician Humphrey is to be his sex slave! And if that isn’t bad enough, there’s the extremely problematic rape trial scene.
At one point in the novel Bink is asked to participate in a bizarre sham of a rape trial. This scene is utterly random and has no bearing on the plot of the book, and is surprisingly light-hearted. At the trial, after asking a few questions, the judge summarily announces, "I presume [the accuser] would have fled him at the outset, had she disliked him--and that he would not have forced her if she trusted him. In a small community like this, people get to know each other very well, and there are few actual surprises. This is not conclusive, but it strongly suggests she had no strong aversion to contact with him, and may have tempted him with consequence she later regretted. I would probably, were this case to come up in formal court, find the man not guilty of the charge, by virtue of reasonable doubt." He then asks the woman if she would care to continue with the case, at which point she demurely says no. This passage is SO problematic, for so many reasons. This is victim-blaming at its worst, implying that the rape victim was falsely accusing the man in order to avoid the consequences of consensual sex, or that the victim didn’t try hard enough to get away. The passage even implies that women are never raped by people that they know and trust, which couldn’t be more wrong considering statistics show that up to 90% of reported rapes are committed by people that the victim knows. I don’t know what culture was like in 1987 when this book was written (it was published a year before I was born), but frankly, A Spell for Chameleon has not aged well. This may have been a commonplace attitude at the time it written, but in today’s climate, talking about women in this manner is absolutely wrong and inappropriate.
Would I recommend this book? It’s hard to say. Usually I like a book, or I don’t, with clearly defined reasons. Although I did like many aspects of the book, and generally it was an amusing read, the misogyny and objectification of women in A Spell for Chameleon was jarring and definitely soured my enjoyment of the book. Usually I don’t believe that there is much harm in letting kids/teenagers read books with non-graphic romance/some sexuality, especially considering what they are exposed to in today’s media, but I would NOT recommend introducing your children to A Spell for Chameleon because the messages underlying the sexuality featured in this book are inappropriate to be teaching today’s youth. If you, as an adult reader, can tolerate the sexist attitude that is present in this book without getting too pissed off, there is something to this book that made it a fantasy genre classic in the first place. But really, when it comes down to it, there are SO many good fantasy books out there that are not plagued by rampant misogyny, so why bother reading one that is? I know that I won’t be reading any further books in the Xanth series.(less)
Jun 04, 2013 06:35pm

Apr 22, 2013 Swankivy rated it 3 of 5 stars

The magical Land of Xanth is a clever idea, and the early part of this series--though already pun-filled--is not as insufferably chock full of silly internal references and whole scenes that exist to reveal a punch line as the later books are. This is the story of Bink, who of all the people of Xanth appears to have no magical talent. Everyone's got one! But not Bink! So he's got to go see the good magician Humfrey (this is the plot of perhaps half the books--go see the wizard, outsmart the trap...more The magical Land of Xanth is a clever idea, and the early part of this series--though already pun-filled--is not as insufferably chock full of silly internal references and whole scenes that exist to reveal a punch line as the later books are. This is the story of Bink, who of all the people of Xanth appears to have no magical talent. Everyone's got one! But not Bink! So he's got to go see the good magician Humfrey (this is the plot of perhaps half the books--go see the wizard, outsmart the traps around his home, earn the right to ask).

I read this because my best friend was into it, and I was tired of not getting so many jokes about the Adult Conspiracy and whatnot. She sent me a bunch of the books for my birthday one year and I got started chomping through them. I liked the first one more than some of the other ones because the ideas were fresh, and the various people's magical talents and how they were categorized was kinda fun, even though it seemed sort of goofy and impractical--a very silly fantasy land with very few serious moments. I'm not a big fan of how he presents his lady characters, though. They're ornamental. The sexism is kind of atrocious, and it alienated me even when I was a teenager. (A judge decrees that a rape couldn't have happened because the attacker and the rapist knew each other before the incident? What?) I thought maybe the way the book read like a D&D campaign was just a side effect of the silly, campy motion it was aiming for. There was a lot of detail, and I found maybe a quarter of it entertaining and three quarters of it kind of superfluous. I liked a couple of the characters, but they mostly behaved like cutouts, and I had a weird feeling that the author himself was very entertained by his own writings. It was this "listening" feeling after each funny line--I could almost hear him slapping his knee and saying "Get it?"

Some of the magical talents the author dreamed up were imaginative and fun, though I was kind of turned off by the idea of a girl's talent being a shifting appearance that cyclically turns her from one extreme (ugly and smart) to the other (beautiful and stupid). Talents like this seemed kind of inconvenient, and a lot of the others' magical talents were just useless. Overall it wasn't captivating for me because it never had the sense of being a real world despite all the heaps of detail.(less)

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Apr 04, 2013 Lynn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, humor, young-adult

I originally read this in college and mostly enjoyed it, although I thought Anthony was horribly sexist. (In a sequel, he says in the introduction something to the effect of "Those who object to the sexism in Xanth will be encouraged by this look at Mundania, which is worse." Um, no.) The details of the magic in Xanth are original and fun to read, and he obviously put a lot of work into envisioning such a world. The plot was also clever, with a satisfying ending.

But. BUT!

When I reread this, I re...more

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Mar 04, 2013 Three rated it 4 of 5 stars

I started reading the Xanth books when I was about 12 (in the middle of the series with Ogre, Ogre), and continued buying the new ones as they came out over the next six or seven years. They grew progressively less entertaining as I grew progressively more discriminating and well-read (and as exposure rendered the continuing puns overdone in the extreme), but I still remember how much I loved them initially.

Even though they have a decidedly silly aspect to them, I think that in many ways they a...more

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Jan 28, 2013 Cleo rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. A Spell For Chameleon is an amazing, and very original fantasy novel. It is set in Xanth, a land of magic, where every citizen has their own magic talent, and centaurs and dragons and other magical creatures abound. But Bink of North Village seemingly has no magic. Unless he gets some fast, he'll be exiled. He goes to the Good Magician Humfrey, who is convinced that Bink does have magic, powerful magic. As powerful as by the King or Humfrey, or even the Evil Magician Trent. But Humfrey is unable...more A Spell For Chameleon is an amazing, and very original fantasy novel. It is set in Xanth, a land of magic, where every citizen has their own magic talent, and centaurs and dragons and other magical creatures abound. But Bink of North Village seemingly has no magic. Unless he gets some fast, he'll be exiled. He goes to the Good Magician Humfrey, who is convinced that Bink does have magic, powerful magic. As powerful as by the King or Humfrey, or even the Evil Magician Trent. But Humfrey is unable to discover it. That's almost worst than having no magic...having powerful magic, but still being exiled. When Bink sets out for Mundania (Earth), more adventures will befall him...

The first section of the book is devoted to Bink's adventures as he journeys to Humfrey's castle, the second to after he's exiled. The most interesting character is certainly Chameleon; she's so multifaceted (literally), and so beautiful and intelligent, at different times. I think this concept is so fascinating, and obviously so hard to wrap your head around because it could never happen in our world. My favorite of the three is probably Dee; she's fairly intelligent, and not ugly. Though I really like Fanchon too. I also love Trent the "evil" magician.

I give A Spell For Chameleon 5 stars, but one thing that annoyed me was, well, Bink himself. He's a bit sexist, and he's always objectifying women's bodies. It was really annoying; each new (pretty) female character is introduced with some description of her physique. I noticed it more this time around than when I read it two years ago. Apparently, there are over 20 books in the series, most of which are like that. And they also have really stupid puns. Even the titles: Crewel Lye: A Caustic Yarn, Heaven Cent, Faun and Games.

But all kidding aside (no, that's not a pun), A Spell For Chameleon is a really gripping book, just as good as Magic Kingdom For Sale- SOLD!, though both are excellent 1980s fantasy novels. They have interesting plots, and interesting creatures, objectification aside.

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Jan 04, 2013 Alana rated it 1 of 5 stars

I read this book 3 times, twice in childhood and the third time just now with my husband.
1. It is outright sexist. No contest. Even my husband was a little offended.
2. The Author over explains everything in lieu of providing plot.
3. Balk. Balks. Balked. Balking. Every two to three pages.

It harbors the most ming-boggling chauvinism I have ever read, mainly because it is so blatant. No woman has a substantial magic apart from affecting appearances (usually their own) or... cooking. That is, of c...more

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Oct 18, 2012 V. rated it 3 of 5 stars

Despite what people say about the author's sexism, his fondness for puns (a greater crime in some people's eyes) and the juvenile nature of some of the storytelling, this book has many good qualities, most of which reviewers haven't really talked about.

The central premise here is this: which is preferable, a very beautiful, very dumb woman, or a super smart, wise but ugly woman?

You can probably tell from this that a) the book is aimed at young men, and b) women might find the question, never mi...more

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Oct 03, 2012 Rebecca rated it 3 of 5 stars

Others have already mentioned the sexism. Most of the time, I was able to just roll my eyes and ignore it, and I'm definitely willing to turn a blind eye to things written over 30 years back, but two bits really made me cringe: The fake rape trial in an early chapter, and how Iris's reappearance in the end is treated. (view spoiler)...more

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Sep 23, 2012 Cyberpope rated it 5 of 5 stars

My review of the 100+ books in the Xanth series(Yes, I've read them all)

This is, by far, the best of all of them.

Xanth is a magical land(seems to be in Florida somewhere) where every citizen, by law, must have some sort of msgic talent.

In this first one we're introduced to the main character, Bink, appears to have no magic talent, so is about to be exiled.

There's more to his seeming lack of talent than first appears.

Along the way we meet a few more characters who will be central to the whole se...more

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Sep 01, 2012 Tom rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

This is the first in a series of fantasy novels by Piers Anthony set in the mythical world of Xanth where everyone has a magical power, except Bink.

When I read this as a teenage boy I loved the fantasy world Anthony created and the nature of Bink and his rival, Magician Trent.

The story begins with Bink ostracized by his village because he has no magical power and follows him on his quest to discover said power. He traverses the dangerous landscape of Xanth encountering a number of powerful foes

...more

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Jun 25, 2012 Ward Bond rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

EDITORIAL REVIEW:

Though already developing a successful career in SF with such heady novels as *Chthon* and *Omnivore*, Piers Anthony did not reach brand-name status until he cooked up some fantasy in 1977. And it was cheerful, humorous fantasy at that, as in his first Xanth series novel, *A Spell for Chameleon*. The book's young hero, Bink, is without magical powers in a world ruled entirely by magic. Worse still, if he doesn't discover his own magical talent soon, he will be forever banished f...more

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Jun 13, 2012 Mary Davis rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fantasy readers

Shelves: books-read-2012

B&N Synopsis:

Xanth was the enchanted land where magic ruled--where every citizen had a special spell only he could cast. That is, except for Bink of North Village. He was sure he possessed no magic, and knew that if he didn't find some soon, he would be exiled. According to the Good Magician Humpfrey, the charts said that Bink was as powerful as the King or even the Evil Magician Trent. Unfortunately, no one could determine its form. Meanwhile, Bink was in despair. If he didn't find his magi...more

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Jan 28, 2012 Justin Kemppainen rated it 3 of 5 stars

I definitely enjoyed this book, but I'm a little out of the demographic at this point in my life. The language, plotting, and so on are a little closer to mid-late teenage males, but this doesn't make it bad.

The writing and story is simple. The world is not designed with particular attention and elegance; it's more organic. People who are looking for a very deep world are not likely to find it in Xanth (at least the first book). The characters are also quite simple. They've got a couple of layer...more

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Aug 22, 2011 David Sarkies rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

I read this book a very long time ago so my memory of it is very hazy, however, it is unlikely that I will read it again, therefore I will write a brief commentary on it. Piers Anthony was one of the more popular authors of young adult fantasy and science-fiction back in the 80's, and I suspect that he still writes even today. Apparently this book was going to be made into a film (Hollywood are looking at a lot of books to see if they can capitalise on the Lord of the Rings phenomena, however t...more I read this book a very long time ago so my memory of it is very hazy, however, it is unlikely that I will read it again, therefore I will write a brief commentary on it. Piers Anthony was one of the more popular authors of young adult fantasy and science-fiction back in the 80's, and I suspect that he still writes even today. Apparently this book was going to be made into a film (Hollywood are looking at a lot of books to see if they can capitalise on the Lord of the Rings phenomena, however this book, and in fact this series, comes nowhere close to the Lord of the Rings).
Xanth is a magical world appended to our own world (known as mundania) that is ironically shaped a lot like Florida (maybe because that is where Anthony comes from). In Xanth everybody has a magical talent, except for young Bink, and because he does not have a magical talent, he is exiled to Mundania. There is a magical shield that separates Xanth from Mundania so that the mundanes cannot cross over into Xanth, and if a Xanthite (or whatever they are called) crosses over, they cannot return).
In Mundania Bink encounters Trent, an evil wizard that was exiled from Xanth for trying to usurp the throne, and he also meets a hideously ugly, but incredibly intelligent woman named Fanchon. However, Fanchon will change depending on the time of the year, to average and the to beautiful and dumb. However Fanchon (who is actually Chameleon) considers this power to be a curse, and the only way that she can escape it is to flee to Mundania where she will revert to her average form.
Some has criticised Anthony on his sexist attidutes in this book. Now, as mentioned, it has been a long time since I have read this book, but in other books that I have read, there does tend to be a sexist tinge about it. For instance, in Bio of a Space Tyrant the man character, a male, is constantly commenting on his effect on women. Here, Chameleon is either ugly and smart, or beautiful and stupid. It is suggested that she can't be the otherway around, but then again that is her magical talent.
Some have suggested that this book is about self-discovery. In a sense yes it probably is as Bink comes to learn about who he is and what his talent is, and also as Chameleon comes to terms with her talent. However it is also about being an outcast. A lot of young adult fantasy is like this, where the main character is a nobody, or even an outcast, and then ends up taking the main role in the story. It can be somewhat deceitful though, as we are not always called to be world saving heroes, but it does give has the support in knowing that each an every one of us has a role to play in this world.(less)

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Jan 11, 2011 Ithlilian rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

This book appears to be geared towards teenage boys with the constant mention of breasts and pretty girls, but it's writing style seems geared more toward younger readers. A Spell for Chameleon has a storytelling feel like a mother reading her children bedtime stories or a teacher reading to a circle of children. Very early on however, we get sexual references. They aren't veiled or hidden, they are right there in your face (no pun intended). Since I'm neither a teenager nor a male I wasn't too...more This book appears to be geared towards teenage boys with the constant mention of breasts and pretty girls, but it's writing style seems geared more toward younger readers. A Spell for Chameleon has a storytelling feel like a mother reading her children bedtime stories or a teacher reading to a circle of children. Very early on however, we get sexual references. They aren't veiled or hidden, they are right there in your face (no pun intended). Since I'm neither a teenager nor a male I wasn't too interested in how shapely a centaur was or how attractive every other girl the main character met was. It didn't bother me too much though, I still enjoyed this novel. It is lighthearted and fun. If people get hurt they get better, the evil magician turns out to be the nicest character in the book, and most people are heroic and upstanding citizens. My issue with this novel is that it is filled with unimportant details. When I first started reading it I was interested in every creature and plant in Xanth, but after the first few chapters my interest waned. I didn't care about mesmerizing gourds, sneezing bees, and monsters after the first 100 or so were introduced. It became entirely too cumbersome. The story is basically travel to see the good magician, get exiled, meet bad magician and girl, come back to Xanth, happy ending. For such a fluffy plot it sure was bogged down with details of gap dragons, harpies, mermaids, sea monsters, strangling tress, sleepy meadows, floating rabbits, bread trees...dangerous worms, and griffins having intercourse with unicorns. Right. You get the picture. I may continue with the series for a few more books, it was entertaining, but I have to say Xanth is not a place I would want to live in. Everything is magic yet only a few people have any magic that is useful. There are tons of monsters but no beneficial beings. I'm also not a fan of books with good characters doing good things all of the time. Even the Evil Magician in this book was nice. I have mixed feelings about this book, just like the author must have had when he decided to write a childish book with adult themes. Strange. (less)

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Oct 24, 2010 Aniruddha-isb rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Quote from Novel: At least Roland understood. "One day you'll discover that the opinions of worthless people are worthless," he murmured to Bink. "You have to do it your own way. I comprehend that, and wish you well—on your own.” (p 20)

The above quote is from Piers Anthony’s fantasy novel, A Spell for Chameleon. Bink, the protagonist of the novel, is disheartened by the villagers’ disdainful remarks on how it is impossible for him to accomplish his quest in finding his magical talent. The manife...more Quote from Novel: At least Roland understood. "One day you'll discover that the opinions of worthless people are worthless," he murmured to Bink. "You have to do it your own way. I comprehend that, and wish you well—on your own.” (p 20)

The above quote is from Piers Anthony’s fantasy novel, A Spell for Chameleon. Bink, the protagonist of the novel, is disheartened by the villagers’ disdainful remarks on how it is impossible for him to accomplish his quest in finding his magical talent. The manifest shift in speech, action and psychology of Bink, after hearing the villagers’ pessimistic opinion about his quest, shows that the word of one or many, has great power over one’s character, thus leaving either a positive or negative mark on the person. Also the fact that his father is able to reassure and convince Bink to set forth on his journey, shows that speech is just as powerful if spoken by one or many, and the only two things determining the power of the speech itself is the content and intent.

This particular quote connects with me on a personal level, due to the fact that in everyday life, I encounter people, whether it may be my friends, my peers or even strangers, who intentionally try to discourage and dissuade me from accomplishing or even trying to reach my goals. Even a simple plan of completing my homework on a Friday night is met by a cynical audience, who would rather me waste my time like them. And on numerous occasions I was influenced by their remarks and as a result, I gave up on even trying. But after reading this quote, I have learned taken a new stance, and whether a goal may be even impossible to accomplish, if I set it, I will at least attempt to accomplish it, regardless of the negative remarks that others think and say.

Overall, this book is a good read and contains many themes and great character development. But this book may not be suitable for adults, but rather for "youngsters" between the ages of 12 - 16, as suggested by the author's use of simple diction and a somewhat simple plot. I would give this book a rating of 4 out of 5.(less)

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Oct 31, 2009 Leeanna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-own

Xanth 1: A Spell for Chameleon, by Piers Anthony

Twenty-five year old Bink of the North Village is in danger of being exiled from his homeland, Xanth, because he has no magic talent. Xanth is a land where magic is the norm, and the King requires that every citizen have a magic talent. Naturally Bink wants to discover his talent so he can stay in his homeland and marry his girlfriend, so he heads off to the Good Magician for help.

So begins the first novel in the Xanth series, which now has over 3...more

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Jun 20, 2009 Hannah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Awesome read, and so much fun!

I loved the main characters; they were all so quirky in their own ways, intelligent and straightforward without being whiny and know-it-all. Bink made a great lead; for once, a fantasy hero who isn't invincible OR a whiny, angsty loser! He's tall, young and good-looking, but he's also flawed. He has issues with them, but then he faces them head-on and deals with them with minimal fuss. Same goes for Trent and Chameleon, and the three make an extremely likeable trio...more

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Sep 15, 2012 George Shirer rated it 2 of 5 stars

I first read A Spell for Chameleon ages ago, when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. For a while, I was enamored of Xanth. I loved the wordplay and the characters, but eventually left them behind.
A little while ago I was browsing through my local bookstore when I came across a sale copy of A Spell for Chameleon and, feeling somewhat nostalgic, bought it.
I sort of wish I hadn't.
My memories of Xanth and its inhabitants were rose-tinted. Returning to that world, to this story, after a few decades was a di...more

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Dec 21, 2010 Irishgirl1247 rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

I like many other reviewers read these books when I was rather young.My dad started me on them when I was about 11 and was breezing through children books so fast it was damaging his credit card with trips to borders and gas to the library. I loved them. As a child a read horse books, Nancy Drew and a few fairy tales, but this opened up a whole new world to me. What I find most interesting is how the sexism/sex went completely over my head. I actually kinda of worked out nicely, my brain simply...more

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A Spell for Chameleon (Xanth #1)

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