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41st out of 167 books
—
38 voters
Castle Roogna (Xanth #3)
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....
From the Paperback edition.
From the Paperback edition.
paperback
Published
June 23rd 1997
by Del Rey
(first published June 1979)
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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...more
The portrayal of women continues to get on...more
This is the third in a series of fantasy novels by Piers Anthony set in the mythical world of Xanth and stars the son of the protagonist from the first two novels, Dor
Dor is the heir apparent to the throne of Xanth and as educational tool the current king, Magician Trent sends Dor back in time 800 years to find the ancient and mysterious Zombie Master. While Dor is in reality a young boy he inhabits the body of a full-grown man during this quest and it presents an opportunity for Anthony to show
...more
Dec 30, 2011
David Sarkies
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Tweens who liked the Harry Potter Books
Recommended to David by:
Stewart Wymer
Shelves:
fantasy
This is the third of the Xanth series. Now, I was not inclinded to write any more regarding the books in this series because, to be honest with you, there is probably not much more to write beyond the basic plot of the story, however I felt that maybe I should put at least a little comment into the review part of this book, despite the fact that there really isn't all that much to review.
Probably the reason why I ended up reading a lot of the Xanth books was because there were readily availabl...more
Probably the reason why I ended up reading a lot of the Xanth books was because there were readily availabl...more
So, the third book of the Xanth series (so far) I've liked the best. The plot line was interesting, the characters likable (I rather dislike Bink of the first two books). Most appealing of the character list to me seemed Jumper the Spider of unusual proportions.
I do have problems at times with the way the author illustrates women in his world of Xanth. Millie the Ghost was annoying in her role of parody damsel in distress. (but noes, Xanth is not sexist at all)
Also, I'm unsure about the target a...more
I do have problems at times with the way the author illustrates women in his world of Xanth. Millie the Ghost was annoying in her role of parody damsel in distress. (but noes, Xanth is not sexist at all)
Also, I'm unsure about the target a...more
So this is the end of the Xanths. Overall I'd say I liked the series, but I doubt I'll be recommending it to many friends.
Xanth was recommended to me by a coworker, right after I started him on Pratchett's Discworld. He said that it was a pretty similar style. In some ways it is, in the sense that there's humor thrown in to a fantasy setting, but I thought that both the writing and the humor were weaker than Pratchett. Every joke (and I mean every) in the series is a pun. One pun after another....more
Xanth was recommended to me by a coworker, right after I started him on Pratchett's Discworld. He said that it was a pretty similar style. In some ways it is, in the sense that there's humor thrown in to a fantasy setting, but I thought that both the writing and the humor were weaker than Pratchett. Every joke (and I mean every) in the series is a pun. One pun after another....more
Castle Roogna is about a boy named Dor(who is the child of Bink)and how he goes on a quest to see the Zombie Master so he can get a restorative potion to restore Millie the former ghost's love Johnathan. However the Zombie Master lived eight centuries ago. So now Dor must go back in time, to the fourth wave when the king was King Roogna. On his quest he encounters many thing that are not in his time such as a wool plant(a sheep which is a plant)which is extinct.
My favorite part is when he inco...more
My favorite part is when he inco...more
I've really like this series so far and this book was definitely a good one... it took me a little bit to get into it because unlike the previous books about Bink this one is about his son Dor and so you had to go through introductions and getting to know him and he's basically a wimpy 12 year old boy which I really can't relate to so I had some trouble with that until he finally decides to go off on his adventure to become a man... I have to admit that it was Jumper the spider that made the sto...more
Pretty cool the way Anthony kept his world awesome and interesting and yet the books were still very different (unlike another fantasy series *cough* Harry Potter *cough*) from one another. Each book is pretty different but still similar enough that it doesn't alienate the reader - which I love.
The kid getting trapped inside a mans body with all of the sexual tension that goes along with this fit pretty well into my being a kid and reading this. I liked it a lot but I was rooting for him to get...more
The kid getting trapped inside a mans body with all of the sexual tension that goes along with this fit pretty well into my being a kid and reading this. I liked it a lot but I was rooting for him to get...more
So as I stated before I love this series, and we see more and more puns coming forward, and I really enjoy that aspect of Xanth. Now I loved being able to see how things in Xanth were made, such as now we know why there is a forget spell on the gap. We also see how Castle Roogna was formed. One thing I didn't like was Jumper was his fallback guy, whenever you figured Dor was in a mess he couldn't get out of Jumper was there to save him. One thing I have to add, I am amazed at him putting neo-sor...more
The third installment was much like the first book. As the story is told from the perspective of Bink's son Dor. It's good where you don't necessarily have to read the first two books to understand it.
Dor suffers much from the same problems that Bink did. Bink suffered from lack of magic even though he was strong and intelligent. Dor suffers from lack of strength even though he's had magician caliber magic and become an outcast because of it. The thing he struggles with more is his youth where...more
Dor suffers much from the same problems that Bink did. Bink suffered from lack of magic even though he was strong and intelligent. Dor suffers from lack of strength even though he's had magician caliber magic and become an outcast because of it. The thing he struggles with more is his youth where...more
I needed something light & fast & easy after my last one so I picked this. #3 of Xanth series - Included: Liberal sprinklings of puns, heavy sprinklings of internal musings (pretty advanced ones for a 12 yr. old), life lessons, action & adventure, time travel, history, and a really big spider named Jumper. I liked him better than the main character Dor. I am remembering why I stopped reading this series - each book seems so uneven. I like parts but overall? I can do without reading i...more
Jun 13, 2012
Mary Davis
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Fantasy readers
Shelves:
books-read-2012
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...more
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...more
I love science fiction and fantasy. I find many other genres too predictable. I have to say Piers Anthony is one of my favorite authors. (No relation)
This and all of the other books i've read from Piers have been very very entertaining. The man has an incredible imagination.
I'm not adding specific reviews because it would take at least a month. I've simpply read too many.
The stars will have to suffice. If you enjoy sci-fi and or fantasy, you have to Give Piers a try. I have not been disappoint...more
This and all of the other books i've read from Piers have been very very entertaining. The man has an incredible imagination.
I'm not adding specific reviews because it would take at least a month. I've simpply read too many.
The stars will have to suffice. If you enjoy sci-fi and or fantasy, you have to Give Piers a try. I have not been disappoint...more
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
This is one of my favorite Xanth books. It is the first to have Dor as the protagonist.
One of the major appeals of this novel has always been the age of the protagonist. I first read it when I was 11 (the second time at 13), so Dor was easy to relate to.
The story is this:
Dor has just reached the age where he does not need a nanny anymore and yet he cares deeply about his nanny and wants to do something nice for her. As she is a Ghost, he decides that the best thing to do would be to bring her b...more
One of the major appeals of this novel has always been the age of the protagonist. I first read it when I was 11 (the second time at 13), so Dor was easy to relate to.
The story is this:
Dor has just reached the age where he does not need a nanny anymore and yet he cares deeply about his nanny and wants to do something nice for her. As she is a Ghost, he decides that the best thing to do would be to bring her b...more
Castle Roogna was an amazing, and wonderful contribution to the Xanth novels. This book takes place in a tapestry of Xanth where Binks child goes on a quest to help the first king of xanth, King Roogna. Occompanied by a giant spider also from the present xanth, he finds things that he wouldn't be able to find in a history book. For instants he meets King Roogna and he is more powerful than he ever imagined. This book is filled with twists and surprises that leaves you on the edge of your seat ti...more
Castle Roogna is third in the Xanth series, and actually a better book than its predecessor (The Source of Magic) but not up to the standard of the initial Xanth debut (A Spell for Chameleon).
I really enjoyed the time travel aspect of this book, seeing how Xanth developed in earlier times. I liked the character of Jumper.
Con: Once again, extremely sexist. But it's light entertainment, and I'm not reading this to obtain my sense of morality.
Also: I saw the plot resolution with Millie the ghost an...more
I really enjoyed the time travel aspect of this book, seeing how Xanth developed in earlier times. I liked the character of Jumper.
Con: Once again, extremely sexist. But it's light entertainment, and I'm not reading this to obtain my sense of morality.
Also: I saw the plot resolution with Millie the ghost an...more
The Third Book in the Xanth Saga by Piers Anthony, Castle Roogna changes the main character from Bink to his son, Dor who's now 12. This book is much of the same as before but instead of being a quest-oriented book like its predecessor, it harkens back to the first book as a journey of self-discovery. Through this book, the reader learns a bit more about the history of Xanth and how things came to be. It's a great book if you love the world which Anthony has created and want to dive deeper into...more
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I'm writing one review for all the Xanth books I've read because the same can be said of all of them. For a brief period in 9th and 10th grade I LOVED these books. With a strange mania. Now... um, not so much. I've chosen to split the difference between the score I would have given these books then (OMG, 5 STARZ!!1!) and what I'd give them now (probably a 2 or 3). If you have a love for punning, "humorous" fantasy and mild bawdiness give them a try.
I love the characters and their unique talents. Reading these books really takes me back to when I loved reading as a kid. I'm surprised at how much of these stories I remember. The one complaint about this book that I had though is that I was expecting another confrontation at the end of the story between Dor and the bullies from the beginning. If that were added, it would have shown how much he matured before his quest.
So I fought reading Piers Anthony for years because I assumed it would be a "boy book" by that I mean lots of swordplay and lots of crude jokes. Eventually though I gave in and read Castle Roogna.
Maybe its my age now, but I really liked it. I adored Dor and Jumper and couldn't wait to see what would happen to them next. Piers even has a lot of the foreshadowing that I love so much about JK Rowling.
Strangely enough it does have a lot of sword play and too many puny jokes to even get into, but it...more
Maybe its my age now, but I really liked it. I adored Dor and Jumper and couldn't wait to see what would happen to them next. Piers even has a lot of the foreshadowing that I love so much about JK Rowling.
Strangely enough it does have a lot of sword play and too many puny jokes to even get into, but it...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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This book is a continuation of the Xanth series that will leave you asking for more. As Bing gets older and stays more within the walls of a castle than out crusading, who better to take his place than his son. A young magician whos magic is quite ptent, but hardly the match for a town bully. What will Dor decide once he finds a way to get out of this life, and into the life of a bold warrior.
Jul 10, 2012
Moonstar326
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Anyone who appreciaters humor.
Shelves:
bookshelf
This book, the 3rd in the series, is one of my favorites. I enjoy the puns and silliness of the book, as well as the gore and quest objective.
The characters are interesting. I didn't particularly like how Millie was the silly air-headed maiden. I liked her when she was sweet, mature, and a strong young (ish) women. I DO like the character Dor plays in this, as the young, experienced kid expected to play the role of a grown-up hero. And I love Jumper.
I found the first 2 books to be somewhat dull...more
The characters are interesting. I didn't particularly like how Millie was the silly air-headed maiden. I liked her when she was sweet, mature, and a strong young (ish) women. I DO like the character Dor plays in this, as the young, experienced kid expected to play the role of a grown-up hero. And I love Jumper.
I found the first 2 books to be somewhat dull...more
My favorite of all of the Xanth books still, and the only spider I have ever liked aside from Charlotte! (I remembered -- he was a jumping spider and he was called Jumper.)
I am starting on the Great Cataloging Project. I am taking all of my lists of books read ince 1983 and transferring them to Goodreads. This should keep me out of touble for awhile!
I am starting on the Great Cataloging Project. I am taking all of my lists of books read ince 1983 and transferring them to Goodreads. This should keep me out of touble for awhile!
Quite enjoyed this instalment of the Xanth books but only really got into it half way in,before that it just seemed a rehash of the young boy on a quest inherent in the earlier xanth books (and truth be told much fantastic fiction),Different protaganist maybe but similiar tale.
However the scope of the battles and the way in which the plot develops in this book ultimately made for a satisfying read.
However the scope of the battles and the way in which the plot develops in this book ultimately made for a satisfying read.
I’ve been meaning to read Piers Anthony’s Xanth series for decades now…and…I am enjoying it. At least once I’ve gotten at least 1/3 of the way in to the story. The writing feels so juvenile but Anthony has such a unique way of presenting and upending our view of our own culture and its attendant myths and fairy tales.
You have to take Xanth novels collectively because they're all very similar. Full of neat characters, puns and imagery, they all sort of mesh together in your head. One is not necessarily better than the other, they're all just...Xanth. They're all decent, nothing special, nothing groundbreaking. Good reads to pass the time.
The Xanth books were a hoot the first time through (many years ago). I attempted to reread them again recently, but they don't work for me now. It's probably not a maturity thing, because I still think Gilligan is funny! Hmmm. If you haven't read them yet, go for it. If you've read them once, remember them fondly.
SUMMARY:
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....
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....
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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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Piers is a self-proclaimed environm...more
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“Being terrified but going ahead and doing what must be done—that's courage. The one who feels no fear is a fool, and the one who lets fear rule him is a coward.”
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“By all means. Swords have ever been the best servants of crazy men.”
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