Roc and a Hard Place (Magic of Xanth #19) ANNOTATION
Seeking a solution to a preplexing personal problem, the delectable Demoness Metria asks for help from the wise Magician Humfrey. But before he will help her, she must perform a perilous mission. Rove the length of Xanth in search of a suitable jury for the trial of Roxanne Roc--a notably noble and virtuous bird charged with a most improbable offense.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Ever since she fissioned from her seductive sister, D. Mentia, and shared a soul with her beloved husband, Veleno, the Demoness Metria has been waiting in vain for the stork to pay a visit. At her wit's end, she journeys to the castle of the Good Magician Humfrey, hoping against hope that he will have the proper prescription for her predicament. But Humfrey's help has a heavy price. He commands Metria to seek out the Simurgh high atop Mount Parnassus and do the bidding of that venerable bird. There in the Emerald Mountains, the Simurgh reveals an astonishing secret. Roxanne Roc, the feathered paragon of virtue who has been chosen to hatch the Simurgh's precious egg, stands accused (or rather, sits accused, since she has not left her nest in ages) of a violation of one of Xanth's most momentous rules. To fulfill her service, Metria must gather together a clutch of Xanth's most rare and remarkable denizens from the far corners of that enchanted land to sit as judge and jury in Roxanne's trial. Her quest takes Metria farther than she had ever dreamed - even to the fringes of Mundania itself. And along the way, she solves some of Xanth's most enigmatic riddles and learns some surprising truths about herself as well.
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
The 19th novel in this lighthearted series, popular for its puns and its innocent naughtiness, is again set in the fantasy land of Xanth (Demons Don't Dream ). Here, Anthony tells the story of the Demoness Metria and her other selves, the crazy D. Mentia and the waif Woe Betide, as they carry on a mission for the Good Magician Humfrey: Metria and company must assemble a court and jury to try Roxanne Roc, under unspecified charges from another magical Xanth bird, the Simurgh. On this loose structure are hung many outlandish characters, adventures, jokes and plays on words-such as the quarter horse that splits into four one-legged creatures, or the twins Ordinate and Abscissa, who can travel ``by geometry.'' The mentions of Xanth's enforced ``Adult Conspiracy to keep Interesting Things from Children,'' the youth of some of the characters and the euphemistic presentation of sex may appeal to younger readers. A concluding author's note adds a more somber touch, as Anthony explains how deceased friends and fans have made their way into his ever-evolving vision of Xanth. (Oct.)
BookList - Roland Green
In the umpteenth installment of Anthony's Xanth series, the Demoness Metria has a problem that only the good magician Humfrey can help her solve. There is a price to pay, however--finding a jury to give Roxanne Roc, under indictment for some bizarre crimes (and under such dubious circumstances that even Metria doubts Roxanne's innocence), an impartial trial. It is getting hard to say anything new about the Xanth yarns, for Anthony is not really putting many surprises in them anymore. The series goes on as before, affording honorable light entertainment and no "more, but never any less. Perhaps the most interesting feature of this book is Anthony's afterword, which takes up how he draws on events and people in Mundania (i.e., our world) to continually expand the cast and concepts of Xanth.
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