Swell Foop

FROM THE PUBLISHER

"When Cynthia Centaur journeys to ask the Good Magician Humfrey a very personal Question, she expects nothing more than the usual Challenges and Puzzles, as well as some small sort of Service, in exchange for her Answer. What she doesn't expect is that she will be responsible for the future survival of Xanth itself." "For a peril of immense gravity endangers the enchanted land of Xanth, Or, rather, a lack of gravity. The Demon Earth, who rules our own world, has suddenly and mysteriously disappeared. Without Demon Earth's vast powers, everything on the surface of the Earth and all other worlds, including Xanth, will go whirling weightlessly away into space." "By merest change, Cynthia Centaur has come to the Good Magician's castle at precisely the wrong moment. For the Muse of History has decreed that the very next Querent who asks Humfrey a Question will be charged with the awesome responsibility of finding the Demon Earth and saving Xanth." "It's whispered that another Demon (with a capital D) has done the dastardly deed. The only weapon that can prevail against such a cosmic being is the instrument known as the Swell Foop. And the only way to handle its awesome power is to locate the Six Lost Rings of Xanth, whose whereabouts are known only to the Zombies." So Cynthia and five companions - her beloved mate, Che; Breanna of the Black Wave and her fiance, Justin Tree; Sim, the immortal bird who will one day know all the secrets of the universe; and Jaylin, a young human girl from the Mundane land of Hawail - embark on a quest of utmost danger, to challenge an Unknown Demon for the fate of a dozen worlds.

SYNOPSIS

Piers Anthony's Xanth books are among the great monuments of fantasy. This is the 25th addition to this playful, uplifting, prize-winning series.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

"Do you think the puns will ever run out?" a character asks early in Anthony's 26th funny Xanth adventure. "If they do, Xanth will dissolve into chaos... It is mostly made of puns," another character sagely replies. And so it goes. This fantasy confection is full of puns, clever mathematical and grammatical lessons and some gratuitous sexual innuendo. Cynthia Centaur and her companions must find the Six Rings of Xanth (Fire, Earth, Idea, Water, Air and Void) in order to rescue the Demon Earth from the thrall of the Swell Foop. These rings are the only artifacts capable of locating the Foop. When they are stacked and aligned, a person who sights through them will be able to see the Foop if the stack is pointing the right way, and if that person is destined to use it. The rings also control the six known Regions of Xanth. The ring bearers, who include Jaylin, a Mundanian human girl, as well as five Xanth creatures, must use their creativity and sense of humor to find Demon Earth, or else the gravity needed in Xanth and Earth will disappear forever. Diehard Xanth fans will rejoice at this fast-paced romp, but even they might get a bit tired of the incessant panty humor. Some readers may have raging hormones, but the preteens, who would most enjoy this book, aren't quite there yet, and many older teens are ready to explore more mature issues. (Oct. 17) FYI: Due in September is Anthony's second volume of autobiography, How Precious Was That While (Forecasts, July 23). Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

KLIATT - Janet Julian

Book 25 in the saga of the magic land of Xanth finds the Demon Earth a kidnap victim. If it isn't found, gravity will cease and so will planet Earth and Xanth. And so six adventurers must travel here and there to find the magic Rings that control the sixth known Regions of Xanth. Then the group must locate the Swell Foop and use it to free Demon Earth on Fornax, a small foreign galaxy. They even get to travel on the Internet. Zombies, leprechauns, ghosts, magicians, humans, centaurs, rocs, and even a zombie mermaid figure in the story, which will delight fans of the series. Naturally there are puns: the cyclepath on which all the cyclers are crazed; the path is none too happy but that's just road rage; a cure for men only from the man-i-cure; a peacock made entirely of peas; many of these are found in the pun-kin patch. An author's note and a chapter from Up in a Heaval, novel 26, end the pun, er, fun. KLIATT Codes: SA￯﾿ﾽRecommended for senior high school students, advanced students, and adults. 2001, Tor, 374p.,

School Library Journal

Adult/High School-In this 25th book in the series, Cynthia Centaur's quest is to ask a personal question of the Good Magician Humfrey about her upcoming marriage. Perhaps she would have reconsidered the pros and cons of the visit if she had realized that the very next visitor to ask for help would be given the task of saving Xanth. Cynthia must find the Swell Foop to save the planet or die trying. The task is to find the Six Rings of Xanth (Fire, Earth, Idea, Water, Air, and Void), all so powerful that they had been hidden for fear of misuse, and the only artifacts capable of locating the Swell Foop. The zombies, an unpopular group of people, are the only ones that can help Cynthia and the five other adventurers in their quest. This is an entertaining, fast-paced adventure, full of puns suggested by the author's many fans. Those not familiar with the earlier books might want to read Spell for Chameleon (Turtleback, 1977) first. A great series for fantasy fans, along with Terry Pratchett's comedy/fantasy "Discworld" series (HarperPrism).-Linda G. Sinclair, Alexandria Library, VA Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews