The Incarnations of Immortality series by Piers Anthony?
Its listed as Fantasy but its got just as much science in it than any science fiction novel I've read. What throws it into the Fantasy genre is the fact that at somepoint in the book worlds timeline magic was rediscovered and scientificaly verified, and at the time it was, long forgotten magical creatures returned to fore.
So now you have Car companies dealing advertisement wars with Magic Carpet companies. Laws making Dragon Hunting Illegal becuase of too effective Bazoka toting hunters. All sorts of enchantments and spells substituting normal parts of life (I personally enjoyed a rebel battle of Tanks and Jets fighting a group of summoned Flying chinese dragons).
Book Description
When Zane shot Death, he learned, too late, that he would have to assume his place, speeding over the world riding his pale horse, and ending the lives of others. Sooner than he would have thought possible, Zane found himself being drawn to Satan's plot. Already the Prince of Evil was forging a trap in which Zane must act to destroy Luna, the woman he loved...unless he could discover the only way out....
The first novel of the INCARNATIONS OF IMMORATLITY series.
An absolutely fascinating concept. . .
October 19, 2001
Reviewer: David Zampino from Waukesha, Wisconsin
. . .is portrayed in this book.
Piers Anthony, beloved author of the tremendously popular "Xanth" novels, does something entirely different in this series.
What if, just what if, magic was recognized and quantified as one of the forces of nature?
What if, Death, Time, Fate, War, Nature, etc. could be identified as particular people set aside for (temporary) immortality to fulfull the necessary tasks the world needs to function?
With these sorts of questions, this series "Incarnations of Immortality" begins. And this first volume "On a Pale Horse", dealing with the character of Death, is arguably the best in the series.
Below the surface of a brilliantly conceived fantasy novel, Anthony asks serious questions about good, evil, heaven, hell, and the role free-will plays in our lives. He does not, however, provide answers. The depiction of this fantasy universe is seemingly dualistic in nature. Will good win?
Believe it or not, this novel should be required reading in seminary -- because every minister, regardless of denomination, will be faced with trying to provide reasonable answers to difficult questions. Again, while this novel (and those that follow) do NOT provide the answers, they nevertheless frame the questions in unique manners. The reader will certainly gain a new perspective.
Highly recommended.
Summary ...
When the child he had fathered died of an incurable disease, and the woman he loved committed suicide in her grief, Norton no longer cared what happened to him. Thus, when Gawain the Ghost informed him that the position of the Incarnation of Time was about to be vacant, Norton volunteered.
Story Synopsis ...
Being Time wasn't so bad at first, though he now lived backward from present to past. The Hourglass enabled him to journey back to see the one he had loved again. The other seemingly all-powerful, living Incarnations—Death, Fate, Nature, and War—all welcomed him to their ranks. Even Satan visited him, bringing a gift—a trip to the world of Bat Dursten and the Berns. Another jaunt took him to the world of the Damsel in Distress, the Evil Sorceress, and the Enchanted Sword.
But Satan was the Father of Lies and illusions. Norton learned that, while he was being distracted, he had already become deeply enmeshed in a foul plot of Satan to destroy all that was good. Death's beloved Luna was now a Senator, and her deciding vote could thwart Satan's plans for Earth. Norton had been tricked by the Evil One into enabling Satan to spread His minions through the past to make her election impossible.
Using the Hourglass, Norton could go back through time to try to overcome this threat. But the schemes of Satan were never that simple. Behind the obvious menace lay deeper and deeper levels of intrigue. In the end, Norton was forced to confront the immense power of Satan indirectly. And though Satan banished him to Hell, he knew he must fight on.
Like On a Pale Horse, this second, complete-in-itself novel of the Incarnations of Immortality is a richly imagined and always fascinating story. Only Piers Anthony could have written this novel!
Story Excerpt ...
It all began with a ghost.
"I'm a ghost, " Gawain repeated. "Here, I'll demonstrate."
He extended his hand. Norton clasped it expecting a crushing grip—and encountered air. He touched Gawain's arm, and his hand passed through without resistance, disappearing into the man's body.
"You certainly are," he agreed ruefully. "You look so solid—"
"Do I?" Gawain asked, becoming translucent.
Norton shook his head. "I never met a real, live—uh—"
"Real, at any rate," Gawain laughed, firming up to solid semblance again. "Norton, I like you. I'd have enjoyed your company when I was alive. I think I have a favor to ask of you."
"I'll do any man a favor. But I don't think there's much—"
"I need an heir," the ghost said. "The dragon cut me off before I could take care of that myself. So I want you to take my wife and get me a son."
Book Description
When the man Niobe loved was shot, she learned that she had been the target, in a devious plot of the Devil's. Hoping for revenge, she discovered, too late, how intricate his scheming was, and that he had managed to trap her son and her granddaughter, Luna. Niobe's only chance to save them was to accept a challenge by the Prince of Deceit--a challenge to be decided in Hell and in a maze of Satan's devising!
A key book in this awsome series....
July 24, 2003
Reviewer: movie_maniacs3000 from Savannah, Ga United States
If you up on your Greek Mythology, then perhaps you have heard of the 3 fates; Clotho who spins the threads of life, Lachesis, who measures the threads of life and Atropos, who cuts the threads of life. Piers Anthony incorporates this with a vey clever twist in this "office" as one of the incarnatins of Immortality.
The Protagonist in this Book is Niobe. I consider her truly the most important charater of the whole series. She is the Mother
of the soon to be Mother nature (Orb in Bk 5), the grandmother of Luna (Dating the Incarnation of death and play the pivital role in bk 7). She is also related to Orlene, to be a key incarnation in book 7.
Satan and her go at it pretty hard in his Novel. Niobe has a pesonal grugde with Satan and Satan doesn't care for her....but her daughther in book 5 and 6..well that is a different review.
Niobe also gets to be the Incarnation of Fate twice. Once as the beautiful Clotho in her youth. (After having Luna). Then she steps down after a few decades still young and has another child(orb). As an incarnation. One doesn't age. When Niobe assumes the second aspect (Lachesis) she is in her forties. As Lachesis, her and Satan really rumble.
"Mym was a dutiful son, but his father the Rajah interfered in his love life once too often. Rather than wed without love, he took up the Red Sword, symbol of office of the Incarnation of War...When seeming mischance placed him in Hell, Mym organized a great rebellion among the Damned..."
Like "Hourglass", a weaker effort in this series. . .
November 12, 2001
Reviewer: David Zampino from Waukesha, Wisconsin
I don't know what it is, but in this series, it seems that a weak title follows a strong one. Just like "Bearing an Hourglass" didn't come up to the level of "On a Pale Horse", so "Wielding a Red Sword" does not come up to the level of "With a Tangled Skein".
The basic premise of this novel seems more concerned with finding a permenant love interest for the main character than it does with exploring the role/nature of the Incarnation of War. Also expanded upon are the concepts of the "lesser incarnations"; a plot device which is (probably) necessary to explain the "Four Horsemen" which traditionally accompany War, but introduces a weakness in the integrity of the series as a whole.
Two interesting conventions are either exapanded upon or introduced. The first is the "tying together" of the various characters, hinted at in the first couple of books, but emphasized strongly in this volume. Now we know some of what happened to Orb, introduced in the previous volume as the daughter of Niobe. It certainly appears that Anthony intends to unite all the Incarnations in one family (or love) realationship. The other is the idea of an Incarnation defeating Satan by threatening to bring down the entire world. In the previous three novels, the title character's showdown with Satan never approached this level.
I enjoyed this book -- and enjoy this series -- but this is one of the weaker titles.
<img src="http://www.piers-anthony.com/images/beinggreenmother-small.jpg"
Orb had a rare gift--the magic which manifested whenever she sang or played her harp. No one could resist her music. But she knew that greater magic lay in the Llano, the mystic music that controlled all things. The quest for the Llano occupied Orb's life. Until she met Natasha, handsome and charming, and an even finer musician. But her mother Niobe came as an Aspect of Fire, with the news that Orb had been chosen for the role of Incarnation of Nature--The Green Mother. But she also warned of a prophecy that Orb was to marry Evil. Could she be sure that Natasha was not really Satan, the Master of Illusion, laying a trap for her...?
[/b]A necessary book, but the least interesting of the series
July 26, 2003
Reviewer: movie_maniacs3000 from Savannah, Ga United States
[/b]
This book dragged a little during the middle part. The beginning was interesting and the last 3rd of the book was very well done.
The character that assume the office of the Incarnation of Nature is name Orb. She is the Daughter of Niobe from bk 3. A beautiful gifted singer that is destined to "maybe marry evil". Orb leaves home at the age of 18 to pursure a singing career and she soon begins a trek for a particular song called the "llano", which is a song so powerful that it can manipulate nature itself.
Orb meets a number people during her quest. The 2 most significant is Mym, her first true love that become the Incarnation of War in book 4, and a Mysterious singer named Natasha.
What Orb dosen't realized is that her quest is actually training to become the Incarnation of Nature.
Like all IOI books, Satan plays a strong role, epecially when a new person becomes an Incarnation. New Incarnations are so inexperienced that Satan likes to manipulate them to gain advantage in the War over good and evil. Satan has a particular interest in Orb.
I found Orb's "quest" a little to drawn out. The book did finish very strong setting up book 6 for a very interesting read. As a teaser, Natasha spells what backwards?????
In Pursuit of the Ultimate Good
After an overwhelming succession of tragedies, life has finally, mercifully ended for Orlene, once-mortal daughter of Gaea.
Joined in Afterlife by Jolie -- her protector and the sometime consort of Satan himself -- together they seek out a third: Vita, a very contemporary mortal with troubles, attractions, and an unsettling moral code uniquely her own.
An extraordinary triumvirate, they embark on a great quest to reawaken the Incarnation of Good in a world where evil reigns -- facing challenges that will test the very fiber of their beings with trials as numerous, as mysterious, and as devastating as the Incarnations themselves.
Tackling An Ultimate Question
May 5, 2001
Reviewer: da_dolphin_boy from Rochester Hills, MI USA
"And Eternity" is the last book of the "Incarnations of Immortality" series which takes place in a version of our reality where magic holds equal status with science, and each major aspect of reality - death, time, fate, war, nature, good, evil - is run by an ex-mortal who has, by choice or chance, inherited the job of running that aspect.
Many atheists, agnostics, skeptics, and disillusioned semi-believers have asked how an all-powerful, all-knowing, and caring God can allow the world to be as bad as it sometimes is. In "And Eternity", Piers Anthony tackles that question head-on. His answer is that, while God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and caring, He is also passive and self-absorbed. In the story, that is about to change, as the current occupant of the office of God has been voted out and a replacement is being sought. What are the qualifications? How flawed can someone be and still be a candidate? How will the rules and criteria change with the change in office-holder?
This is not dry, heavy-duty, philosophical reading, but takes a semi-humorous, semi-serious look at all these questions. It's a fast-paced, fun read, and makes an excellent ending to the series. By the way, as many of the characters in the series recur throughout, it works much better if you read the books in sequence. Seven books might sound like a lot of reading, but it's all fun, interesting, and coherent. You won't be wasting your time.
Its listed as Fantasy but its got just as much science in it than any science fiction novel I've read. What throws it into the Fantasy genre is the fact that at somepoint in the book worlds timeline magic was rediscovered and scientificaly verified, and at the time it was, long forgotten magical creatures returned to fore.
So now you have Car companies dealing advertisement wars with Magic Carpet companies. Laws making Dragon Hunting Illegal becuase of too effective Bazoka toting hunters. All sorts of enchantments and spells substituting normal parts of life (I personally enjoyed a rebel battle of Tanks and Jets fighting a group of summoned Flying chinese dragons).
Book Description
When Zane shot Death, he learned, too late, that he would have to assume his place, speeding over the world riding his pale horse, and ending the lives of others. Sooner than he would have thought possible, Zane found himself being drawn to Satan's plot. Already the Prince of Evil was forging a trap in which Zane must act to destroy Luna, the woman he loved...unless he could discover the only way out....
The first novel of the INCARNATIONS OF IMMORATLITY series.
An absolutely fascinating concept. . .
October 19, 2001
Reviewer: David Zampino from Waukesha, Wisconsin
. . .is portrayed in this book.
Piers Anthony, beloved author of the tremendously popular "Xanth" novels, does something entirely different in this series.
What if, just what if, magic was recognized and quantified as one of the forces of nature?
What if, Death, Time, Fate, War, Nature, etc. could be identified as particular people set aside for (temporary) immortality to fulfull the necessary tasks the world needs to function?
With these sorts of questions, this series "Incarnations of Immortality" begins. And this first volume "On a Pale Horse", dealing with the character of Death, is arguably the best in the series.
Below the surface of a brilliantly conceived fantasy novel, Anthony asks serious questions about good, evil, heaven, hell, and the role free-will plays in our lives. He does not, however, provide answers. The depiction of this fantasy universe is seemingly dualistic in nature. Will good win?
Believe it or not, this novel should be required reading in seminary -- because every minister, regardless of denomination, will be faced with trying to provide reasonable answers to difficult questions. Again, while this novel (and those that follow) do NOT provide the answers, they nevertheless frame the questions in unique manners. The reader will certainly gain a new perspective.
Highly recommended.
Summary ...
When the child he had fathered died of an incurable disease, and the woman he loved committed suicide in her grief, Norton no longer cared what happened to him. Thus, when Gawain the Ghost informed him that the position of the Incarnation of Time was about to be vacant, Norton volunteered.
Story Synopsis ...
Being Time wasn't so bad at first, though he now lived backward from present to past. The Hourglass enabled him to journey back to see the one he had loved again. The other seemingly all-powerful, living Incarnations—Death, Fate, Nature, and War—all welcomed him to their ranks. Even Satan visited him, bringing a gift—a trip to the world of Bat Dursten and the Berns. Another jaunt took him to the world of the Damsel in Distress, the Evil Sorceress, and the Enchanted Sword.
But Satan was the Father of Lies and illusions. Norton learned that, while he was being distracted, he had already become deeply enmeshed in a foul plot of Satan to destroy all that was good. Death's beloved Luna was now a Senator, and her deciding vote could thwart Satan's plans for Earth. Norton had been tricked by the Evil One into enabling Satan to spread His minions through the past to make her election impossible.
Using the Hourglass, Norton could go back through time to try to overcome this threat. But the schemes of Satan were never that simple. Behind the obvious menace lay deeper and deeper levels of intrigue. In the end, Norton was forced to confront the immense power of Satan indirectly. And though Satan banished him to Hell, he knew he must fight on.
Like On a Pale Horse, this second, complete-in-itself novel of the Incarnations of Immortality is a richly imagined and always fascinating story. Only Piers Anthony could have written this novel!
Story Excerpt ...
It all began with a ghost.
"I'm a ghost, " Gawain repeated. "Here, I'll demonstrate."
He extended his hand. Norton clasped it expecting a crushing grip—and encountered air. He touched Gawain's arm, and his hand passed through without resistance, disappearing into the man's body.
"You certainly are," he agreed ruefully. "You look so solid—"
"Do I?" Gawain asked, becoming translucent.
Norton shook his head. "I never met a real, live—uh—"
"Real, at any rate," Gawain laughed, firming up to solid semblance again. "Norton, I like you. I'd have enjoyed your company when I was alive. I think I have a favor to ask of you."
"I'll do any man a favor. But I don't think there's much—"
"I need an heir," the ghost said. "The dragon cut me off before I could take care of that myself. So I want you to take my wife and get me a son."
Book Description
When the man Niobe loved was shot, she learned that she had been the target, in a devious plot of the Devil's. Hoping for revenge, she discovered, too late, how intricate his scheming was, and that he had managed to trap her son and her granddaughter, Luna. Niobe's only chance to save them was to accept a challenge by the Prince of Deceit--a challenge to be decided in Hell and in a maze of Satan's devising!
A key book in this awsome series....
July 24, 2003
Reviewer: movie_maniacs3000 from Savannah, Ga United States
If you up on your Greek Mythology, then perhaps you have heard of the 3 fates; Clotho who spins the threads of life, Lachesis, who measures the threads of life and Atropos, who cuts the threads of life. Piers Anthony incorporates this with a vey clever twist in this "office" as one of the incarnatins of Immortality.
The Protagonist in this Book is Niobe. I consider her truly the most important charater of the whole series. She is the Mother
of the soon to be Mother nature (Orb in Bk 5), the grandmother of Luna (Dating the Incarnation of death and play the pivital role in bk 7). She is also related to Orlene, to be a key incarnation in book 7.
Satan and her go at it pretty hard in his Novel. Niobe has a pesonal grugde with Satan and Satan doesn't care for her....but her daughther in book 5 and 6..well that is a different review.
Niobe also gets to be the Incarnation of Fate twice. Once as the beautiful Clotho in her youth. (After having Luna). Then she steps down after a few decades still young and has another child(orb). As an incarnation. One doesn't age. When Niobe assumes the second aspect (Lachesis) she is in her forties. As Lachesis, her and Satan really rumble.
"Mym was a dutiful son, but his father the Rajah interfered in his love life once too often. Rather than wed without love, he took up the Red Sword, symbol of office of the Incarnation of War...When seeming mischance placed him in Hell, Mym organized a great rebellion among the Damned..."
Like "Hourglass", a weaker effort in this series. . .
November 12, 2001
Reviewer: David Zampino from Waukesha, Wisconsin
I don't know what it is, but in this series, it seems that a weak title follows a strong one. Just like "Bearing an Hourglass" didn't come up to the level of "On a Pale Horse", so "Wielding a Red Sword" does not come up to the level of "With a Tangled Skein".
The basic premise of this novel seems more concerned with finding a permenant love interest for the main character than it does with exploring the role/nature of the Incarnation of War. Also expanded upon are the concepts of the "lesser incarnations"; a plot device which is (probably) necessary to explain the "Four Horsemen" which traditionally accompany War, but introduces a weakness in the integrity of the series as a whole.
Two interesting conventions are either exapanded upon or introduced. The first is the "tying together" of the various characters, hinted at in the first couple of books, but emphasized strongly in this volume. Now we know some of what happened to Orb, introduced in the previous volume as the daughter of Niobe. It certainly appears that Anthony intends to unite all the Incarnations in one family (or love) realationship. The other is the idea of an Incarnation defeating Satan by threatening to bring down the entire world. In the previous three novels, the title character's showdown with Satan never approached this level.
I enjoyed this book -- and enjoy this series -- but this is one of the weaker titles.
<img src="http://www.piers-anthony.com/images/beinggreenmother-small.jpg"
Orb had a rare gift--the magic which manifested whenever she sang or played her harp. No one could resist her music. But she knew that greater magic lay in the Llano, the mystic music that controlled all things. The quest for the Llano occupied Orb's life. Until she met Natasha, handsome and charming, and an even finer musician. But her mother Niobe came as an Aspect of Fire, with the news that Orb had been chosen for the role of Incarnation of Nature--The Green Mother. But she also warned of a prophecy that Orb was to marry Evil. Could she be sure that Natasha was not really Satan, the Master of Illusion, laying a trap for her...?
[/b]A necessary book, but the least interesting of the series
July 26, 2003
Reviewer: movie_maniacs3000 from Savannah, Ga United States
[/b]
This book dragged a little during the middle part. The beginning was interesting and the last 3rd of the book was very well done.
The character that assume the office of the Incarnation of Nature is name Orb. She is the Daughter of Niobe from bk 3. A beautiful gifted singer that is destined to "maybe marry evil". Orb leaves home at the age of 18 to pursure a singing career and she soon begins a trek for a particular song called the "llano", which is a song so powerful that it can manipulate nature itself.
Orb meets a number people during her quest. The 2 most significant is Mym, her first true love that become the Incarnation of War in book 4, and a Mysterious singer named Natasha.
What Orb dosen't realized is that her quest is actually training to become the Incarnation of Nature.
Like all IOI books, Satan plays a strong role, epecially when a new person becomes an Incarnation. New Incarnations are so inexperienced that Satan likes to manipulate them to gain advantage in the War over good and evil. Satan has a particular interest in Orb.
I found Orb's "quest" a little to drawn out. The book did finish very strong setting up book 6 for a very interesting read. As a teaser, Natasha spells what backwards?????
In Pursuit of the Ultimate Good
After an overwhelming succession of tragedies, life has finally, mercifully ended for Orlene, once-mortal daughter of Gaea.
Joined in Afterlife by Jolie -- her protector and the sometime consort of Satan himself -- together they seek out a third: Vita, a very contemporary mortal with troubles, attractions, and an unsettling moral code uniquely her own.
An extraordinary triumvirate, they embark on a great quest to reawaken the Incarnation of Good in a world where evil reigns -- facing challenges that will test the very fiber of their beings with trials as numerous, as mysterious, and as devastating as the Incarnations themselves.
Tackling An Ultimate Question
May 5, 2001
Reviewer: da_dolphin_boy from Rochester Hills, MI USA
"And Eternity" is the last book of the "Incarnations of Immortality" series which takes place in a version of our reality where magic holds equal status with science, and each major aspect of reality - death, time, fate, war, nature, good, evil - is run by an ex-mortal who has, by choice or chance, inherited the job of running that aspect.
Many atheists, agnostics, skeptics, and disillusioned semi-believers have asked how an all-powerful, all-knowing, and caring God can allow the world to be as bad as it sometimes is. In "And Eternity", Piers Anthony tackles that question head-on. His answer is that, while God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and caring, He is also passive and self-absorbed. In the story, that is about to change, as the current occupant of the office of God has been voted out and a replacement is being sought. What are the qualifications? How flawed can someone be and still be a candidate? How will the rules and criteria change with the change in office-holder?
This is not dry, heavy-duty, philosophical reading, but takes a semi-humorous, semi-serious look at all these questions. It's a fast-paced, fun read, and makes an excellent ending to the series. By the way, as many of the characters in the series recur throughout, it works much better if you read the books in sequence. Seven books might sound like a lot of reading, but it's all fun, interesting, and coherent. You won't be wasting your time.