Status
Available
Series
Genres
Collections
Publication
New York : Ballantine Books, 1983.
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Thriller. Humor (Fiction.) HTML:A quest for the source of power threatened to doom the land of Xanth As a ruler of a country steeped in enchantment, King Trent was naturally curious about the source of its magic. It made sense to order Bink, the only one of his subjects immune to supernatural harm, to undertake a quest to discover the wellspring of Xanth�??s uniqueness. From the beginning, Bink and his companions, Chester the centaur and Crombie, the soldier transformed into a griffin, were harried by an unseen enemy determined to thwart them. Even the power of Good Magician Humfrey, together with Bink�??s protective talent, scarcely saved their lives. Then when Humfrey and Crombie turned against him, all seemed lost. But Bink's ingenuity and luck prevailed, and he reached his goal. The King�??s orders had been carried out . . . But the King had not expected Bink�??s next act�??to destroy utterly the m… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member sarradee
Second in the Xanth series. This particular series is well known for its use of very bad puns, which only get worse as the series progresses. The author has some very strong views, and uses his books as vehicles to express those views. He is also somewhat of a mysogynist. These books have not stood
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the test of time, and I find on re-reading that I've lost much of the interest that I had when I read them in the early 1980's. Show Less
LibraryThing member jlparent
I like the world of Xanth but I could do without the excessive thought sequences of the characters. It's supposed to be a light, humorous read - I don't need an inner diatribe about philosophy every other page. When the story actually is rolling, it's entertaining.
LibraryThing member dagwood
Great read for 10+. I read it at 14 and loved it. Still remember story-line 28 years later.
LibraryThing member endersreads
I can remember very little about this... I believe Chester the Centaur--the Centaur Anthony borrows from mythology and who is Christ in the Mazzaroth--dies in this book. I remember I enjoyed Castle Roogna and it's various pleasantries. It's very irritating not to be able to remember much about the
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book. I think I read it back when I thought reefer wasn't something the Government wanted you to do... Show Less
LibraryThing member PitcherBooks
Enjoy this book but don't go past book 3 of the series if you want to keep any respect for the author. The series dies - a very slow, much prolonged and agonizing death - book by boring book, which is sad considering the great promise of the lst book.
LibraryThing member bell7
Book 2 of the Xanth series also follows Bink's quest -- this time to find the source of magic in Xanth. His old friend Crombie the soldier, Chester the Centaur, and (under duress) the Good Magician Humfrey come with him on a quest, but someone/something unknown with a similar magic to Bink's own
Though a reread, I didn't remember much of what happened. Bad puns continue (though it's not yet in the full swing of later volumes in the series), and several characters that have their own quests show up for the first time (Grundy the Golem is one I remember in particular). A satisfying read.
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seems to be trying to stop him in his tracks.Though a reread, I didn't remember much of what happened. Bad puns continue (though it's not yet in the full swing of later volumes in the series), and several characters that have their own quests show up for the first time (Grundy the Golem is one I remember in particular). A satisfying read.
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LibraryThing member Gkarlives
This was the second book I read in the Xanth universe and I found the world still fresh and fun to explore. I liked the mixture of drama, humorus puns, and beautiful/exciting imagery. the plot was interesting and of course the explanation of the source of magic was fun.
LibraryThing member Karlstar
Not quite as good as A Spell for Chameleon or Castle Roogna, but still one of my favorite Xanth books. If you like short, light-hearted and punny fantasy, you'll like the Xanth series.
LibraryThing member johnylitnin
Ordered by King Trent to determine the source of Xanth's magic, Bink and his companions were harried by an unseen enemy determined to thwart them. When even their protector turned against them, Bink still managed to reach his goal and carry out the King's orders...but the king did not expect Bink's
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next act--to destroy utterly the magic of Xanth! Show Less
LibraryThing member Homechicken
The Source of Magic was a great follow-up book to the first Xanth novel, A Spell for Chameleon. In this book, Bink is sent on a quest to find the Source of All Magic in Xanth. He has several adventures with his companions on the way, and we meet many new creatures. Bink finds that his quest may
The book was a bit slow at the beginning I thought, but from a little past the middle of the book I was spellbound and could hardly put it down. I was even late to work because I had to get to a stopping point and I just couldn't find one!
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lead to the destruction of all magic in Xanth and has to make a decision that will affect the entire land.The book was a bit slow at the beginning I thought, but from a little past the middle of the book I was spellbound and could hardly put it down. I was even late to work because I had to get to a stopping point and I just couldn't find one!
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LibraryThing member Scoshie
The 2nd book of the series. Just as hysterical as the 1st. The fact that he pretty much keeps it going for over 30 books should tell yo what a wonderfule author Piers Anthony is!!
This novel begins one year after the events of A Spell for Chameleon, and describes the adventures of Bink after he has
This novel begins one year after the events of A Spell for Chameleon, and describes the adventures of Bink after he has
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settled down with his pregnant wife, Chameleon. King Trent had appointed Bink the Official Researcher of Xanth at the end of the previous book, and given him the task to discover Xanth's source of magic. After many hazards, Bink and his companions succeed but Bink makes a moral choice that ends up destroying the magic of Xanth. Show Less
LibraryThing member hermit
Another magical pun filled book. Bink is back, with even more adventure. Bink's quest: To find the source of magic. This is not as good as the first book, but you still have dragons and Murphy which helps those who love fantasy. The book ends with Dor starting a quest so it sort of pushes you to
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read the next book. Show Less
LibraryThing member DinadansFriend
A Xanth Book, read in the first flush of enthusiasm.
LibraryThing member utbw42
Continuing, entertaining fantasy in the land of Xanth. Very much enjoying this series so far.
LibraryThing member nmhale
The second in the Xanth series, this story remains focused on Bink, the main character from the previous book. After his last adventure, Bink has found his place in the world. He is living at Castle Roogna with his pregnant wife Chameleon, and holds a respected position under powerful King Trent.
Chester the Centaur and Crombie the soldier are ordered to accompany Bink, which makes for an awkward party. The centaur and soldier both like Bink, but can't stand each other, and are constantly squabbling. The trio immediately head for the Good Magician Humphrey's castle as the logical starting place for any quest that involves knowledge. To their surprise, Humfrey decides to join them, and they also meet Grundy the golem, who becomes the final member of their group. Grundy can translate any language, which is a helpful talent, since King Trent transformed Crombie into a griffin for this quest.
Now, in typical Xanth style, a journey filled with magical challenges and life-threatening obstacles begins. As they head south to uncharted territories, Bink and company must survive hunting dragons and nickelpedes, a sweet siren who accidentally lures all men to her Gorgon sister and their deaths, and a forest of madness where the celestial constellations violently assault them. Situations are often far different than what first appears on the surface - a terrifying ogre is a vegetarian and quite kind beneath his rude manners, his love interest is actually an actress pretending to be a troll, and so on. After they find the village that distributes magical dust to the winds of Xanth (a village filled with lonely and eager women, because their men have all been lured away), they are directed to the chasm from whence the dust proceeds, and they make their way underground. Here, things really go bad. Bink learns that the agent directing the attacks against him and his efforts is the Brain Coral, an ancient demon that lives in a lake in this underground region. Furthermore, Bink is informed that the reason the Brain Coral is after him is because if Bink discovers the source of magic, he could destroy all of Xanth. Bink is determined to see his mission to the end, even after Crombie, Humfrey, and Grundy are destroyed.
He and Chester continue on, meeting the beautiful nymph Jewel, with whom Bink falls instantly in love after drinking from a love spring. He is a noble enough person to not force himself on her, so now he is battling both the Brain Coral and his attraction to Jewel. Soon enough he is also fighting his friends, who were not destroyed after all, but coopted by the Brain Coral. He manages to defeat Humfrey, Grundy, and Crombie, and finally discovers the source of magic: an immensely powerful demon named X(A/N)th. The magic that saturates Xanth emanates from this creature, who has imprisoned himself on the planet as the result of a bet he lost with other immensely powerful beings like him. Bink realizes that if he frees the creature then it will leave, and the magic will be gone from Xanth. Yet Bink, dedicated to independence, frees the demon. And then he has to go back and try to renegotiate for it to stay and not destroy him or Xanth.
Of course Bink does manage to overcome this last, and most difficult, challenge, because Xanth books have happy endings. That sentence may sound cynical, but I actually like that I know what to expect when I read Anthony's farcical fantasy series. The books will involve a quest and magic, a group of unlikely characters that pull from a wide array of fantasy characters, there will be surprises and unveilings, the main characters will face death at least once, I will read puns and sexual innuendos, and the good guys will triumph in the end. I read Xanth books when I want some light fantasy escapism. However, as at the end of reading the first book, I am disturbed by his treatment of women. They continue to alternate between dumb and beautiful or smart and awful. This book is an improvement; Jewel is more intelligent than she first appears, and the deadly but good and beautiful gorgon looks promising. Also, Bink is freed of his enchanted love at the end, and realizes that he is happy to return to his wife, grouchy or not. The portrayal of women is still far from fair, but I do enjoy the other fluff in the story. If my memory is correct, the portrayal of women becomes less obnoxious later in the series. The books also become even more ridiculous and pun-filled, with less serious plots. I actually want to get to that place of nonsense and triviality, so I will keep reading and waiting for the real fun to begin.
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However, Bink is not entirely happy. His wife, moody at the best of times thanks to her talent, is almost unbearable now that she is both pregnant and in her ugly-but-intelligent phase. And while Bink is the official researcher of Xanth, he hasn't done much research. His fortunes start to change in the very first chapter, however. While he is on his way to the masquerade ball Queen Iris is throwing, he is attacked by an enchanted sword. At first, he thinks this is part of Iris's twisted sense of humor, but when he talks to King Trent he realizes that it seems more like he is the target of a mysterious attack. Trent sends Bink on an official mission, both to fulfill his role as researcher and to give Bink a chance to locate the reason for these sudden attempts on his life. Trent requires Bink to find the source of magic for Xanth. Although Bink knows that his wife will not be pleased, he eagerly accepts the mission, and no small part of that is to get away from his nagging Chameleon.Chester the Centaur and Crombie the soldier are ordered to accompany Bink, which makes for an awkward party. The centaur and soldier both like Bink, but can't stand each other, and are constantly squabbling. The trio immediately head for the Good Magician Humphrey's castle as the logical starting place for any quest that involves knowledge. To their surprise, Humfrey decides to join them, and they also meet Grundy the golem, who becomes the final member of their group. Grundy can translate any language, which is a helpful talent, since King Trent transformed Crombie into a griffin for this quest.
Now, in typical Xanth style, a journey filled with magical challenges and life-threatening obstacles begins. As they head south to uncharted territories, Bink and company must survive hunting dragons and nickelpedes, a sweet siren who accidentally lures all men to her Gorgon sister and their deaths, and a forest of madness where the celestial constellations violently assault them. Situations are often far different than what first appears on the surface - a terrifying ogre is a vegetarian and quite kind beneath his rude manners, his love interest is actually an actress pretending to be a troll, and so on. After they find the village that distributes magical dust to the winds of Xanth (a village filled with lonely and eager women, because their men have all been lured away), they are directed to the chasm from whence the dust proceeds, and they make their way underground. Here, things really go bad. Bink learns that the agent directing the attacks against him and his efforts is the Brain Coral, an ancient demon that lives in a lake in this underground region. Furthermore, Bink is informed that the reason the Brain Coral is after him is because if Bink discovers the source of magic, he could destroy all of Xanth. Bink is determined to see his mission to the end, even after Crombie, Humfrey, and Grundy are destroyed.
He and Chester continue on, meeting the beautiful nymph Jewel, with whom Bink falls instantly in love after drinking from a love spring. He is a noble enough person to not force himself on her, so now he is battling both the Brain Coral and his attraction to Jewel. Soon enough he is also fighting his friends, who were not destroyed after all, but coopted by the Brain Coral. He manages to defeat Humfrey, Grundy, and Crombie, and finally discovers the source of magic: an immensely powerful demon named X(A/N)th. The magic that saturates Xanth emanates from this creature, who has imprisoned himself on the planet as the result of a bet he lost with other immensely powerful beings like him. Bink realizes that if he frees the creature then it will leave, and the magic will be gone from Xanth. Yet Bink, dedicated to independence, frees the demon. And then he has to go back and try to renegotiate for it to stay and not destroy him or Xanth.
Of course Bink does manage to overcome this last, and most difficult, challenge, because Xanth books have happy endings. That sentence may sound cynical, but I actually like that I know what to expect when I read Anthony's farcical fantasy series. The books will involve a quest and magic, a group of unlikely characters that pull from a wide array of fantasy characters, there will be surprises and unveilings, the main characters will face death at least once, I will read puns and sexual innuendos, and the good guys will triumph in the end. I read Xanth books when I want some light fantasy escapism. However, as at the end of reading the first book, I am disturbed by his treatment of women. They continue to alternate between dumb and beautiful or smart and awful. This book is an improvement; Jewel is more intelligent than she first appears, and the deadly but good and beautiful gorgon looks promising. Also, Bink is freed of his enchanted love at the end, and realizes that he is happy to return to his wife, grouchy or not. The portrayal of women is still far from fair, but I do enjoy the other fluff in the story. If my memory is correct, the portrayal of women becomes less obnoxious later in the series. The books also become even more ridiculous and pun-filled, with less serious plots. I actually want to get to that place of nonsense and triviality, so I will keep reading and waiting for the real fun to begin.
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LibraryThing member EmScape
Bink's adventures begin again with his quest to find out where Xanth's magic originates from, but really, it's an excuse to get away from his pregnant wife, which is so problematic, I had a very difficult time enjoying the rest of the book. I just can't with Piers Anthony anymore.
LibraryThing member JBarringer
The sexism and blatant misogynist attitude I recall from other books I read in this series as a kid comes out more clearly in this book than in the first one. The story is good, and the magical world is creative and unique, but Anthony's treatment of female characters leaves much to be desired.
LibraryThing member gilroy
Even after my listed issues with the first of the Xanth series, I chose to return to the world of Xanth. This novel picks up about 1 year after the first book ends. Still has a strong chauvinistic feel to it. Mostly because the character of Chameleon is written from a rather chauvinistic mindset.
Some of this I mildly agree with. Talents must be used or they atrophy. Some of it is just stupid. Men go on an adventure to get away from difficult mates? They've not learned to communicate? REALLY? *sigh*
For the first book, the puns were few and far between. This book started to show more of the puns that the rest of the series is known for, but that isn't helping the over the top ridiculousness of the story.
The last third of the book felt like one giant cliff dive. Like the author really didn't know where he was going then just took a gamble. Even the last chapter could be seen as a giant deus ex machina. The humor that I remember from the later books is seriously lacking in this book. I'm intending to read more of these early novels, if only to prove how much I've grown away from my old self. Then the books will depart the bookshelf.
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But then you don't see her after the first few chapters.Some of this I mildly agree with. Talents must be used or they atrophy. Some of it is just stupid. Men go on an adventure to get away from difficult mates? They've not learned to communicate? REALLY? *sigh*
For the first book, the puns were few and far between. This book started to show more of the puns that the rest of the series is known for, but that isn't helping the over the top ridiculousness of the story.
The last third of the book felt like one giant cliff dive. Like the author really didn't know where he was going then just took a gamble. Even the last chapter could be seen as a giant deus ex machina. The humor that I remember from the later books is seriously lacking in this book. I'm intending to read more of these early novels, if only to prove how much I've grown away from my old self. Then the books will depart the bookshelf.
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LibraryThing member Alicia_Rose
The Source of Magic by Piers Anthony is a Xanth series book that does not disappoint. Enjoyed this fun story very much. Piers Anthony is an excellent wordsmith, and I love his puns. This is definitely a book to place on your "must read" list. Highly recommend! The Xanth series is fantastical and
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wonderful! Show Less
LibraryThing member jennybeast
A long time ago when I was tweenish, I loved this series. I know it won't survive a re-read, so I'm noting it and letting it go.
Subjects
Language
Original publication date
1979
Physical description
326 p.; 18 cm
ISBN
0345313216 / 9780345313218
Local notes
Sequel to A spell for Chameleon. | "A Del Rey book."
Similar in this library
Pages
326