Robot Adept (Apprentice Adept)

Mach, a self-aware humanoid robot of Proton and Bane, son of the Blue Adept of Phaze, have managed to cross the barrier between the scientific world of Proton and the magical world of Phaze. They are doing this by inhabiting each other’s bodies. They are the only two able to do so, and because of

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this two different factions vie to control them and use their power. They have also fallen in love with females, Fleta the Unicorn of Phaze (with Mach) and Agape, the amoeba from the planet Moeba (with Bane) and are both also in danger of being used to force the two to cooperate.
Much of this book concerns the same events told from the perspectives of all four of the players. The constant back-and-forth, in addition to the confusion of trying to remember which consciousness inhabits which body in which world, makes for a somewhat confusing, but also very repetitive read. It seemed to me, also, there were several plot holes; ways in which the central conflict could have been resolved without further ado. However, ado is what makes a book, and so it goes on. I felt that there was altogether much more sexual activity than was necessary, as well. (Vague Spoiler Alert!) I was also quite disappointed with the ending, and am apprehensive about what will ensue in the next book. I’m sure everything will turn out to be fine, but the ending is not terribly optimistic.

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Robot Adept lacks what little charm Out of Phaze has, but it's not nearly as offensive as Unicorn Point. It continues to bank on the stranger-in-paradise concept by this time having the love interests switch - which gives us rather more access to their characters, and they do develop into

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relatively sympathetic people. Moreso than their partners, certainly. There's only one attempted rape, and it's foiled in a rather satisfying way (raping an amoeba Does Not Work when she can easily reform her abdomen into a fully functional vise.) The book ends with yet another plot-determining set of contests - this mechanism is a little creaky at this point, but it's entertaining enough to read. (Although... another table tennis match? They could use all the games in the universe, but you had to use this one again? Weren't up for any reseach, were you, buddy?)

Definitely the point at which the series begins to decline, but not all that objectionable in itself.

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I'm desperately trying to make it through this series, but Piers Anthony is not making it easy. For the most part this is rehashing some of the same stuff from previous books just with the sons of the main characters from the first few books. Even more irritating are the dual world discrepancies

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similar to the third novel. Suddenly people on both worlds knows everybody's business (rushed writing to push through to more action).

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