Up in a Heaval [Anglais] [Relié]

Profusely punning his path through his 26th Xanth fantasy, the prolific Anthony (The Dastard, etc.) focuses on a contest between Demon Jupiter and Demon Fornax, reviving to great effect the dueling demons theme from last year's Swell Foop. Believing a piece of Mundane Snail Mail has provoked Demon Jupiter to hurl his red spot at the Demon Earth (which could result in the obliteration of Xanth), Umlaut, the story's hero, sets out with Sesame Snake and Sammy Cat to consult the Good Magician. To avert tragedy, they must deliver the letters that remain from the Snail Mail left at the Zombie Castle. As they crisscross Xanth, they encounter many of the characters featured in Anthony's previous works. To add depth to the plot, the Demoness Metria appears regularly to tempt Umlaut from his path using raging hormones and the "Adult Conspiracy" theme that salts all the Xanth novels with schoolboy humor and sophomoric jokes. Anthony's latest offering is certain to please fans. New readers, however, may lack the patience to plow through so many puns and so much childish humor.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

When the Demon Jupiter decides to hurl his giant Red Spot toward the land of Xanth, a young man called Umlaut, whose talent as an emulator allows him to change his appearance at will, and his newfound companion, Sesame the Sea Serpent, must prevent that event and save the world. The 26th installment of Anthony's popular "Xanth" series contains a wealth of puns and wordplay, as well as a host of ingenuous and likable protagonists. Continuing the tale begun in Swell Foop, the author brings a strong metaphysical element to his world, as demons vie with one another, using the worlds of Xanth and Mundania as their playgrounds. Good reading for fans of the series and a required purchase for most libraries.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

In the latest volume of Xanthropology, the menace to Xanth is the Red Spot hurled by the Demon Jupiter, who was infuriated by a Snail Mail letter. To save Xanth, a lad named Umlaut, who has companions named Sesame Serpent and Sammy Cat, must deliver the rest of the letters. As he does he meets assorted menaces (mostly the demoness Metria in various luscious disguises), takes the reader on a tour of Xanth, and finds his true love in the 14-year-old Surprise Golem. Definitely minor Xanthistory, this will appeal more to seasoned than to newly fledged Xanthrophiles. It sports the usual jumbled narrative, persistent panty power, adult conspiring, and puns beyond number. It also, of course, tells the story of a young man and a young woman (to a lesser extent) who pass through mundane and magical circumstances to find identity, maturity, and love. Roland Green
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

In his last Xanth fantasy, Swell Foop, master storyteller Piers Anthony introduced an intriguing and exciting new element: a cosmic competition between omnipotent Demons which creates havoc for the inhabitants of Xanth and Earth. This suspenseful new novel continues the saga.An innocent piece of Mundane Snail Mail has provoked the dreaded Demon Jupiter to hurl his Red Spot at the magical land of Xanth. As the dire Dot draws closer, the unwelcome ordeal of saving the enchanted realm falls to Umlaut, an unlikely lad with with an unknown past and an uncertain future. With a handful of colorful companions at his side, Umlaut sets out on an odyssey to the farthest reaches of Xanth to defend the enchanted realm from disaster. On the way he will uncover the secret of his own existence and learn to understand the urgings of his heart.

Piers Anthony is one of the world's most popular fantasy authors, and a New York Times bestseller twenty-one times over. His Xanth novels have been read and loved by millions of readers around the world, and he daily receives hundreds of letters from his devoted fans.

In addition to the Xanth series, Anthony is the author of many other best-selling works. Piers Anthony lives in Inverness, Florida.