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Isis Orb (The Xanth Novels Book 40) Kindle Edition

by Piers Anthony (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.6 399 ratings

Book 35 of 42: Xanth

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A quest to fulfill a lifelong wish leads to magic, adventure—and puns—as the New York Times–bestselling author revisits the enchanted land of Xanth.

In Xanth, everyone has a talent. But that doesn’t mean everyone loves his talent, and no one understands that better than Hapless. Endowed with the ability to conjure any instrument he wants, Hapless could be an extraordinary musician if only he could play a tune that didn’t fall ear-piercingly flat. His one desire is to find an instrument he can play—and maybe a girlfriend or three. But like music, women have never been his forte.

When the Good Magician hears about Hapless’s desperate desire, he sends the young man on a quest to find the elusive Isis Orb, a magical talisman that could fulfill his wish. But the mysterious Egyptian goddess for whom the orb is named guards the enchanted object and won’t let anyone see it—let alone use it.

Setting out to achieve the impossible, Hapless meets an eclectic mix of creatures that join him on his journey. Like the musically challenged Hapless, they all have wishes they hope the Isis Orb will grant. But the only way they can control the orb is to capture the five totems from the regions of Xanth: Fire, Earth, Air, Water, and the Void. Together, this motley crew will heroically fight dragons, a six-headed griffin, and even a beautiful, seductive water gorgon who tries to rain on Hapless’s parade.

With its thrilling exploits and endless humor, the newest addition to Piers Anthony’s beloved Xanth series is sure to keep readers enthralled.

Isis Orb is the 40th book in the Xanth series, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Piers Anthony has written dozens of bestselling science fiction and fantasy novels. Perhaps best known for his long-running Magic of Xanth series, many of which are New York Times bestsellers, he has also had great success with the Incarnations of Immortality series and the Cluster series, as well as Bio of a Space Tyrant and others. Much more information about Piers Anthony can be found at www.HiPiers.com.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01D625BLQ
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Open Road Media Sci-Fi & Fantasy (October 18, 2016)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 18, 2016
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 5851 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 302 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #633,353 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #475 in Add Audiobook for $3.99 or Less
- #1,753 in Humorous Fantasy (Kindle Store)
- #4,974 in Historical Fantasy (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.6 399 ratings

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Piers Anthony

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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.

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4.6 out of 5

399 global ratings

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robin c byrnes

Great Book

Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2024

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This book was really good. I always enjoy books in Pier Anthony's Xanth series.

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Victor

Back to Xanth, and it's still wonderful.

Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2018

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Even though it's been years since I read the first couple of dozen Xanth Novels, From "A spell for Chameleon" to "Centaur Aisle" and beyond, this current one is no less enchanting. While the puns, which comprise the world of Xanth, are amusing, and sometimes outright hilarious, it's not the reason for the book being worth reading. It is a story of people, and how they live their lives. One cares about the characters, and the world in which they live, in spite of its being fantastic and unbelievable as a place. You find yourself transported to Xanth, and actually envisioning the surroundings and creatures there. It becomes 'real', in a way that will surprise you. This, like almost every Xanth novel in the series, is more than worth the read. You'll want others to read it so you can discuss it with them. It's that good.

2 people found this helpful

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Keith Beasley-Topliffe

On Talent, Intellect, and Character

Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2022

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Hapless, a man from Xanth feels he has none of these qualities. His talent is conjuring musical instruments he can't play. He thinks he's not smart. He struggles to do what is right, even if that is often not clear. Yet the Magician Humphrey has chosen him to lead a complex and crucial quest. He is filled with self doubt. Yet the members of his quest trust him and several of the females love him. Must be doing something right.

Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2021

Verified Purchase

Loved the book-don’t love all the references to sex. Mr. Piers made his money from kids begging for his early books-now his main focus is revolving around children and sex, panties and showing off private parts as a game. Take all that out, and it’s a great story. Put it in, and it’s almost child pornography. I’m ashamed for the author who evidently feels that he needs to cater to rapists and kidnappers. I’ve been reading him since 1983...and now I’m done. He lost my money and my respect. He’s an 84 year old man who has changed a magic wonderland into a cesspool of sex. My children have not and will not read his books. As for me, well, I needed firewood.

3 people found this helpful

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Carrie

Amazing

Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2022

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This series has me captivated. Never a dull moment. Always a good read when you pick up an Anthony book :)

Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2016

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The Xanth series has always been my yearly thrill to collect! I started collecting it with book #4 Centaur Island, back in 1984. I went back to the book store to get the first three and have collected them all ever since. There was only one I did not care for and that was because it was more of a catch up book for newbies and was full of flashback sort of history retelling, if that makes sense. In the end, you got a full story, but it was shorter in lenth overall. It has evolved over the years, so even though the pattern has always been the same, It is not the same story over and over. I wish they would make the earlier books into movies. I think they would give you a Narnia type feeling to them.

4 people found this helpful

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James Boer

Not bad, but the audio reading...

Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2019

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It's a fine story, what we've come to expect from the lighthearted nonsense of the Xanth series. But for those considering the audio book, a fair warning. The reader has a fine natural voice, but absolutely butchers many of the female voices with some absolutely horrendous creative choices, perhaps in a misguided effort to make them sound more distinctive, rather than pleasant to listen to.

One of the party's beauties has a "nasal nerd" voice for some inexplicable reason. The editors applied some horrendous audio effect to one of the voices later in the book, which was incredibly distracting. And oh Lord, the nails-on-chalkboard voice of a character during a brief cameo had me thankful it was indeed so brief. I wish I was exaggerating.

It's a challenge for some male readers to do a passable female voice, and unfortunately, this performance was way off the mark.

5 people found this helpful

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Carol

Fun Read

Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2020

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Love the series. All the books are easy to read and filled with puns.

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Roger

good read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 15, 2017

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Took a long time as I reread all of the preceding volumes in the series, all 39 of them. That gave me back the perspecive I was missing due to forgetfullnes. In short the volumme is well up to the very high standard I expect of Piers Anthony, a very good read and well worth the time it took to get to a sensible position.

2 people found this helpful

Shannon

Good read

Reviewed in Germany on December 22, 2016

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It is nice to be able to order english books while i am in germay, Good read will order more

C andrews

Thank you!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 25, 2017

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I was inbetween books from another author and heard something about bink as some reference to jarjar binks thought let me read it and glad that i did! Very imaginative and makes you think of all the strange quotes and odd sayings and makes them real and humorous. You see the world differently thank you Mr Piers Anthony!

2 people found this helpful

J & S Tresidder

Piers Delivers!

Reviewed in Canada on November 18, 2016

Verified Purchase

Finally #40... really like this whole Xanth trilogy. This book still delivers lots of pun and fun word play. If you like fantasy novels suggest you buy these. I own all 40 and I will be starting over with #1 A Spell For Chameleon which I also know is still sold on Amazon. Great stories!
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Isis Orb (The Xanth Novels Book 40) Kindle Edition

Editorial Reviews

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Piers Anthony

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