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Piers Anthony
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Isis Orb (The Xanth Novels Book 40) Kindle Edition

by Piers Anthony (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 410 ratings
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.
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  1. Book 40 of 47
    Xanth
  2. Print length
    298 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Open Road Media Sci-Fi & Fantasy
  5. Publication date
    October 18, 2016
  6. File size
    7.1 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Shop this series

 See full series
There are 47 books in this series.
3 unreleased or unavailable books are excluded.

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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 ‏ : ‎ 7.1 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 298 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 410 ratings

About the author

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Piers Anthony

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.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
410 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy the Xanth series and find the books entertaining. They appreciate the mix of humor, adventure, and romance in the books. Readers also mention that the puns are enjoyable.

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ReadabilityStory qualityHumor
35 customers mention "Readability"35 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They find it a fun read with humor, adventure, and romance. Readers appreciate the author's writing style and find the series enjoyable.

"...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...." Read more

"Loved the book-don’t love all the references to sex...." Read more

"...Plus, being a musician myself, it was lovely to read about a quest that relied on music. Melodious!" Read more

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

20 customers mention "Story quality"20 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the Xanth stories. They find them entertaining, with goofy puns and a fair number of laughs. The stories are described as interesting, funny, and a fun addition to the world of Xanth. Readers mention that the book is an engaging story about people and their lives.

"...Chameleon" to "Centaur Aisle" and beyond, this current one is no less enchanting...." Read more

"...Take all that out, and it’s a great story. Put it in, and it’s almost child pornography...." Read more

"It's a fine story, what we've come to expect from the lighthearted nonsense of the Xanth series...." Read more

"...wants to hook up, must go on a quest to have sex." The story itself was good, although drawn out in a crazy, non-linear kind of route that..." Read more

6 customers mention "Humor"6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the humor and puns in the book.

"...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..." Read more

"...stories, They are full of goofy puns, a fair number of chuckles and laughs. I prefer stories with if not always happy ending, not sad endings." Read more

"...I am well past that now. I enjoyed all of the puns. It was not as sexually suggestive as this one is...." Read more

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

Top reviews from the United States

  • Jessica
    5.0 out of 5 stars 40 and still going strong!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    It's been a while since I last visited Xanth, and this was the perfect book to restart my joirney! Not only did it have the usual quest that we all look forward to, but it was done in an unusual and unique way! Plus, being a musician myself, it was lovely to read about a quest that relied on music. Melodious!
    Helpful
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  • Victor
    5.0 out of 5 stars Back to Xanth, and it's still wonderful.
    Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    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.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • James Boer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Not bad, but the audio reading...
    Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    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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  • sam shamy
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Xanthian Sex Book.
    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.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • robin c byrnes
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
    Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This book was really good. I always enjoy books in Pier Anthony's Xanth series.
    Helpful
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  • Richard
    5.0 out of 5 stars Big Fan
    Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    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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  • Brian Kenyon
    3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I began reading Xanth in 1993 with The Source of Magic. I remember it as a grand adventure with real dangers and real consequences. I still read these novels out of nostalgia, but have come to expect less and less of them over the years. This newest installment, like most of the last few novels, can best be best described as "whiney, shallow lead character wants to hook up, must go on a quest to have sex." The story itself was good, although drawn out in a crazy, non-linear kind of route that could have been told in 100 less pages, but for the classic (Books 1-16) lovers, just pass on it and forget it ever happened.
    Helpful
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  • Carrie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing
    Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    This series has me captivated. Never a dull moment. Always a good read when you pick up an Anthony book :)
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Roger
    5.0 out of 5 stars good read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 15, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    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.
    Report
  • Shannon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good read
    Reviewed in Germany on December 22, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    It is nice to be able to order english books while i am in germay, Good read will order more
    Report
  • C andrews
    5.0 out of 5 stars Thank you!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 25, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    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!
    Report
  • J & S Tresidder
    5.0 out of 5 stars 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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  • Donna Lodge
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
    Reviewed in Canada on January 25, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This book help complete my Xanth set.
    Report

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