- Hardcover: 304 pages
- Publisher: Tor Books (1 Sep 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0765319357
- ISBN-13: 978-0765319357
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 15.7 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 513,864 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Hardcover
I used to be a huge fan of the Xanth series of books, but this one seemed to focus on a 12 year old girl having sex, it stunk of pedophilia fantasies.
Not recommended.
Not recommended.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
17 reviews
26 of 30 people found the following review helpful
When did Piers Anthnony become such a perv?
30 Mar 2009
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I'm torn regarding this novel.
Piers Anthony's first Xanth novel, "A Spell for Chameleon" was required reading in my college Sci-Fi and Fantasy class, and I loved it. But in this novel, we have a 12 year old princess who makes it with an adult man, repeatedly and unabashedly. (Yes, she uses an aging spell first, but she reverts after each liaison.)
On one hand, I liked the story. The by-play regarding girls flocking to the lead character because of his being a playwright, even though he didn't know it yet, was very amusing. I also thought the story in general was one of the better Xanth novels.
What's increasingly concerning me is the amount of sexuality in the Xanth books. This one flirts with pedophilia and adultery, and I'm not sure I like the author's justifications for either.
Maybe I'm misremembering Piers Anthony's earlier novels (it has been 15 years or more since I read the first one), but I'm definitely seeing a trend toward raunchy in the later books.
It's really too bad, since the rest of this book was so well done. The major plot line was fun, and I thought all of the characters in the little troop of actors were brilliant. I'm just very disappointed that I can't share this book with my daughter or any my friend's kids. It also means I'm going to think twice before picking up number 33.
Piers Anthony's first Xanth novel, "A Spell for Chameleon" was required reading in my college Sci-Fi and Fantasy class, and I loved it. But in this novel, we have a 12 year old princess who makes it with an adult man, repeatedly and unabashedly. (Yes, she uses an aging spell first, but she reverts after each liaison.)
On one hand, I liked the story. The by-play regarding girls flocking to the lead character because of his being a playwright, even though he didn't know it yet, was very amusing. I also thought the story in general was one of the better Xanth novels.
What's increasingly concerning me is the amount of sexuality in the Xanth books. This one flirts with pedophilia and adultery, and I'm not sure I like the author's justifications for either.
Maybe I'm misremembering Piers Anthony's earlier novels (it has been 15 years or more since I read the first one), but I'm definitely seeing a trend toward raunchy in the later books.
It's really too bad, since the rest of this book was so well done. The major plot line was fun, and I thought all of the characters in the little troop of actors were brilliant. I'm just very disappointed that I can't share this book with my daughter or any my friend's kids. It also means I'm going to think twice before picking up number 33.
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
2 to the 5th~! Isn't that 32?
17 Nov 2008
Format:Hardcover
The world of Xanth is only a sequel away. In this case, 2 to the 5th, is the 32nd book, and surprise! 2 to the 5th is 32, and it also happens to be the clue that the Good Magician Humphrey gives to Cyrus, the Cyborg, son of Rowland Robot and Hannah Barbarian.
If that isn't confusing yet, even before he gets to the Good Magician, he has to go through three challenges packed with puns, and 'players' before he is assigned the task of writing plays that will attract the attention of Ragna Roc and place three young princesses Melody, Harmony, and Rhythym together to defeat Ragna. Breathe...Add Tess Tosterone, Xina, Acro Nymph, and Dusti to the twisted dramatic troupe without a play, and the result is a punny, playful, adventure.
Anthony is a master of his craft. Few other authors are able to mix puns so freely, and easily into a novel, and yet retain a loyal readership. Many of the puns are from readers themselves too, and if that's not encouraging to a reader, then nothing is.
This is a great novel to wind down with. Humorous, inventive, and yet it is packed with enough to progress the characters in a 'logical' manner. You'll laugh, you'll want to send your own puns in, and even want to finish this book off just in time to wait for the next one.
Tim Lasiuta
If that isn't confusing yet, even before he gets to the Good Magician, he has to go through three challenges packed with puns, and 'players' before he is assigned the task of writing plays that will attract the attention of Ragna Roc and place three young princesses Melody, Harmony, and Rhythym together to defeat Ragna. Breathe...Add Tess Tosterone, Xina, Acro Nymph, and Dusti to the twisted dramatic troupe without a play, and the result is a punny, playful, adventure.
Anthony is a master of his craft. Few other authors are able to mix puns so freely, and easily into a novel, and yet retain a loyal readership. Many of the puns are from readers themselves too, and if that's not encouraging to a reader, then nothing is.
This is a great novel to wind down with. Humorous, inventive, and yet it is packed with enough to progress the characters in a 'logical' manner. You'll laugh, you'll want to send your own puns in, and even want to finish this book off just in time to wait for the next one.
Tim Lasiuta
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Two to the Fifth
3 Feb 2010
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Xanth #32: Two to the Fifth, by Piers Anthony
I've been reading a lot of Xanth novels lately, and "Two to the Fifth" is the only one I've really enjoyed after reading a few other lackluster installments in the fantasy series.
I do have one big complaint about this book, and that is Anthony violates his own "Adult Conspiracy" and has a 12 year old girl (Princess Rhythm) have a relationship with an adult male. The relationship isn't a little thing either; it's thrown in the reader's face quite often and is a big plot point. It irritated me somewhat, and I was sick of being reminded of their relationship over and over. Anthony seems to be turning into something of a pervert, and while it's a bit refreshing to have him move beyond the oppressive "Adult Conspiracy," doing it in this way wasn't the best.
Well, enough harping on that. Because once you get over that point, you'll be reading one of the better Xanth novels in recent years. Cyrus Cyborg goes to see the Good Magician and learns his life's desire - to be a playwright. His Service for the Answer is to rescue Xanth from the clutches of an evil roc who is intent on taking over the magic land. Cyrus and his troupe are the only ones who can defeat Ragna Roc.
A nicely large part of the book details the troupe's formation and evolution into a talented acting company. I really liked Anthony's take on writer's block - instead of keeping one from writing, in Xanth, one *needs* a writer's block, complete with a muse inside to inspire the writer. The plays Cyrus creates are fun as well.
All in all, a good Xanth book with just one big stumbling block, but at least Anthony does clean things up at the end. A little too neatly for real life, but then again, Xanth is a land of fantasy. And for once, there isn't an overabundance of puns, which was a real plus for me.
3/5.
I've been reading a lot of Xanth novels lately, and "Two to the Fifth" is the only one I've really enjoyed after reading a few other lackluster installments in the fantasy series.
I do have one big complaint about this book, and that is Anthony violates his own "Adult Conspiracy" and has a 12 year old girl (Princess Rhythm) have a relationship with an adult male. The relationship isn't a little thing either; it's thrown in the reader's face quite often and is a big plot point. It irritated me somewhat, and I was sick of being reminded of their relationship over and over. Anthony seems to be turning into something of a pervert, and while it's a bit refreshing to have him move beyond the oppressive "Adult Conspiracy," doing it in this way wasn't the best.
Well, enough harping on that. Because once you get over that point, you'll be reading one of the better Xanth novels in recent years. Cyrus Cyborg goes to see the Good Magician and learns his life's desire - to be a playwright. His Service for the Answer is to rescue Xanth from the clutches of an evil roc who is intent on taking over the magic land. Cyrus and his troupe are the only ones who can defeat Ragna Roc.
A nicely large part of the book details the troupe's formation and evolution into a talented acting company. I really liked Anthony's take on writer's block - instead of keeping one from writing, in Xanth, one *needs* a writer's block, complete with a muse inside to inspire the writer. The plays Cyrus creates are fun as well.
All in all, a good Xanth book with just one big stumbling block, but at least Anthony does clean things up at the end. A little too neatly for real life, but then again, Xanth is a land of fantasy. And for once, there isn't an overabundance of puns, which was a real plus for me.
3/5.
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