Xanth Books In Order

Publication Order of Xanth Books

Publication Order of Xanth Graphic Novel Books

Have you ever wanted to immerse yourself in a world where everything from the words you speak to potential knowledge you may posses one day will effect the world around you, for better or worse?Xanth is that book series.From its start way back in 1977 Xanth has fully engulfed it readers in a world beyond imagination.The book is filled with imagination. adventure and a very intelligent humorous tone and many, many puns. The world of Xanth is based on the power of magical abilities proving themselves in humans ( and sometimes expanding beyond humans).Each human child born in Xanth ( with a few interesting exceptions), posses a certain magical trait called a talent.These talents range from extreme “Magician” level talents to those that are magical on a smaller scale.These talents determine ones place in life and prove to both advance the life of Xanth’ person as well provide more than a bit of trouble. Xanth centers around many features and magical plot twists, one of the most prominent is that of the “Adult conspiracy”.In this conspiracy the children of Xanth are protected from the possible dangers of what happens when you enter the world of adults, most importantly the protection of children from the knowledge of “summoning the stork”.”Summoning the Stork”, quite literally means to summon a large stork to an adult couple.

The stork then delivers a child.This couple was formed by drinking from “love” a magical well that causes two people,or some mixture or people and mythical creature,to fall madly in love after drinking it.This “love” is another secret hoped to be kept from the children of Xanth until they reach adulthood at the age of eighteen.Upon which time they usually figure it ( the stork,love and baby business) all out. Another key imaginary feature is one that gives life to normally nonliving things,like food and the moon.In Xanth the moon is made of actual cheese and so close that is can be flown to by some creatures and feasted on.The far side being curdled,of course.Plants in xanth are also more than alive by botanist standards.The plants produce any sort of fruit any many kinds of items.

Ranging from Dessert pies to shoe trees, both of which being very common place.Some of these animated things can be very dangerous, carnivorous even. Words are also given the power of life and most affectively death. In Xanth world foul words posses the power to wilt plants and cause other adverse effects.While, positive words have the power to reverse curses and overall make a things in Xanth better. Foul words are automatically censored, again part of protecting the children feature, from those who not considered proper Xanth’ adults.Panties, while maybe not given the power of life and death, also hold a very strong power in Xanth.They are more closely linked to sexuality than being actually nude.The mere color of a ladies underwear posses a strong effect on men, whom are a more than a little taken a back by them being seen on another person.Adults are seen to lack what would be viewed as childish fun.They, after becoming adults at the exact age of 18, tend to take things serious and focus highly on shielding the children form anything they see unfit or improper for them. Life and characteristics are given to mythical creatures in Xanth as well.Many well known mythical creature such as, Dragons, Nymphs, Centaurs, Demons, Curse, Goblins, Golems, Ogres, and Zombies are part of the world.Along with these many other well known and lesser know mythical creatures can be found, along with some known solely to Xanth.The creatures begin in the history of Xanth as mostly stumbling blocks and antagonists for the human characters, but along the way develop into fully integrated and personified entities in the story line.These creatures are able to mate within the realm of Xanth and produce half species.

Some of these half species show talents or half-talents.Most creatures that are non human and posses talents are generally looked upon in a dark light ( with a few exceptions).Creatures such as the Centaur,when possessing a magical ability are virtually exiled and not able to return.Half-talents are looked at slightly more favorable.Half-talents are those in which the talent requires the half-breed to have the missing half of their breed present to execute their talent. One of the most diverse features is the geography portrayed in Xanth. If you where to look at it from a map perspective, it resembles the American state of Florida in shape. Although,resembling Florida the characteristics of the world resemble many of those in the real world that are thought to be famous land arks.Many of the lands characteristics are puns referring to the map lad itself being shaped like Florida.Another notable feature is an import geographical location know as the “Keys” in Xanth.

The fantasy “Keys”, being actual keys used as a pun for the Florida Keys. Xanth itself is a a land that is not constrained by time, and most likely not held back by being positioned in one point in space either.Those who are Xanth’ residents are able to travel to the real world when desired.The real world is referred referred to as “Mundania” and viewed as a place for people who are mundane or “without magic”.This non-conformity to the time space rules of the mundane world often leave the traveler at a disadvantage.When traveling from one world to the other they may find themselves randomly deposited in Mundania at any time in Earth’s history and any one of Earth’s geographical locations.On the contrast,as easy as it is for Xanth’ residents to enter Mundania, those Mundanes will find themselves at an almost impossibility entering xanth as it is not a fixed point and can only be stumbled upon, for the most part, by accident.Xanth’ residents have found themselves in the midst of many great Mundania pivotal points, many referencing real Earth history.

One Response to “Xanth”

1. JUDITH ASHLEY: 4 years ago

   I have loved Xanth since the very first one. I am now 84 years old and when I die, I’m going to Xanth!!

   Reply