 First edition | |
| Author | Piers Anthony |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Julie Dillon |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Fantasy |
| Publisher | TOR Books |
Publication date | December 2012 |
| Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) |
| Pages | 350 |
| ISBN | 978-0-7653-3135-9 |
| Preceded by | Well-Tempered Clavicle |
| Followed by | Esrever Doom |
Luck of the Draw is the 36th book of the Xanth series by Piers Anthony. [1]
Bryce, an 80-year-old human in poor health, is transported to Xanth and magically restored to his fit 21-year-old self. He has been drawn to Xanth to participate in a quest to win the hand of young Princess Harmony as part of a Demon wager. Bryce has no interest in marrying but a love spell has been cast on him to compel his participation. To aid him, Bryce has been given the gift of second sight (foresight of an event a few seconds into the future) and a magic tablet. Items drawn on the tablet are able to take three-dimensional shape.
There are five other suitors for the Princess' hand: Lucky, a youth whose talent is good fortune; Arsenal, a combat expert; Piper, who can be either man or monster; D Pose; a demon who seeks to conquer Xanth by marrying the Princess; and Anna Moly ("Anomaly"), whose talent is to cause the unexpected to happen. (Anna is acting on behalf of her brother, Justin.) All six suitors cooperate in a quest to find a suitable gift that will cause the princess to choose them to marry. They are accompanied on their quest by Mindy, a 20-year-old Mundane who attempted suicide before coming to Xanth.
Bryce, despite his rejuvenation, is still mentally an octagenarian. Even though he's had a love spell placed on him, he is determined to resist marriage to someone the same age as his granddaughter. Harmony has no interest in being compelled to marry anyone because of a Demon wager, but especially not a cranky old Mundane.
Kirkus Reviews criticizes the prose and states that the dialogue can sometimes be "clunky and artless". [2]
Library Journal stated "This is sure to please longtime fans and also serves as an introduction to readers who may be new to the beloved series." [3]
Xanth is a fantasy world created by author Piers Anthony for his Xanth series of novels, also known as The Magic of Xanth. Anthony originally intended for Xanth to be a trilogy, but a devoted fan base persuaded the author to continue writing the series, which is now open-ended.
The Source of Magic is a fantasy novel by British-American writer Piers Anthony, the second book of the Xanth series. This novel begins one year after the events of A Spell for Chameleon, and describes the adventures of Bink after he has settled down with his pregnant wife, Chameleon. King Trent had appointed Bink the Official Researcher of Xanth at the end of the previous book, and given him the task to discover Xanth's source of magic. After many hazards, Bink and his companions succeed but Bink makes a moral choice that ends up destroying the magic of Xanth.
Castle Roogna is a fantasy novel by British-American writer Piers Anthony, the third book of the Xanth series. The castle itself is also the residence of the present King of Xanth.
Night Mare is a fantasy novel by American writer Piers Anthony, the sixth book of the Xanth series. In the book, Xanth is under threat of a barbarian invasion from Mundania. Its only hope is the talents of the Magicians of Xanth and an exiled night mare, sent to the world of waking with the dire message: "Beware the Horseman."
The Color of Her Panties is a fantasy novel by British-American writer Piers Anthony, the fifteenth book of the Xanth series.
Yon Ill Wind is the twentieth novel of the Xanth series by Piers Anthony.
Pet Peeve is a fantasy novel by British-American writer Piers Anthony, the twenty-ninth book of the Xanth series.
A Spell for Chameleon is a fantasy novel by British-American writer Piers Anthony, published in 1977 by Ballantine Books/Del Rey Books. It is the first book of the Xanth series.
Centaur Aisle is a fantasy novel by American writer Piers Anthony, the fourth book of the Xanth series.
Dragon on a Pedestal is a fantasy novel by American writer Piers Anthony, the seventh book of the Xanth series.
Heaven Cent is a fantasy novel by American writer Piers Anthony, the eleventh book of the Xanth series. It is the second book of a trilogy beginning with Vale of the Vole and ending with Man from Mundania.
Man from Mundania is a fantasy novel by American writer Piers Anthony. The twelfth book of the Xanth series, it concludes the trilogy of Vale of the Vole and Heaven Cent.
Isle of View is a fantasy novel by American writer Piers Anthony, published in 1989. It is the thirteenth book of the Xanth series.
Demons Don't Dream is a fantasy novel by American writer Piers Anthony published in 1993, the sixteenth book in the Xanth series.
Geis of the Gargoyle is a fantasy novel by American writer Piers Anthony, the eighteenth book of the Xanth series.
The Dastard is a fantasy novel by British-American writer Piers Anthony, the twenty-fourth book of the Xanth series.
Currant Events is a 2004 fantasy novel by British-American writer Piers Anthony, the twenty-eighth book of the Xanth series and the first book in the second Xanth trilogy.
This is a partial list of works by Piers Anthony. Anthony has published 166 works in total from 1956 to December 2013. He is the only author to have a published novel starting with every letter in the alphabet, from A to Z.
Well-Tempered Clavicle is the 35th book of the Xanth series by Piers Anthony. The title is a pun on the Bach musical work The Well-Tempered Clavier.