mrh@cybvax0.UUCP (Mike Huybensz) (01/23/86)
The quality of Xanth books has steadily been declining. Anthony gives partial credit to his fans and his new word processor for this one, and I have to say that it shows those two as faults. "Golem In The Gears" has a few humorous points, but the majority of attempts hit with all the subtlety of "that's supposed to be a joke." The story line is contorted to fit the procrustean bed of contributed ideas. Past characters waltz in and out to spare the effort of plotting something original or clever. Characters spontaneously have great abstract insights required to escape life-or-death situations. Fans of the series will recognize the familiar elements: passive, pretty women with pollyanna attitudes who latch inseparably onto insecure males; Gilbert-and-Sullivan-esque fullfilment of duty and obligation with marriage (or at least pairing) at the end; and the general morality play atmosphere. Anthony threatens further sequels; also further Blue Adept books. Unless he spends more time crafting his stories, I'm going to give up on them. And since he now can produce them faster with his processor, I don't think it will happen. -- Mike Huybensz ...decvax!genrad!mit-eddie!cybvax0!mrh