1,000 years ago Earth sent out a ship that colonized the planet Charm. But the population of Charm is now far removed from their ancient ancestors. Technology has been lost over the years but the people have something better—Magic!
Charm is a world covered by volcanoes, each erupting a different color of magic. Everything within a particular Chroma becomes that color. Plants, animals, insects, and even humans all become one color and can perform that color of magic. Traveling is dangerous because a person leaving their native Chroma home can no longer perform their color magic.
Havoc is a barbarian living in a nonChroma village, where no one has magic. As a boy, he rescued a dragon that rewarded him with special magic; to sense pending danger.
His gift becomes more valuable than he can imagine as he is suddenly drafted and forced to become the new king of the planet. He must perform his duties or be executed for treason.
To make matters worse, the assassin who killed the former king is now after Havoc!
Review
A full five swords! Key to Havoc is a major work of fantasy by a major author. -J. Crispin-Ripley, KnowBetter.com
4 STARS! Once again, Mr. Anthony creates a complex world unlike anything we might imagine. Though he uses elements recognizable from previous books, they are recombined in a fresh way. Honesty and frankness are as much a hallmark of his work as magic, so you may blush a bit, for he leaves little to the imagination. Yet, you will be laughing and turning the pages rapidly as well. -Amanda Killgore, Scribes World
Key to Havoc is the first book in a projected five-book series, all involving a rather peculiar solar system, and the denizens thereof. Vivid and Void, star and black hole, rotate about one another, fomenting chaos in the twin planets of Charm and Counter-Charm. Literal fomentation in this case-much as Jupiter wreaks havoc on Io, causing it to constantly be in flux, Charm and its twin are covered in volcanoes. Magical color-spewing volcanoes. I loved the book. I didn't want to see it end. And so-a strong yes. It's quite worth reading. Executive summary: familiar yet new setting. Big book, big world, big ideas. (Something old, something new, nothing borrowed, something blue...) Buy this book. Please. I want to find out how the series ends, dang it! -David McGrath, 2003
About the Author
PIERS ANTHONY is one of the world's most popular fantasy and science fiction authors, 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 hundred of letters from his devoted fans. He lives in Florida.Â
Description:
1,000 years ago Earth sent out a ship that colonized the planet Charm. But the population of Charm is now far removed from their ancient ancestors. Technology has been lost over the years but the people have something better—Magic!
Charm is a world covered by volcanoes, each erupting a different color of magic. Everything within a particular Chroma becomes that color. Plants, animals, insects, and even humans all become one color and can perform that color of magic. Traveling is dangerous because a person leaving their native Chroma home can no longer perform their color magic.
Havoc is a barbarian living in a nonChroma village, where no one has magic. As a boy, he rescued a dragon that rewarded him with special magic; to sense pending danger.
His gift becomes more valuable than he can imagine as he is suddenly drafted and forced to become the new king of the planet. He must perform his duties or be executed for treason.
To make matters worse, the assassin who killed the former king is now after Havoc!
Review
A full five swords! Key to Havoc is a major work of fantasy by a major author. -J. Crispin-Ripley, KnowBetter.com
4 STARS! Once again, Mr. Anthony creates a complex world unlike anything we might imagine. Though he uses elements recognizable from previous books, they are recombined in a fresh way. Honesty and frankness are as much a hallmark of his work as magic, so you may blush a bit, for he leaves little to the imagination. Yet, you will be laughing and turning the pages rapidly as well. -Amanda Killgore, Scribes World
Key to Havoc is the first book in a projected five-book series, all involving a rather peculiar solar system, and the denizens thereof. Vivid and Void, star and black hole, rotate about one another, fomenting chaos in the twin planets of Charm and Counter-Charm. Literal fomentation in this case-much as Jupiter wreaks havoc on Io, causing it to constantly be in flux, Charm and its twin are covered in volcanoes. Magical color-spewing volcanoes. I loved the book. I didn't want to see it end. And so-a strong yes. It's quite worth reading. Executive summary: familiar yet new setting. Big book, big world, big ideas. (Something old, something new, nothing borrowed, something blue...) Buy this book. Please. I want to find out how the series ends, dang it! -David McGrath, 2003
About the Author
PIERS ANTHONY is one of the world's most popular fantasy and science fiction authors, 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 hundred of letters from his devoted fans. He lives in Florida.Â