Missing Author's Note

I was able to listen to the first 3 of this series through other ways. They all had the author's note as part of the audio narration. This was the first one that I listened on audible. It's missing the author's note. I remember these books from when I first read them. Then the author's note made a BIG impact on me. And now as I listen, I enjoyed the author's notes just as much.

Leaving that off I feel like I'm missing a significant portion of the book.

7 people found this helpful

Disappointed about missing "Author's Note"

Any additional comments?

The first three books in this series had the "Author's Note" narrated at the end. They provided a very welcome insight into Piers Anthony's life and writing. When listening to the last chapter of the book, I was looking forward to the "Author's Note". I cannot express my disappointment to have this omitted from the Audible production. Yes, I have the paperbacks and can read it, but I just felt I was lacking something at the end of the Audible book.

2 people found this helpful

The Red Sword

The fourth novel of the Incarnations series tells the story of Mym, a young Indian prince. As the story opens, Mym has fled his father's cort, believing himself unfit for his station due to a severe stutter and the presence of his more desirable brother. To make ends meet, he joins a traveling circus where he meets Orb, a beautiful young woman with a unique gift, the ability to put people into a trance whenever she sings and plays her harp. With the aid of his magic ring Mym aproaches Orb and soon forms a connection with her. As time goest by the two fal in love, but Mym is soon discovered and take back to his fathher. His brother is dead, meaning that Mym must become Raja uponhis fathher's death. Mym refuses to accede to the arranged marriage, resulting in the deaths of several would-be brides. Finall his father arranges for him to spend a month with Princess Rapture of Malachite at the Honeymoon Castle, a castle with magical properties that leave the thoughts of those who reside within the grounds open to one another. As time goes by Mym discovers that Rapture is indeed worth loving and finally agrees to marry her. Before the wedding can take place, the Raja changes his mind and begins to arrange a different marriage for Mym. This results in Rapture's father declaring war on Mym's kingdom, greatly angering both Mym and Rapture. Mym's anger draws a strange red sword to him, which e takes only to learn from Gaea, Incarnation of Nature, that he is now Mars, Incarnation of War and that it is now his mission to foil the plots of Satan, Incarnation of Evil. Mym has trouble wit this concept, having come from a completely different belief system. It's not long before Satan approaches Mym, and only time will tell whether Mym will have the necessary quickness of mind to avoid falling prey to Satan's insidious plots.
All in all this is an excellent book and George Guidall does a fine job of bringing it to life. It's unfortunate that he doesn't narrate the next three books in the series.

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i wish the author's note were included.

Author's note is included in the previous three books in the series. This book is missing that.

1 person found this helpful

Fascinating

As great a story as Pale Horse, but completely different! Funny, bittersweet, and brilliant!

2 people found this helpful

A good story, but it's missing the author's note.

I love listening to the story and all the stories in this series so far.
But one of the greatest things about them was the author's note.
without it, it feels like the story is missing a key part to itself.
I would ask that audible please add in the author's notes to all the books in this series that don't possess them.

Disturbingly sexist, given who it is aimed at

This is a good read, but it is NOT appropriate for the young readers it is aimed at. The characters live in a blasted hellscape where the worst stereotypes about men and women are not only taken as fact, they _are_ fact. Woman are weak and untrustworthy and men are promiscuous and strong. Also, all of the good female characters are objects with no real agency (you might point to Luna and the Amazon queen, but the first one does nothing onscreen and the second follows the plans of the male lead). Rapture is a possible exception, but it's debatable whether the book views her as good or evil. Unfortunately, this is typical of the series, but if you can look past all that, the world is interesting, the characters are likeable (in same-sex company, and when not discussing women), and the plot is compelling. Hence the overall 4-star review despite the subtle but pervasive sexism.

one of my favorite Piers Anthony books

I like all of the 'Incarnations of immortality' books but this is one of my favorites, and the reader was absolutely wonderful. I am so glad to have this in my collection.

one of my all time favourite series

I've read this series several times. this is the first time I've listened to it. I love it. It adds a new dimension

one of the more distracted books in this series

I still like the series a whole, but this book is stearing away from the series style a bit. The course of War coming to terms with his office, in this book, is tangential series of reused fairy tales. Almost as if Piers was rushing it out for production.