What's the title of this book?

Razorfish · 02-01-2004, 11:05 PM

Brief synopsis:
There's a world where everyone has a special ability that they discover in their adolescence. Some can fly, others have super strength, while some even possess telepathy. One person in this world discovers that he does not possess any powers at all. He goes on a journey to perhaps discover his true power, if he has one at all. He meets up with a girl whose power is a curse. One day she is incredibly beautiful but extremely dumb while the next day she is an absolute genius but painful to look at. She goes through this cycle day after day. They journey together, he discovers his true power (which is greater than any of the other powers) and she learns to make the best of her power.

I can't seem to remeber the title of this book. Does anyone know?

lumberjim · 02-01-2004, 11:34 PM

was it by piers anthony? sounds like a piers anthony book, but it was with magic talent, and i dont remember the part about the girl and the curse...that sounds like shrek

Razorfish · 02-01-2004, 11:52 PM

I looked up Piers Anthony and found a book entitled A Spell for Chameleon . The description of this book sounds like the one but I can almost swear that the main character encounters a girl with a cursed power. I could be wrong but I'll definitely give this book a look over to see. Thanks for the help.

Happy Monkey · 02-02-2004, 12:07 AM

That's probably it. It was definitely one of the Xanth books.

dar512 · 02-02-2004, 08:55 AM

Definitely A Spell for Chameleon. It's on my bookshelf at home.

Hmm. I should read that again. It's been a while.

Pi · 02-02-2004, 11:32 AM

Seems funny to me. Just looked up on amazon... Does one need to read the other books to understand it?

lumberjim · 02-02-2004, 11:40 AM

no, but it helps....he writes on an 8th grade level, but you like the characters, and the books go by quickly. good bed time books. they read a lot like the harry potter books.

Slartibartfast · 02-02-2004, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pi
Seems funny to me. Just looked up on amazon... Does one need to read the other books to understand it?

Piers Anthony is a hack writer. I have read A Spell for Chameleon, and many other of his books since when I was a teenager. He loves to write multi-volume series- but what happens is that he keeps writing well after the point where he is out of good ideas for that story line.

A Spell for Chameleon, or Split Infinity, or On a Pale Horse are all very good books by themselves. Their sequels are pretty good too. But every book progressively along in each series get a little bit worse.

If you like the book, sure go ahead and read the next book in the series. The moment you find that the book you are reading is boring, stop reading that series! It's not going to get any better!

perth · 02-02-2004, 05:01 PM

Quote:

If you like the book, sure go ahead and read the next book in the series. The moment you find that the book you are reading is boring, stop reading that series! It's not going to get any better!

Hey! Just like Robert Jordan!

wolf · 02-03-2004, 12:41 AM

I've not read Robert Jordan, but I can assure you, no matter how bad HE is, Piers Anthony is worse.

GREAT first books (Spell for Chameleon is a first book), good second, okay third ... the remainder should be printed at folio size so they are useful for the lining of birdcages and the wrapping of fishes.

(EDIT: Yes, I'm well aware that the plural of "fish" is "fish", but the above construction was funnier.)

SteveDallas · 02-03-2004, 08:49 AM

Yeah, what is it with these authors who can't seem to write one book, unless they write 5 or 6? I mean, David Eddings for example. 5 books, then another 5-book sequel, then a new 3-book series and a sequel 3-book series. Then 2 prequels to the first series.

Oh, and let's not forget that all 18 of these books involve in some way, a blue stone with mystic religious properties that people are fighting over.

lumberjim · 02-03-2004, 09:04 AM

EDDINGS DID PREQUELS TO THE BELGARIAD?!?!?!?!?

oo oo what're they called?

dar512 · 02-03-2004, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Slartibartfast

A Spell for Chameleon, or Split Infinity, or On a Pale Horse are all very good books by themselves. Their sequels are pretty good too. But every book progressively along in each series get a little bit worse.

I agree about Anthony. I thought he was doing better because I liked the whole Split Infinity trilogy. Then he brought out a series about their kids. Couldn't get past the first couple of chapters.

lumberjim · 02-03-2004, 09:24 AM

hey, what was that decology that L.Ron Hubbard wrote....that was like crack. i wasted half a summer reading those when i was in 11th grade/

wolf · 02-03-2004, 09:28 AM

ohmigod.

You LIKED Eddings? And L. Ron??

*shakes head sadly*

02-01-2004, 11:05 PM	#1
Razorfish Superhero Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: New England Posts: 104	What's the title of this book? Brief synopsis: There's a world where everyone has a special ability that they discover in their adolescence. Some can fly, others have super strength, while some even possess telepathy. One person in this world discovers that he does not possess any powers at all. He goes on a journey to perhaps discover his true power, if he has one at all. He meets up with a girl whose power is a curse. One day she is incredibly beautiful but extremely dumb while the next day she is an absolute genius but painful to look at. She goes through this cycle day after day. They journey together, he discovers his true power (which is greater than any of the other powers) and she learns to make the best of her power. I can't seem to remeber the title of this book. Does anyone know? __________________ Mostly lurking

02-01-2004, 11:34 PM	#2
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	was it by piers anthony? sounds like a piers anthony book, but it was with magic talent, and i dont remember the part about the girl and the curse...that sounds like shrek __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

02-01-2004, 11:52 PM	#3
Razorfish Superhero Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: New England Posts: 104	I looked up Piers Anthony and found a book entitled A Spell for Chameleon . The description of this book sounds like the one but I can almost swear that the main character encounters a girl with a cursed power. I could be wrong but I'll definitely give this book a look over to see. Thanks for the help. __________________ Mostly lurking

02-02-2004, 12:07 AM	#4
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	That's probably it. It was definitely one of the Xanth books. __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

02-02-2004, 11:40 AM	#7
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	no, but it helps....he writes on an 8th grade level, but you like the characters, and the books go by quickly. good bed time books. they read a lot like the harry potter books. __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

02-02-2004, 08:55 AM	#5
dar512 dar512 is now Pete Zicato Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago suburb Posts: 4,968	Definitely A Spell for Chameleon. It's on my bookshelf at home. Hmm. I should read that again. It's been a while.

02-02-2004, 11:32 AM	#6
Pi desperate finder Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Luxembourg Posts: 437	Seems funny to me. Just looked up on amazon... Does one need to read the other books to understand it?

02-03-2004, 12:41 AM	#10
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	I've not read Robert Jordan, but I can assure you, no matter how bad HE is, Piers Anthony is worse. GREAT first books (Spell for Chameleon is a first book), good second, okay third ... the remainder should be printed at folio size so they are useful for the lining of birdcages and the wrapping of fishes. (EDIT: Yes, I'm well aware that the plural of "fish" is "fish", but the above construction was funnier.) __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

02-03-2004, 08:49 AM	#11
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	Yeah, what is it with these authors who can't seem to write one book, unless they write 5 or 6? I mean, David Eddings for example. 5 books, then another 5-book sequel, then a new 3-book series and a sequel 3-book series. Then 2 prequels to the first series. Oh, and let's not forget that all 18 of these books involve in some way, a blue stone with mystic religious properties that people are fighting over.

02-03-2004, 09:04 AM	#12
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	EDDINGS DID PREQUELS TO THE BELGARIAD?!?!?!?!? oo oo what're they called? __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

02-03-2004, 09:24 AM	#14
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	hey, what was that decology that L.Ron Hubbard wrote....that was like crack. i wasted half a summer reading those when i was in 11th grade/ __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

02-03-2004, 09:28 AM	#15
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	ohmigod. You LIKED Eddings? And L. Ron?? shakes head sadly __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

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