The first Xanth novel by Piers Anthony. Xanth is a fantasy world created by author Piers Anthony, the setting of his eponymous series of novels; for which he has become popular. ... Piers Anthony Dillingham Jacob (born August 6, 1934 in Oxford, England) is a writer in the science fiction and fantasy genres, publishing under the name Piers Anthony. ...
A Spell for Chameleon is a clever if unabashedly lightweight little coming-of-age story set in the mythical land of Xanth, where virtually everything possesses some degree of magic.
Yes, Chameleon has acquired classic status after 20-plus years, but that status is due more to its influence upon the course of fantasy publishing (in particular, "trilogies" could now go on forever) and its introduction of self-referential humor into the genre, than for any inherent storytelling excellence.
And, in Chameleon at least, it is easy to kick up your heels and just have a good time with it, taking it all about as seriously as Anthony does (which is to say not at all).
He eventually returns in the company of Chameleon, a woman whose intelligence and beauty vary inversely depending on the time of the month, and the evil magician Trent who was exiled 20 years earlier for attempting to usurp the throne of Xanth.
Chameleon's intelligence and beauty vary inversely according to the time of the month and she has been unable to find a man who is willing to be with her through all 3 phases.
In actuality this is Chameleon in the last of her guises, hideously ugly and hideously intelligent, but Bink does not realize this.
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