Incarnations of Immortality

When you hear the name Piers Anthony, what do you think of? Most people immediately say "Xanth". He's the author of the well-known Xanth novels. And those are really good books. I've been looking into buying them, myself. But if you ask me, his Incarnations of Immortality books are the best. That's my opinion. Piers Anthony, himself, is an atheist. And I believe everyone is entitled to his or her own beliefs. I must admit, though, that when I first read the first book in this series, On a Pale Horse, it made me angry. As a Christian, I was upset that the soul of the atheist that Death collected simply disintegrated in his hand. I remember throwing that book across the room. Angered in a way I hadn't been, since reading 1984, by George Orwell. Then I remembered what I was taught in Literature. "When you read a work of fiction, you make a contract with the author to step into that world. And see it through his eyes." So I picked the book back up and started from the beginning, looking at it as a work of fiction-not as a slight on my beliefs. And, let me tell you, I came to love it.

On a Pale Horse, the first in the series, came out in 1983. It begins with the story of a man named Zane, whose life is miserable. And he buys a pistol in a pawnshop, with the intention of killing himself. But, as he begins to pull the trigger, the spectre of Death comes for his soul. Zane is so shocked that he changed his mind. But it was too late. He was able to move his arm, but had no control over that trigger finger. He turned the gun on the spectre, and it went off. Suddenly, Death fell. Zane had killed Death. Then a middle-aged woman appears, calling herself Lachesis (the middle Incarnation of Fate), to explain to him that this Incarnation had been slack, lately, and wasn't wearing his hood correctly. Now, since Zane had killed Death, he must assume the Office. As she spoke, she took the robe and hood off the dead Death, revealing an ordinary man. Zane doffed the robe and the hood, as well as the boots and the other accouterments, and became Death. The book chronicles the things he does in his Office as Death. A fascinating read.

Bearing an Hourglass, the second book, came out in 1984. It begins with a simple man, about 40 years old, named Norton. He's a conservationist and avid camper. He loves all things natural. One day, he's approached by a ghost named Gawain, who was a dragon slayer in life. Gawain tells him that he's in a ghost marriage with a human woman, and she must bear him an heir. Norton meets the wife, a beautiful honey-haired woman named Orlene, and falls in love with her. They have their "affair" and she conceives. Gawain, intent on a son, pleads with Gaea, the Incarnation of Nature, to changes the baby's DNA, so that it will carry his genes. The child, GawTwo, not only looks like Gawain, he also carries the curse that is within Gawain's DNA. This causes GawTwo to die prematurely. Orlene, wanting to save her son, at all costs, kills herself, to follow him into the afterlife. Norton goes into a depression and goes off into the wilderness once more. Gawain follows him for many months, in order to "keep his finger out of the pie", with his second wife. Feeling bad for Norton, and wanting to amend things, Gawain tells Norton that the Office of Time is about to come available. All he has to do is be there to collect the hourglass when the previous Incarnation leaves the Office. This book takes the reader to the ends of the Universe and the beginnings of Time, itself, as Norton comes into his own in his Office.

I must admit, this one is a slow read, since there is so much technical stuff in it. But further into the series, the pieces of this one fall into place. Because Time lives backwards. And this book is in the future, many years after the first one.

With a Tangled Skein, the third book, came out in 1985. This book takes the reader many years before the first book. And centers on a woman named Niobe. It begins when she is in her early twenties, and must enter into an arranged marriage with a boy of about 15, Cedric Kaftan. They've been married about three years, before the marriage is actually consummated, and she falls in love with her husband. They have a son, Cedric Kaftan, Jr. Quite by accident, Cedric learns of a plot by Satan to kill Niobe. He takes her place, and dies in her stead. She goes on a voyage to visit the Incarnations to bring back her beloved husband, only to learn a sacrifice has already been made. His life for hers. And it cannot be reversed. She learns that Satan was behind the whole thing, and vows revenge. Later, she is approached by the Incarnation of Fate. The youngest Aspect, Clotho, is about to return to the mortal realm, and they want her, Niobe, to assume the Aspect. Realizing this would be the perfect opportunity to get her revenge, she arranges for her son to be raised by Cedric's cousin, who has a young son named Pacian. And she assumes the Aspect of Clotho. Years later, she grows tired of this and chooses to return to the mortal realm. Her son, Junior, is grown now and has become a powerful Magician. Niobe falls in love with the (now-grown) Pacian. She marries Pacian on the same day Magician Kaftan marries Belinda. Belinda's daughter, Luna, and Niobe's daughter, Orb, are born within a week of each other. Because of the complexities of his work, the Magician and Belinda are unable to spend much time with their daughter. So Niobe raises both girls, and they have many adventures. When these girls are grown, and Pacian has died of natural causes, Niobe finds herself alone again, now a middle-aged woman. She is again approached by Fate. Satan has planned for all three Aspects to leave at the same time, leaving Fate defenseless against his plans. So Fate decided to bring in someone who knew what was going on. Niobe is asked to assume the Middle Aspect of Lachesis. Soon, she learns she can finally wreak havoc on Satan's plans. And, finally, is able to get her revenge.

Wielding a Red Sword, came out in 1986. It begins just after the events in Tangled Skein. Mym, a Hindu prince, is slated to marry against his will. His family arranges for them to get to know each other, and they do fall in love. But before the marriage can take place, his father changes his mind, and decides to arrange for him to marry the Princess of another country. Oddly, all wars on earth are stopped. There is peace, for a short time. This is the moment Mym is in a rage about his situation. And is shocked to see a ghostly red sword float toward him. He tries to fight it, but it fights as well as he does. In his anger, he grabbed the sword, and became the Incarnation of War. He took the woman he loved with him to his mansion in Purgatory, so that they could be together. Satan tries to trick Mym. But, as it happens, anyone leaving the Office of War would go to either Heaven or Hell, depending on how well he handled the Office. Mym is Hindu, and has no desire for either Heaven or Hell, so Satan's bribes don't work. While in his Office, he learns that a woman he had a brief liaison with, Orb, bore him a daughter out of wedlock, then gave the child up for adoption. This book is a fascinating read. And kept me turning page after page. I read this book in one day.

Being a Green Mother, 1987, begins with Orb's childhood with her cousin/niece, Luna. It proceeds to her affair with Mym and losing him, when he is taken away for the arranged marriage. She then discovers that she is pregnant. During her life, she discovers the music in all of Nature, has made it her life's mission to finds all the songs of Nature, and learns them. When she bears a daughter out-of-wedlock, she chooses to give her up for adoption. She names her daughter Orlene. She moves on with her life, and eventually learns that not only is she learning the songs of Nature, but that in playing those songs, she has power of some of Nature's aspects. She meets a wonderful man, whose name is Natasha, and he can sing some of the songs of Nature. Their relationship grows. One day, he tells her that there are things he must explain to her. But she must first assume the Incarnation of Nature. After she does, the first thing she learns is "Natasha" is "Ah, Satan". This was a ploy for Satan to gain power through Nature. In her rage, Orb summons Chaos. Unable to control what she began, she must agree to Satan's terms: Nature will be returned, if she agrees to marry him. At the wedding ceremony, she reveals that she does love him, in the song of Evening. Then he responds with a song of his own. A hymnal. This causes him to lose his Office and become a doomed soul in Hell. Having fallen in love with a good woman, he could no long keep his Office.

For Love of Evil, 1988. This chronicles the story of Parry, an orphan adopted by a powerful wizard, in the early 14th century. When he comes of age, the wizard tells him he must choose a wife. He chooses Jolie, a poor waif from the village, and after many months of convincing her of his good intentions, they marry. Later, during the time of unrest, soldiers come after them, attempting to destroy the heretical sorcerers. The wizard is killed, and Jolie's soul is collected by Death. Parry begs to keep her. Death, understanding love, puts a drop of Jolie's blood on Parry's wrist and her soul sinks into it. As the years pass, Jolie's ghost gradually learns to assume human form, and she becomes Parry's conscience. He becomes a friar, and begins the Inquisition. It starts out as a good thing. Then, Parry is visited by Lilah (aka Lilith, Lila), the demoness. Her job is to corrupt Parry. Slowly, over many years, she succeeds in fully corrupting him. At the moment of his death, Satan (known then as Lucifer) comes to collect him, with Lilah at his side. She is to deprave him at this last moment. But she cannot, for the demoness fell in love with Parry. Lucifer is angry and attempts to throw a spell at her to destroy her. Parry's last action was to use his magic to deflect the spell to save Lilah. Lucifer disappears. Suddenly, Lilah tells Parry, "Assume the Office!" Not knowing what she meant, but out of love for her, he says the words, and suddenly, he's not dying. "Choose your form! Choose your form!" she shouts. "I choose the form of when I was 25!" he shouts. "Choose your title!" she continues. Not liking any other names he's heard the Devil called by, "I choose the name Satan," he responds. Suddenly, Parry went from a dying old man to the Incarnation of Evil. But, being a basically good man, he tries to make things better in the world, learning along the way, that the other Incarnations are against his Office. He decides to go for the gusto, so to speak, and demands an audience with God Himself. But learns that God isn't paying attention, anymore. Gabriel, the archangel speaks with him. And they come to an agreement: If he can corrupt a woman named Niobe Kaftan or any through the third generation, the Office of Good will be declared vacant, the balance will shift toward Evil, and Parry (Satan) wins. However, if he cannot corrupt Niobe, her children, or her grandchildren, then he must forever give up his quest. Parry agrees. Back at Purgatory, he visits the Purgatory Computer, to learn more of Niobe Kaftan, and learns it will be 600 years before she is even born. Even longer before she becomes a Kaftan, by marriage.

Orb, who becomes Gaea, is the second generation. And he advocates his office for love of a good woman. But the man who took over the Office is SO evil, the other Incarnations cannot tolerate him. So they all come together, covertly, to help Parry win his back his Office.

This one has always been my favorite. As long as it's looked at as pure fiction. Because it shows that the one the readers have come to hate, throughout the series is actually the GOOD GUY!

And Eternity, 1990, was originally intended to be the final book in the series. This book picks up Orlene's life, after she follows her son, GawTwo into the Afterlife. The ghost of Jolie has been following Orlene's life, as an "imaginary dream-friend" at the behest of Satan (Parry). Orb as Gaea decided not to follow her daughter's life, for fear she'd show some prejudice in her job. But Parry, being Orb's husband, and Orlene's stepfather, had nothing to hold him back. When Orlene committed suicide, Jolie had to help her. Together, they went to the Purgatory Computer to find out what had become of GawTwo, and were surprised that Nox (Incarnation of Night) had him. Jolie and Orlene go to see Nox, who plays cruel trick on Orlene-to teach her about the extreme desires of men. Then Nox agrees to help Orlene, if she can collect a list of items: a blank soul from Death, to clean GawTwo's slate. A grain of sand from Time's hourglass, to bring back to the moment of GawTwo's corruption. A thread from Fate, to realign his life. From Gaea, a tear, to give him the gift of emotion. From War, a seed, to understand. From Evil, a curse. And from Good, a Blessing. Orlene falls into a deep depression, and begins to sink into hell. Jolie brings her to Gaea, to keep her from sinking. As it happens, Gaea is conducting an experiment to answer a question, and needs their help. So Jolie and Orlene are put into the body of Vita, a 14-year-old prostitute, hooked on drugs. Together, these three embark on an amazing journey to try to get the items necessary to save GawTwo. And learn that God isn't paying attention. On Earth, the people hold a vote to declare the Office of Good vacant. And the Incarnations meet to vote on the new Incarnation. But all must agree or it cannot be done. When Parry (Satan) names his nominee, it shocks everyone. For she is an adulteress, a rapist, a suicide, but is also a very good person. Nox was allowed to keep GawTwo, though no one understood why she got involved in the events of the Day. But she is the Keeper of Secrets.

Under a Velvet Cloak, 2007, is the finale of the series. Piers Anthony decided to write this book, because his fans convinced him it wasn't quite complete. This story even before the beginning of Parry's story, with a woman name Karena. She becomes the apprentice and lover of a well-known sorcerer. And learns some of the powers she has. One day, the sorcerer, Morley, disappears, but leaves behind the cloak that was a symbol of their love. In order to try to learn what became of her love, she becomes a high-dollar prostitute, and learns to please men, in order to get information. After many years, she is brought before Morgan le Fey, half-sister to King Arthur, to be her apprentice. Under Le Fey, she learns to be the most powerful sorceress. Le Fey asks one more job of Karena, before she teaches her the last secret: she must corrupt Sir Gawain, knight of the Round Table, to keep him from finding the Holy Grail. During this corruption, Karena conceives a child, before Sir Gawain must return to marry his betrothed. She uses the last secret Le Fey teaches her to find Morley. And discovers that he has become a vampire. In order to be with him, she becomes a vampire, too, when she is four months pregnant. She goes on to give birth to a son, Gawain Jr, and delivers this son to his father. As a vampress, she cannot take care of him. She learns through the course of GawJr's life, that because she became a vamp, while pregnant with him, she has infected him with a malady of the soul, which will be passed down through generations to come. In her search to try to save her son, she meets the Incarnations of Day, and learns that they care nothing for mere mortals. She discovers another Incarnation, which has been vacant since the beginning of time: The Office of the Incarnation of Night. By the time she has figured everything out, her son is dead and gone, and now has a grandson, Gawain III, who also has the malady. Karena takes on the Incarnation of Night and becomes Nox. Many centuries pass, as she comes into her own, but she has still not discovered how to cure the malady that began with her son. Her chance comes when Orlene gives birth to GawTwo, and the child dies within a year of that malady. She collects his soul from Purgatory, and sends Orlene (who it turns out, is a descendant of Karena's sister), on a quest for the things which will cure this child. In the end, Orlene becomes Goddess, and the Incarnations give over the items necessary. GawTwo is cured. And Karena's dream has finally been fulfilled. The malady is cured. So she consults with the other Incarnations and opens a new lesser Incarnation. GawTwo becomes the Incarnation of Dreams.

These have been my favorite books, since I read that first one, at the age of 15. I've read Piers Anthony's other books, but always come back to the Incarnations series. I was so excited when this last one came out. And it brought tears to my eyes.

I hope those who read this article will read these books. And, if you look on them as purely works of fiction, you will enjoy them, too.