A Spell for Chameleon, by Piers Anthony

Bibliographic Information:
Anthony, P. (1977). A Spell for Chameleon. Ballantine Books. ISBN: 0345347536

Book Awards:
1978. British Fantasy, August Derleth Fantasy Award


Plot Summary:
Bink hasn't been able to demonstrate a magic talent by the age of 25, so now he is going to be exiled from Xanth, land of magic, to Mundania (our world). The aging king refuses to listen as Bink insists that Humphrey the Magician stated that Bink has powerful magic of an undefined nature. As he crosses the spell shield into Mundania, he is horrified to discover that he is now in the clutches of Evil Magician Trent, who had himself been exiled many years ago. What's more, Bink is apparently a key component of Trent's plans to invade Xanth and take the throne for himself. Bink must find a way to save Xanth without help, and seemingly without magic.

Critical Evaluation:
This book, while full of the action, magic, and strange creatures that mark many great fantasy tales, can slow down to a crawl as the reader is dragged through Bink's endless mental speculation on the nature of magic. If the reader is not in a hurry, Bink's thought processes and moral grappling are interesting, but they will not suit an impatient or very young reader. It is indisputable, however, that all that speculation ties neatly into the plot as it unfolds. Bink is an everyday sort of hero, and the reader grows to admire him and the choices he makes more and more throughout the story. Although there are some adult (sexual) themes in the book, they are treated obliquely, and are neither gratuitous to the plot nor inappropriate for teens.

Reader's Annotation:
Bink is willing to spend a year in servitude to a magician to discover his magic talent--anything is better than exile. Bink's talent has a mind of its own, however, and it has big plans for Bink that don't agree with any of his own!

About the Author:
Piers Anthony was born in Oxford, England in 1934. His family moved to the U.S. when he was four, and he graduated from Goddard College. He served for two years in the military, and taught in Florida for a couple of years before stopping to write full time. He has written a fantasy novel for every letter of the alphabet, and many more besides.

Genre:
Fantasy

Curriculum Ties:
Sociology

Booktalking Ideas:
everyone with one talent
most powerful=information, transformation, weather, etc.

Interest Age:
13+

Challenge Issues:
Rape trial
Sexual temptation/bribery
How to handle:
Read the book! Urge parent to do the same. Cite awards and reviews. Refer to collection development policy. If dispute continues, parents' wishes regarding their own children will be respected.

Reason Included:
This book was the first that I read by Piers Anthony, and it sparked a wonderful few years of reading all of his books.