I read this book twenty or so years ago, and it was chiefly Anthony's name on the cover that made me pick it up in the first place. It was the foreword, though, that convinced me to read it. Hell, it was the foreword to this book that inspired me to start reading forewords at all.
The book itself is only so-so, but the story of how the book came to be still moves me. ( )

This one was more interesting for the history of how it came to be, than by itself. ( )

I read this book in high school and loved it. Its views on good and evil really resonated with me. The ending especially has stuck with me.

It’s been so long since I read it, the plot is a little fuzzy. Maybe sometime soon I’ll see if the writing holds up to what I remember. ( )

Seth Warner is on his way home from a party when he is set upon by a group of teenage ruffians. He runs from them and ends up falling through the ice into a lake. Just as he is about to drown, he is wrenched from this world and into another plane where he finds he is a "Chosen" and, along with three others from different planes must, battle a sorcerer by the name of Nefarious. The magical quest brings him into conflict with various agents of Nefarious as well as helpful creatures.
This is a young adult novel with a teen aged protagonist. Seth and his companions are dynamic characters who make realizations about themselves throughout the narrative, as well as develop insights on human nature. Themes include honesty, assumptions, compassion, and power. The plot is suspenseful and adventurous. The world-building is lush, but very similar to another Anthony book I recently read. In fact, the whole thing reminded me a lot of Phaze from the Apprentice Adept series. Since this was a YA title, and a collaboration, there was not as much of the sex and chauvinism one might expect from an Anthony work, for which I was grateful. The relationships throughout seemed genuinely built and to be mutual partnerships.
I would recommend this for a young reader of fantasy. It might even be a great introduction novel for those new to the genre. ( )

I thought it was a brilliant piece of literature, having read it seven times. The twists and turns continuously make you wonder what is going to happen next. The fact that Piers Anthony got the book half way done and finished it himself makes it surprising that it turned out as great as it did. ( )