0X

Human scientists Cal, Veg, and Aquilon navigate dangerous alternate dimensions with their alien manta companions, seeking a way back to Earth while encountering hostile robots and mysterious energy beings, including the powerful, amorphous entity named Ox.

Veg, Cal, and Aquilon--two men and one woman--roamed the alternate dimensions of space and time accompanied by the mantas, strange flying aliens, half animal, half fungus, with the keenest senses of any creature in the universe.

But now, even the mantas were threatened in the hostile world dominated by savage robot machines.

Trapped in an alternative dimension, the group's only hope of escape lay with the being they called OX--an amorphous, telepathic pattern of energy whose infinite power could destroy as easily as deliver...

The strange conclusion to the Orn and Omnivore books. I don't remember much about this one, except that it was a little less weird than the others. I don't own the others, which tends to make me remember there was a good reason for that....

For now this is only getting three stars as it confused me. I read this for a book group challenge as I needed a book with ox in the title and so read this before reading the books one and two, once I've read those books I will reread this one and hopefully it will make more sense.

This is the final volume of the trilogy, and really shouldn’t be read as a standalone novel.

It has a more complicated and exciting plot than the previous volumes, and it introduces yet more alternative worlds and fundamentally different alien species. Be prepared for confusion. If you haven’t read the preceding volumes, I don’t know how you’ll get through it.

I remain vaguely uncomfortable with the human characters, and the relationships between all characters are unconvincing. Why do the mantas behave as loyal servants to the humans? This is convenient but not plausible. What do they get out of it? Nor do I understand exactly why 0X the pattern-entity feels bound to ally with the humans and other more physical beings. Yes, it show more feels that they contribute to its survival; but we’re not shown them doing so.

It seems to me that Piers Anthony is competent with plot, he’s quite intelligent and has a good imagination. He knows a fair amount about the world. But I’d guess he’s a bit of a loner by nature, because he doesn’t dramatize interpersonal relationships well. Probably neither would I, if I tried to write a novel; but at least I can recognize the problem.

If you’ve read the preceding volumes, I think this is worth reading to finish off the series; it’s quite a trip, even though it may not be 100% satisfactory. show less