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Phthor is the sequel to Chthon, less intricately structured and less complicated in plot, but still quite dark and ugly in theme and detail. Rather than flashbacks and flash-forwards, it has a Y outline, with the stem the initial story and the ends alternate futures, neither of which is acceptable to Aton's son Arlo. Arlo has his own encounter with a Minionette, and naturally, destruction is upon him and all with whom he associates. Writer and editor Charles Platt was so impressed with the show more chthonic setting that he wrote two additional sequels, Plasm and Soma, which are even darker and grimmer. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
As an adventure story, Chthon and Phthor are pretty good. But, and this is a big one, the belaboring of the incestuous relationships between the Minions and Minionettes, the abuse of women - and how much they welcome it - that is at the root of that relationship, all made this a difficult pair of books to finish. Anthony seems to have issues with the power dynamic between genders. It's possible that he may be using his novels as a medium for shining a revealing light on those issues but, at the end of the day, he comes across as simply too squicky of a writer for me to re-read much else by him. I may give Macroscope a shot someday as I recall liking that book when I was a teen but I know I will never re-visit the Chthon-verse or any of show more his Xanth books ever again. show less
Arlo, Aton's son, navigates the dangerous, sentient planet of Chthon while dealing with warring factions and a burgeoning psychic connection to the planet itself.
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Author Information
369+ Works 145,029 Members
Piers Anthony Dillingham Jacob was born in August, 1934, in Oxford, England. He graduated from Goddard College in Vermont in 1956. He became a naturalized U.S. citizen while serving in the United States Army in 1958. He served in the U.S. Army from 1957-1959. In 1977, he received a British Fantasy Award for A Spell for a Chameleon. Anthony's show more family emigrated to the United States from Britain when he was six. Highly popular because of his science fiction and fantasy works, Anthony is also known for the Jason Striker series and martial arts novels co-written with Roberto Fuentes. A highly prolific author, Anthony's other works include Bio of a Space Tyrant, Cluster, and the Omnivore series. Anthony makes his home in Tampa, Florida. He also writes under the pseudonym Robert Piers. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Belongs to Publisher Series
Bastei Science Fiction-Special (24178)
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Phthor
- Original publication date
- 1975
- People/Characters
- Arlo; Coquina; Ex/Vex; Torment; Aton; Doc Bedside/Doctor Bedeker (show all 12); Benjamin; Morning Haze; Xest; Misery; Verthandi; Afar
- Important places
- Chthon
- Epigraph
- PHTHOR(thor), form of English noun phthore,-ine, old name for the element flourine:derived from the Greek phtheiro,destruction.
1. Armageddon Gotterdammerung, Ragnarok.
2. A chtonic god
Sector Cyclo... (show all)pedia, 426 - First words
- Destruction (Prolog)
Arlo paused as the glowmole scurried toward him. (Chapter 1) - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Phthor
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Statistics
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- 496
- Popularity
- 60,964
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (3.37)
- Languages
- English, German, Lithuanian
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 13
- ASINs
- 8
