Firefly

I know that going back and rating long-ago-read books is probably a little silly, but this book was seared into my brain as an adolescent.

I picked it up because I was in high school and loving much of Anthony's work (Cluster series, Incarnations of Immortality, Apprentice Adept, etc.. - everything but Xanth) and I saw it at BookStop.

What I found was one was one of the most disturbing novels I'll ever read in my lifetime. An alien uses pheromones to lure in victims to devour them from the inside out. And what follows is all kind of crazy pornographic, over the top "erotica" scenes that were more disturbing than anything else. Oh, and for a dash of pedophilia, a graphic sex scene is included with a small child. No thanks. I haven't read show more Anthony since. show less

I know that going back and rating long-ago-read books is probably a little silly, but this book was seared into my brain as an adolescent.

I picked it up because I was in high school and loving much of Anthony's work (Cluster series, Incarnations of Immortality, Apprentice Adept, etc.. - everything but Xanth) and I saw it at BookStop.

What I found was one was one of the most disturbing novels I'll ever read in my lifetime. An alien uses pheromones to lure in victims to devour them from the inside out. And what follows is all kind of crazy pornographic, over the top "erotica" scenes that were more disturbing than anything else. Oh, and for a dash of pedophilia, a graphic sex scene is included with a small child. No thanks. I haven't read show more Anthony since. show less

Piers Anthony shows his versatility as a writer in this tale of horror and romance. Readers who only know Anthony from his lighter works such as his Xanth series may have trouble accepting this addition to his set of works. However, readers of Rings of Ice and other more adult oriented fare will be pleased to delve into this volume. Anthony crafts an excellent plot line as he forces readers outside of their comfort zone with some of society's concepts of just what is acceptable for behavior for certain individuals.

This is the first book I have read that was not a Xanth book.
I have to say that it was pretty good. I did have some issues with the subject matter but Piers Anthony worked the story so well that it did not bother me as much as it could have. I was actually able to develop a connection with the characters and feel for their particular situations.
All in all I believe it was very well written.

I was less offended by the content of this novel than I was by Anthony's shitty writing. Quit after about 70 pages.

When a fleshless corpse is found on a Florida estate, a reclusive caretaker, an investigative reporter, a police officer, and a woman discover that a creature whose victims die in a frenzied state of sexual ecstasy is preying on human beings.

This wasn't a very good book, IIRC. I don't remember many details, but I remember finding it boring and, well, just not very good. Surprisingly, since Anthony is usually an excellent author. Not his best work, this one.