Split Infinity

I was not much of a book reader. I found a copy of Split Infinity at the bus I was on and started reading it. I was wondering why the book cover had a picture of a unicorn and the first few chapters clearly depicted a science fiction (future world) scenario. By the end of the book, I had to get my hands on Blue Adept and Juxtaposition. I have not found a book even remotely similar to the Apprentice Adept series since. The combination and relevance of both sci-fi world and fantasy world had been excellently written and the style of magic that Piers Anthony penned in this book was clearly unique. I will definitely let my kids read this book once they are able. I have been a Fantasy genre reader ever since I found this book.

Two worlds, one known as Proton and based on science and logic, the other, Phase is based on magic. On Proton lives a master gamesman, Stile, who discovers by accident how to cross between the two worlds. But what should Stile do when he has someone trying to kill him on both worlds? His only means of survival are his skills as a master gamesman, which Stile discovers is how he will work magic. On Proton he has only one friend, a humanoid robot named Sheen. On Phase, Stile has a unicorn and werewolf as his only friends. His fiends on both worlds try to keep him alive as he tries to uncover the identity of his secret assassin as well as keep his lifestyle on the same on both worlds. I think this is an awesome book! It is great for anyone who has ever wanted to believe in magic. A tale of adventure, with unicorns, sorcerores, and robots. This is a great tale for all ages. On a scale of one to ten, I would give it an eleven.

I read this series back in the 1980s when I was a teenager, and I remember loving it. Like most of Piers Anthony's works, it's light and airy and aimed more at the younger reader than an adult looking for a serious or literary work of fiction.Nevertheless, the trilogy is a very enjoyable read, and even better because it's just a trilogy. Unlike many of Anthony's stories that seem to extend over an infinte number of books, this trilogy has a definite ending with book three.Between here and book three (Juxtaposition: a lovely name for a novel, isn't it?) you'll be treated to a wonderfuly imaginative fantasy story involving robots, magic, and even politics. Defintely Piers Anthony at his best.

To be concise, this book rules. To be otherwise; I thought that this book was a very good piece of science fiction with enough of a twist to easily set it apart from some others of that genre. The characters are great; Sheen would have to be my favorite, though. (Who else felt sorry for the poor 'bot? *sniff*) The Phaze/Photon concept was very interesting, and I liked seeing it explored further in the later books of this series.

Split Infinity, the first of the Adept series, is most definitely a great start to this series. Stile, a serf on Proton, discovers an alternate world, where magic is operative. On Proton, Stile is an ordinary jockey, but in Phaze, he is so much more. I loved reading this book as an assignment for school, and I couldn't stop myself from continuing on with the series.