Incarnations of Immortality - Book One - On a Pale Horse

Delightful, original and definitely a relaxing ride into the philosphies of life (and the after-life). The characters are unique and almost always smoothly introduced. Piers Anthony makes no habit of dilly dallying. He tells a tale and moves along, just the way I like my books. Reading book one has left me wanting more. However, there were times I got the impression that he bunched a chunk of discussion into one sequence. Necessary discussions, most definitely, but it was as if he wrote them in that one place just so he could get them over with. Sometimes I got the urge to skip those few paragraphs, but of course, I knew that if I gave into the temptation, I probably wouldn't understand what comes after it.
All in all, I give this book a 4. It was, after all, most enjoyable.

Let me start off by saying the Xanth novels by Anthony rank as one of my favorite all time fantasy series...truly fun, creative with memorable characters! On A Pale Horse was good, but something about it, especially the dialogue, was a bit off and not up to the high standards I expected. That scene with the band and the preacher and the singer - I couldn't follow any of the dialogue and wasn't sure what era Mr. Anthony was going for. I did love the portrayl of the Devil, loved Death's horse and really enjoyed Death coming into his own by the end of the book. I'll defintely seek out Book 2...but hope the dialogue is a bit tighter.
Thx!

This remains the most important book in the world to me. I read this book and the rest of the series in primary school (they are quite adult, but I was an advanced reader!) and they opened my eyes to what books could be and how stories can affect one's life. They single-handedly crystallised my goal to become a writer.

On a Pale Horse introduces us to the Incarnations world. The Incarnations of Immortality are humans who become immortal in order to hold an office - Death (ie the grim reaper) in the first book, and the others: Fate, Time, War, Nature, Good, Evil, Night in the subsequent books. These people may be immortal, but their actions, thoughts and desires are still very much human. This of course leads to a lot of conflict and escalating situations.

One of the most brilliant things about this world is that it melds science and magic. It is a modern-day, scientific world, but magic is everywhere and practised constantly. It's a melding of two genres that I've never seen done in a better way. Everything about this series is original, gripping and extremely memorable. I still remember how I felt when I first read them, how I got completely stuck in that world. They also remain the only books I have ever read more than once.

Piers Anthony is my writing hero. I can't recommend this book and the rest of the series highly enough. Do yourself a favour...

In high school, I read this book because the cutest guy in our class was reading it. Now, I don't know where that guy is, but I own all 7 books in the Incarnations series. This book, besides being a necessary foundation for the rest, is a terrific story. The book follows Zane, an ordinary man who has made some bad choices, as he makes a choice that will change his whole life (and death) and then is faced with other difficult choices -at least one that can change all of history. Like all Mr. Anthony's books, this is well written and draws you in. If you are looking for a good series to keep your interest, I recommend the Incarnations of Immortality, and please, start with this one. This series is best read in order.

I read this book many years ago and have recommended it to many friends. I read the previous reviewer's ideas and I understand, however, I'm not sure this bunch of books should be taken very seriously. I think that On a Pale Horse is a very clever intersting take on death, love and life, and anything more than that should probably be left to more wieghtly non-fiction books. Anthony write a compelling tale about a man thrust into a strange situation with no previous knowledge, and he muddles though making mistakes and fixing what he can. I loved this book, I found it thought provoking and intelligent.

Loved this book! So glad I read it! I found out awhile ago that it was the inspiration for one of my favorite tv shows of all time, Dead Like Me, I could definitely see the connection. Not the exact same story, but the relation was obvious. It also seemed to have aspects of another show I loved, Reaper. Both shows that were cancelled far to early! I enjoyed this book so much I caught myself slowing my reading pace at the end because I didn't want the story to stop.

Piers Anthony is one of the best known sci-fi/fantasy authors of his time. Most of this acclaim is for his Xanth series. While a good read-Xanth isn't as deep as The Incarnations of Immortality. If you're interested in an easy, before you go to sleep read, then Xanth's your ticket. For something a bit deeper that might make you question a myth or two (perhaps even the meaning of good vs. evil) then start with this book. Here's the beginning for you to discover a little known set of jewels from an author you may already know. My personal favorites of Anthony's assorted series and a must read for all fans of this genre

This is one of the funniest things I've ever read. The absurdity of the plot is what makes it exciting, once you suspend your disbelief. Anthony treats very serious issues with a light hearted look, being as simple as the human heart calls for. While this simplicity may be seen as naive, or childish, I think it's the mark of wisdom.
Piers messes around with science fiction and fantasy in a very funny way, because of how outlandishly ridiculous it gets. But the thing is, he doesn't ever seem to be taking himself very seriously. I never liked the mix of sci-fi and fantasy, myself, and I wasn't aware of that in the book when I began reading it, and still I enjoyed it a lot... so, if you're skeptical about this kind of thing (as I often am), don't be.
Don't intelectualize it a lot. It's just good old fun.

This is the first, and best, of Piers Anthony's series Incantations of Immortality. Zane, a miserable and very poor man, inadvertenly becomes the Incarnation of Death when he kills the previous officeholder. The resulting adventure is very fun to read. He encounters Fate, Chronos, and of course (who else could it be) Satan. And, of course, the woman he falls in love with, Luna. I think this is at the level of Empire of the East; a great series second only to Lord of the Rings. I just reread it after reading it 20 years ago, and am glad I did so. Get it now!

When Zane shot Death, he learned, too late, that he would have to assume his place, speeding over the world riding his pale horse, and ending the lives of others. Sooner than he would have thought possible, Zane found himself being drawn to Satan's plot. Already the Prince of Evil was forging a trap in which Zane must act to destroy Luna, the woman he loved...unless he could discover the only way out....
The first novel of the INCARNATIONS OF IMMORATLITY series.

A great beginning to a wonderful series questioning the idendities and role of immortal beings in the lives of mortal men and women. Much more adult and relevant than Anthony's Adept or Magic series.

I haven't read the Incarnations in over a decade and decided to revisit this amazing series. This series take a uniquie perspective at our existence with the 7 People that assumes the offices of their Incarnations (Death, Time, Fate, Nature, War, Satan, God).
The First book visits the Incarnation of Death and how the character Zane assumed the office of the Grim Reaper as he was about to commit suicide. Unfortunately his predessesor botches the taking of Zanes soul,and Zane accidentaly kills the Incarnation of Death and assumes his job by doning he clothes and begins a very unique journey.
I hope that people of Faith don't get to uppity in this read as it is merely a very clever and exiting Fiction of life. Heck, a little escape from reality is a good thing.

This is definately one of the best Piers Anthony has ever written! With his clever wit, he gives life to every day emotions. This is the first book of his "Incarnation of Immortality" series. This book tells the story of the Incarnation of "Death". How a mortal becomes the "Grim Reaper" and his trouble dealing with his new office. Plus you get to meet the rest of the "Incarnations", which of course is the rest of the series. The series fits together like a big jigsaw puzzle. Even better than his "Xanth" series, in my opinion.

On A Pale Horse by Piers Anthony is an excellent book. It is full of action and problem solving, like when Zane realized he was to be the new Death. Zane had many difficulties with his new job, like learning how to take and judge souls. Zane did solve this problem, however. By experimenting with Mortis and his new tools/abilities, Zane realized how he can take and judge clients. He also got help form other Incarnations, such as Fate.

Zane might not get along with everyone though. For example, you could put Zane together with Mo from Cornelia DeFunke's "InkDeath". Zane is more reluctant about killing, and only does so to help the one he loves. He also killed an important person in his life to end her suffering. Mo can kill as easy as a robber in InkDeath, but would never even consider killing the same figures as Zane. They both, however, would do almost anything for loved ones, with how much they care about them. Whether it be stopping all deaths or risking their lives, they would do it. Despite their differences, they could help each other in battle, and Zane might help Mo see some sense in his ways.

A jacket blurb for this book should be "A fantastic story that will make you laugh, gasp, and beg for more". While some parts will make you smile or laugh aloud, others may make you gasp. Whether that gasp is fear or surprise, it's up to you. This book is definitely a favorite among readers. Its action and descriptive scenes will make you want to keep going.

I would definitely recommend this story to any reader. Its details and descriptions helped characters move through my mind as if I was watching the scenes if a movie unfold, rather than read about them. The characters each had a unique personality, and the creativity was outstanding. If you're a fantasy, romance, or supernatural lover, or just a plain reader looking for a good story, this is for you. Magic, ghosts, a bit of romance here and there, flying carpets, and mythical creatures are sure to drag you in!

Some themes in this book can be applied to our own lives. One of them is solving difficult problems in different ways. You could use Mother Nature's five sticks for example: Your solution could involve moving forward, start to finish, with no alternate options. Or in a ladder formation, moving with small steps and a few errors. The next one would be a star-like shape, involving all directions. Another one would be a pentagon, involving going around over and over until you realized it. Finally you could use the -|||- form, jumping to a conclusion. All of these ways of problem-solving that Mother Nature explained could help you solve your own problems in life. Whichever path you use is up to you.

Imagine this... A man takes a trip on a flying carpet to a little shop in the city selling amulets. Along the way he sees all sorts of billboards, many of them advertising the wonders of Hell itself. Cars drive on the roads below, airplanes fill the sky. And all around him are the signs of not only science, but magic as well.
In the first book of the Incarnations of Immortality Piers Anthony does a wonderful job of mixing magic, science, and a fair dose of mayhem as he weaves mystery, adventure and romance together.
He also gives an interesting twist to the old myths of Death, Fate, Satan, and other deities... One of my favorites.

This series has the usual Piers Anthony Wit, but is a much more "serious" and thought-provoking read than the Xanth series (which I enjoyed in my teens, but found got too "child-like" to keep my attention when I got older).
This series has more the 'dark' feel of Tolkien's classic "Lord of the Rings" series - but actually comes from a much more original angle - each book comes from a very unique perspective of a "mortal man" that is suddenly thrust into taking on the role of an "immortal" (such as Death or Fate or War), and serve certain "duties" in order to maintain the proper "order" of the world. Piers Anthony does a great job of making each "immortal" role convincing as well as the actions and reactions of the mortals suddenly finding themselves in these roles. Makes a person think about the balance of forces in life.

As a big fan of Piers Anthony's Xanth series, I have to admit, "On a Pale Horse" was not what I figured it would be (that is, full of jokes and puns), but I wasn't disappointed. The book follows a regular joe who just 'happens' to accidentally "kill" death... so he's stuck taking over the job. It's incredibly interesting to follow, with fresh ideas on what Death might be, and a look at why it's actually an important an necessary thing in life.

I've read this book several more times and enjoyed it just as much on each re-read. Though I'm a huge fan of "Xanth", this book has become one of my favorites by Anthony. I probably never would have just picked it up myself, but my sister's recommendation wasn't wrong! If you're looking for a really fresh and unusual but fun read this could be it. Highly recommended!

I highly recommend this book for all ages. Its topics are great, ranging from the philosophical argument of why death is necessary to the very entertaining way of Death to dealing with souls.

*just a few spoilers*

The characters in this book are exceptionally unique on its own. We got the ghost of a girl, who signals death to everyone she can perceive, the 5 incarnations of Death, Fate (three females (a young woman, a middle-aged one, and an aged woman) sharing one malleable body), Time (a male who can control all aspects of time), War (an stubborn, ancient, as in centuries old, misogynistic man) and Nature (a mysterious, riddle-speaking women, who is neither old or young), Death's horse: Mortis, a sarcastic computer, Satan and an artist who was offered by his father to the Incarnation of Death.

*end spoilers*

Overall, the book puts Zane in some interesting situations which continue to add to the ongoing premise of the book (A philosophical one, more than a plot based one, or so i'd like to believe ^_^), with varying results. For example, we get to see an Atheist point of view of their mainframe.

Magic in the universe of the Incarnations is real but includes a psychological factor, for example, you and the person affected by it (if any) must believe (even in a subconscious level) that there is a threat or skill to be demonstrated (this is expanded upon in the sixth book of the series).

To conclude, I'd like to recommend these book(s) to everyone (ranging from a considerable age (12?), since there is murder, rape, suicide and such other topics in this book).

Anthony can quite often repeat the same old jokes and stories over and over again. With "Pale Horse", a new idea is brought to light. The prospect of 5 Incarnations of neither Good nor Evil is fasciating, and bringing the wrinkle of average people having the ability to assume the positions make these books excellent entertainment. In this first chapter we meet a person who assumes the Incarnation of Death. Anthony deals with issues of dying and the soul head on, yet staying entertaining. A must read for any fantasy fan!!!

This book was suggested to me by a very avid bookworm. I read the whole book in less than two weeks. I could not put it down. The way Anthony develops Zane, and how Zane is thrust into the role of Death by the Magician and Fate, was fantastic. The fact that it presents the Seven Incarnations (Death, Time, Fate, War, Mother Nature, Evil,and of course, Good) as "Offices" and people and not just abstract ideas, was definately something to think aboout. I say it is the best of all the seven books in the series. I still read the novel frequently!

I must say I was looking for a different take on fantasy novels..and I was really blown away by this book. As much as its a fantasy novel you cant help but really think about certain things that the author portrayed in his novel. Loved the Satan and Death confrontation and was anticipating a reaction with God..but oh well. Great book nonetheless. Zane build confidence and whats more important is his faith.

I've read this book countless times, and each time I read it again it gets better. This book makes you re-evaluate you views on everything from faith and love to life and death. Mr. Anthony takes the time to delve into his personal views of life and death, and the results are a thought provoking and an interesting look into the nature of not only death but life also. I would like to see another book in the Incarnations of Immortality series, especially another on death, but also into Time and Fate....

I usually hate advertising for any company-and I usually don't pay attention to other people's comments as well. However...this book is excellent. As other people mentioned-it deals with complex issues about life and death in a well-written way. The other books are just as good and the last one AND ETERNITY should be on the the store order list soon. These books have mass appeal and this is coming from a girl of fourteen. WARNING: PEOPLE WHO TAKE GOD EXTREMLY SERIOUSLY WOULD NOT ENJOY THIS SERIES.

This is the start of Anthony's best series ever. In this, the first in the series of 7 Incarnation of Immortality books, Anthony once again tranports the reader into his realm of understanding.
His concept on death is not only plausable, but believable. Unlike other authors which may ATTEMPT to entertain the reader, Anthony once again DELIVERS with his enthusiastic and well defined narratives.
It's not only a must read for Anthony fans, but a must see for all readers, both fiction and non.

I don't typically like Anthony's efforts much. Out of the eight or nine books of his I've tried to read, I've only finished four and there were only two of these that I liked.
'On a Pale Horse' was one of them. Anthony's take on Death is at once thought-provoking and funny, and the world he establishes in this novel is an interesting one. The book grabbed my attention from the very beginning (where the protaganist shoots Death and must then take on his mantle) and held it to very last page.
This is a worthy addition to any fantasy library.

After having read this book five times, I can say that it is frought with faults.

On the other hand, it is the most addictive book I have ever read; also, the most inspiring; on top of all this, heart warming and meaningful.

It makes you ignore the oversimpplifications and naive philosophising, and instead you develop a relation with it.

In terms of enjoyment and emotion, it is five stars. After you have read it , again and again, you may find it simplistic, but also more familiar and looking forward to reading again in about a year.

I have loved this book for decades. It is my 'go to' book whenever I want just a fun read for an afternoon. The entire series is great, but this one is the best. I highly recommend it if you enjoy fantasy. I have several copies including a hardback edition.

I listened to the Audio Book about 10 years ago and was duly impressed. I just finished listening to the book on CD again and find it eve BETTER than the first time through.

Piers Anthony has a real classic series here and I recommend the audio book over the paper book. George Guidell is a wonderful story teller and Recorded Books always puts out a great production.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED (even is Sci-fi is not your thing).

this book is good in so many ways especially how it combines and intertwines with the other books in the series i thought it would be stupid when my friend told me to read it and once i started i couldn't stop i stayed up all night and most the next day and read through the first three books which he had then went to the library and got the rest of them to read a must read book for anyone it covers so many aspects of life, death, love, hate, deception, you name it this book has it

This is a wonderful story set in a world that is a mix of magic and science. Through a series of bad decisions and unfortunate events, Zane is driven to suicide. But, the terrifying appearance of Death himself results in Zane killing Death, then assuming his role.

Wow! Wonderful mix of fantasy, characters, action and even a great love story.

This book was recommended to me by a friend, and when he told me basically what the series was about, I thought, "This sounds like boring, preachy junk." After the first chapter of "On A Pale Horse", I changed my mind very quickly. Not only does Anthony write about never-before dealt with ideas and subject matter, but he tells it like he experienced it all! I started wondering whether Piers Anthony has at one point been the Reaper! Incredible story.

This book is an adventure from the very beginning when a man named Zane is basically cheated out of what he thought was his only chance at true love and wealth. When he decides to commit suicide he is visited by a dark figure and shoots him instead. What he doesn't realize is that he has just shot Death, and now he must take on his role of office. Basic job: Go to the people whose lives are in balance of both good and evil, collect their souls, and decide whether they should be taken to Heaven, Hell, or Purgatory. On his job he meets a lovely woman named Luna Kaftan, the daughter of the Magician Kaftan who's soul is in balance. He is sent to Purgatory. Luna and Zane (Death) fall in love until Satan comes into play. Luna is supposedly going to save the world from Satan twenty years' hence, which makes for an excellent novel of love, the Incarnations, magic, science, and the battle between Good & Evil.

The balance between good and evil wrestled in the Incarnations Series of Piers Anthony's books provides an understanding of the way we sometimes look at life and immortality. This particular book invites the reader to step into the shoes of the Grimm Reaper himself. And towards the end of this journey you will feel compelled to show compassion towards this character. What I found most enjoyable about this series is the way it exposed me to a new perspective of reality

If you enjoyed the movie "Meet Joe Black" or it's older "sibling" "Death Takes A Holiday" then you should definitely read this book. I read it after a friend recommended it to me while we were discussing Meet Joe Black and I could not put it down. This is one of the most entertaining, enjoyable, interesting books/series I've ever read. The series gets less and less innovative as it goes along (the other books take the same approach to discuss the different incarnations) but they take an interesting look at their respective incarnations and give a thought-provoking persepective on them.

It's one of my favorite reads and I recommend it every chance I get.

Thank you, Piers Anthony! (I find myself thinking that after almost every book I read written by him, though) The concepts he concocts in this futuristic, magical place we actually know as Earth are not only welcome, but thought-provoking &, well, fun! I found myself imagining what it would be like if I were the personification of Death, Time, War, Fate, Nature, Good, and, of course: Evil. As I said ~ NOT for the unimaginative!

This book, like so many books by Piers Anthony, is captivating and intertesting. He is able to write Zane incredibly well, and makes him real to the reader. Anthony is also able to traverse the dimentions of Purgatory and Hell without ostracising anyone.

While this is a stand-alone novel, much like Anthony's other series books, I highly suggest reading this one begining to end--it will help with understanding some of the later books, as this is one series that is incredibly interwoven.

Zahn only THINKS he has problems, sure he is broke and he has no where to live but if all else fails he can always kill himself right?
Well even that goes aye when he accidentally kills death. Ok this time Zahn's got real problems and he is drawn into a conspiracy involving God, Satan, Chronos, Mars and others.
Overall-While it does have some theological plot holes big enough to drive a freaking truck threw I still like this book recommend it to all.

This first book in the Incarnations of Immortality is surprisingly good, almost despite itself. There are some interesting ideas here, and the story is surprisingly compelling for something so fantastic. Unfortunately, Piers Anthony still writes like Piers Anthony. The characters are one-dimensional, the story stops for pages at a time while he introduces new gadgetry that doesn't serve any purpose, and I swear he uses the word "balk" every third sentence. In the hands of a competent writer (or even a competent editor), this book would've been a classic. As it stands, it's still surprisingly good for how bad it is.

On a Pale Horse is set in a somewhat bizarre fantasy world where science competes with magic for getting things done. Our hero becomes Death by shooting and killing the previous Death when the previous Death showed up as his suicide attempt The new Death has to complete his on the job training, solve a mystery and duel with the Devil. Fundamentally a pretty good yarn, however I did not enjoy it as much as a might have because of the fantasy, magic elements. The first in a series...

While it's been awhile since i read this book i seen it in my book store and couldn't help it this is one of my favorites if not my favorite book of all time the whole incarnation of immortality series is awesome, but this is the best book followed closely by the book for love of evil, it grips you so hard you'll have a hard time putting it down, so leave yourself a day or 2 of free time before you start.

I read this book many years ago and I think I really liked it. Not so much as an adult with a little more understanding under my belt. Piers Anthony attempts to satirically portray a Christian, personal eschatological view (what happens when you die)and fails miserably. It isn't much surprise as Piers Anthony was an atheist as he wrote the book. There is a bunch of weird Karma stuff and lots of magic...it is just a strange and poorly thought out book.

I do like the writing style and the book kept me interested, which is why I gave it two stars. It is just hard to really give any acclaim for a work that tries so hard to avoid any semblance of reality.

As a self professed bookworm, I have read lots of books, and while my tastes dable in many genres, I haven't read a lot of sci-fi. This book, however, remains my favorite book of all time, in any genre. The story of a man down on his luck, things change quickly when he purchases a ruby from a shop. Once this book picks up, it never lets go, and I'd even go as far as to say it changed my outlook on life. The rest of the "incarnations" books interweave nicely with each other, but this book will always stand out to me as the shining gem of the series. Whether you like sci-fi or not, pick this one up.

I loved this book in part due to Anthony's presentation of a world in which science, magic, and religion mesh together without contradiction. The plot, character buildup, setting, and very idea of Incarnations of Immortality is sheer genious. This book is wonderful. I haven't read book 2 or 5 in this series, but 3 and 4 were excellent as well. This is my favorite out of the ones I've read, though.

Is it possible to blend magic, fantasy, science fiction, and religion into a cohesive and compelling story? Yes! Piers Anthony proves beyond the shadow of a doubt that it is not only possible but has already been done. The Incarnations of Immortality series, and On A Pale Horse in particular, provide entertainment and are thought provoking as well. READ IT, READ THE SERIES! You will be richer for the effort.

Having read the entire Incarnations of Immortality series I must say that On A Pale Horse is the first step in a highly intelligent, amazingly interwoven discertation on the complexities of morality. The first book may appear to have a moral simplicity, the series does not. An intelligent read in the guise of fantasy, I highly recommend both the book and the series if you enjoy thinking while you read.

Several comments have been made by customers stating that this book depicts women in a harsh way, I strongly agree with this. However, if you look past this unfortunate part of the book, you will find a lot of interesting ideas that Piers Anthony has presented in regards to death and the afterlife.
I gave it three stars because I didn't exactly love the whole book. The ending became jumbled up and I felt it didn't exactly serve justice to the interesting first half of the book.

Yet another "man becomes Death" tale, with a silly subplot about the war of Heaven vs. Hell. Lots of padding in between.

I remember in high school several friends had recommended this. Who knows, I might even have liked it... 30 years ago. Reading in retrospect, it seems its target audience is young teenagers who don't have much exposure to "good" literature.

The plot is shallow--and internally inconsistent/contradictory, the characters are one-dimensional, and the setting was annoying (think "Xanth on Earth"). The writing style is horridly florid, and you can make a drinking game out of how many exclamation marks are used (warning: you'll get hammered a chapter into it.) As if that wasn't bad enough, there are lengthy dialogue digressions that are probably meant to be "profound" but simply come across as superficial and intellectually pretentious.

I'm tempted to give it 1 star, but I'll bump up to two as I can actually see young people liking it.

Piers Anthony starts off another series with a big BANG! Like Bio of a Space Tyrant, the start of Incarnations of Immortality keeps you thinking, and makes you read about time (which is the dryest book in the series), fate, war, nature, Satan, and God. Anthony's series tests your beliefs about the afterlife and how the world really goes around.

I found Piers Anthony by mistake in the library one day and was instantly HOOKED! It took me a while to bring myself to read the Incantations series because they werent XANTH books, but once I got started .... boyohboy! What a brilliant series. The first book was so intriguing I just couldnt stop. The way the whole plot was put together really gave me a new outlook on life! Each book can luckily be read on its own, but it really is a great idea to read them all - not only because they are all good stories, but the plot within the plot is a nice twist! Go Piers!!!

I thought going into the book that it was a series that I would throughly enjoy...not so. From the description I was excited and I couldn't wait to read it. I am not sorry I read it, but after reading it I didn't want to go out and get the rest of the series. There was a little more irony involved than I usually enjoy, so if you like books like The Color of Magic, or The Big Over Easy, it is probably more your style.

This is one of my top 5 books of all time. I read it when I was in college and re-read it several years ago. I thought the concept of a person becoming death itself and going around dealing with dying people to be an intriguing idea and the type of thing that sci-fi handles extremely well. I highly recommend it.

Piers Anthony is, in my opinion, one of the most talented authors in the sci-fi/fantasy genre that I have ever read. Simply the idea of the Incarnations of Immortality being run by mortals, and their trials and tribulations of those people make for a wonderful story that one cannot stop reading.
I must give you a fair warning though: This book begins a plot that doesnt end for another six books. If you are an avid reader and can't put a book down, I would suggest you don't start reading this...as I could not force myself to stop. I found myself going from store to store buying the rest of the series and reading them all within a 3 month period.
If you like this genre, you WILL like this book. I hope everyone else enjoys this book as much as I did.

I'm an avid reader...anything from Horror to Love Stories, Suspense to Biography's. "On a Pale Horse", I had the book for months before committing myself to reading it. Sci-Fi and Fantasy had never intrigued me. I can honestly say of the thousands of books I've read, this one stands out in it's uniqueness. It is unlike any other book. While, I can't go so far to say it's the best book ever, or even the best I've personally read, it is a wonderful and entertaining story. Assuming of course your mind is open to alternative possibilities in life, and in the case of this book, death. On the humerous side, the book is one of the very few, that made me laugh out loud. A fun story, enlightening, with a few things to really make you think tucked into it's pages. Open the book, and let your mind play. You'll enjoy.

Piers Anthony has opened a whole new world of possibilities with his Incarnations of Immortality series, and it all began with On A Pale Horse. His mix of science and magic allows him to do things never before imagined in the realms of fantasy or science fiction. His characters are the most memorable I've ever read of, and he keeps you wondering what's going to happen next throughout the whole book. He explores politics, religion, euthanasia and many other issues in this novel and presents new views on old questions that absolutely force you to reevaluate everything you've ever though. This is, without a doubt, the best book I've ever read!

Let me first say that I own this book and the entire series that follows. Let me also say that I started and finished that series while I was in High School. At the time, I thought it was one of the most ingenious things I'd ever heard of. I loved the blending of science fiction and fantasy elements; the characters; and the overall premise.

Now, I'm 28 and my tastes have matured somewhat. I still peruse the books occasionally, but the fact is that most of my enjoyment comes from nostalgia rather then the quality of the book.

Here's the good: The premise is still magnificent. A man accidentally kills Death and, as such, is forced to take over his role in the cosmos. The idea that the Incarnation of Death (as well as Time, Fate, War, and Nature) is simply a job that is performed by a (former) mortal is intriguing to me. I like the idea of giving a human face to such abstract concepts. The adventure is fun, and I still sometimes imagine what it would be like to live in such a world.

Now the bad: Basically, it's not very well written, particularly during the dialogue. Language is stilted and formal, lacking the natural flow with which a normal person speaks (think of the dialogue from the Star Wars prequels). Also, there's no individual voice. If you were given five different scraps of dialogue, taken out of context, you'd never have a clue who was speaking because everybody speaks the same way. For example, I'd never heard the word "bailiwick" until reading this book, yet everybody in this universe both knows it and uses it at every possible opportunity. There are more such examples, but that's the first that pops into my mind.

I might recommend this book for younger readers as a first foray into science fiction or fantasy (though there are some pretty up front sexual moments, so, if you're a parent, you may want to decide what's too young. I was in High School and hadn't seen sex even referenced in a book before this). For older readers, who are already well-read, you may want to give this one a pass.

My best recommendation would be to find somebody who loves this book and have them tell you the story. Doubtless, they'll give you the best highlights, and gloss over the lesser parts. That way you still get the benefit of the wonderful premise and plot line, but you can avoid having to read the juvenile writing.

This book was, what can I say, AWESOME! My friend was reading it and started telling me about it. I thought it sounded interesting so I borrowed it when he was done. Boy was that one of the best choices I have ever made! I'm not a big reader, but I couldn't put this book down. The way Anthony intertwines the world of magic and science and makes the afterlife like a beaurocracy is very interesting. I just ordered the next 2 books and although I almost never read, I plan to read the entire series, possibly more than once. I recommend this book to anyone, especially if you have an open mind and can truly take in the full experience! Read it! If you've read it and would like to talk about it, I'd love to get some email from you.

On a Pale Horse is one of my most favorite novels. It is a view of Death like never seen before. Piers has been one of my most favorite novelists since I was a teenager. So when we collaborated on the Quest for the Fallen Star, I achieved a higher regard for the man. He truly is a gifted writer. - James Richey

This book was great. I loved the whole series. With their exciting plots, and a hint of creepiness, they are fun-to-read stories. Besides the story alone, there are very deep philosophical ideas buried in the books. Be prepared to read interesting views on the afterlife and things not of this world.

The novel, On a Pale Horse, is a fantasy by one of the masters of the field, Poul Anderson. It is the first in the intriguing "Incarnations of Immortality" series, which explores the ramifications of a world where things like Time, Fate, War, and the subject of this book, Death, were personified.
This story takes place in the same fictional universe as some of Mr. Anderson's other novels. In it, Magic and Science are coexistent and codependent. This makes not only for a more interesting plot, but also a fascinating setting.
Zane, the main character of this novel, has atrocious luck, and when something inside him guides him into the enchanted gem shop, this is graphically illustrated. When he holds the Deathstone, it shows him that his demise is but a few hours away. When he picks up the Lovestone, however, it shows him that his true love is just as close.
Zane makes a deal. The shopkeeper may have the one true love Zane was supposed to have, in exchange for a Wealthstone rumored to bring its namesake. In short, the woman Zane was supposed to meet and fall in love with is rich beyond his wildest dreams, and the Wealthestone brings wealth, but in the form of occasional bits of lost pocket change.
At home, Zane finds himself committing suicide when the door swings open and in strides Death incarnate. Zane has just enough composure to swing the gun around towards Death and pull the trigger. This is a mistake, as Zane soon learns, for the person who kills death gets to be his successor, with all of the position's responsibilities.
Just as he is starting to get used to his job and try to change some of the rules for the better, he discovers that he is at the center of a conspiracy created by the other incarnations. This conspiracy will pit him against a force as great as any incarnation. It will force him to choose between his newfound love, and the well being of the Universe.
Mr. Anderson's use of imagery is exemplary, and the plot, although complex at first gaze, becomes much simpler as you read. Although sensory language is rather lacking, the descriptions of the way Zane's world works more than make up for this. I found that this book had a completely unexpected ending, and the tone was surprisingly upbeat for the subject matter.
This novel is an excellent read, and will pull you into its clutches as soon as you start the first page. This is another excellent fantasy from Poul Anderson, and I look forward to reading the rest of this series.

I have dyslexia and it is very hard for a book let alone a series to keep my attention with how slow I read. I read the whole series in three months, which is a miracle for me. On a pale horse is the book that got me into reading. If not for my friend handing me this book I probably would never have enjoyed books so much.

"On a Pale Horse" is a good book. The book has pros and cons to it though. The pros would be; being able to live forever, and helping people who are dying by taking their souls to get rid of the pain. The cons would be; worrying about your successor coming to kill you, and not knowing where to send all the souls and how to get them there. Piers Anthony really makes his stories and novels very interesting. He makes you think about what's going to happen next in the story (or novel). In the book "On a Pale Horse," Anthony talks about a guy that kills Death, and becomes death. He really makes you wonder about what the next thing is that Zane will have to do. So if you are looking for a really good book to read, read Piers Anthony's "On a Pale Horse."

Zanes life wasn't worth living anymore. He had no money, no means of making money and he had no friends. After getting tricked out of a possible romance with a wealthy girl Zane goes home, and with every intention of killing himself. But just as he is about to pull the trigger,death walks through his door. The icarnaiton of death had come to take his soul. In a panic Zane turns the gun and shoots death. And in doing so he unknowingly assumed deaths office. The incarnation of Fate soon comes to inform Zane of this change. Through trials and trying to foil the never ceasing evil plots of satan,Zane must try and fulfill the requirements of his office. He must try to be a good death.

This one is played straight. The premise being that being an Incarnation is a career, and your average people get to do it. The book is surprisingly good, as it delves into the theme. This, of course, is Death, (with a capital D) for those not familiar with the quotation the title alludes to.

Cloak, grim reaper, scythe, that sort of thing.

I just finish reading this book and I could not put it down. Story is creative, adventuresome, FUN, and short. I highly recommend this book to anyone. One of the more creative book by Piers Anthony.

I wonder why this book has not been made a movie yet? I love the story line, although most people would think that being Death would be morbid, and depressing, this book shows that there are good things in being even Death.... it makes you think. This is Piers Anthony's best yet...

This book was my favorite of the series, though i have only read the first 3 and am halfway through the fourth. I love Anthony's take on death and what his job is. Also, Mortis is awesome. As I progressed through the series, i realized that Zane continues to be my favorite character. He is the least likely person to be considered as death yet, he makes the coolest death i have ever read about, even topping Terry Pratchet's Discworld Death. I strongly reccomend this for any anthony fan and if you have never read a piers anthony book, try this one!

In my opinion, the best book ever made. To be submerged into the realm of Zane, seeing through the eyes of Death, feeling his steed Mortis beneath you. If you only was able to read one book in your life make it "On a Pale Horse". Nothing else can compare

It has been many years since I have read the Incarnations of Immportality series....On a Pale Horse is my favorite...I recommend this to everyone I know - I am not much of a science fiction fan but these books are so engrossing....you really have to pick this one up!

As a young man I read and loved Piers Anthony books for their inventive and fantastic content. As an adult I read them with new appreciation for their complexity. I understand now the shades of meaning present in his various works and I continue to re-read books from my childhood and wonder at an author who is able to convey much wisdom in the form of light-hearted fiction.
On a Pale Horse begins a series that is adventurous, surreal, imaginitive and witty. If I had to pick one Piers Anthony book that every sci-fi/fantasy fan should read, this would be the one.
Definitely....a good book.

This book was surprisingly very interesting.
I found myself finishing it within a few hours of starting it.
It provides a view on the morals of life and death, as well as engaging the reader with a sci-fi like world full of magic.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy.

A must for any book reader. The plot - the characters - all entwine carefully for an explosive ending, and Thank Piers there is another book after this. I read this book twice in a week as I could not believe what I had read. Just so wonderful.

I first read this series in the 5th grade, and highly enjoyed it. In fact, it was one of the first "adult" fantasy series I read, and started me on a life-long love affair with good genre fiction. I recently found the entire set at a garage sale, so I decided to buy it and re-read it, now that I'm an adult.
I still love the premise, and find the idea of the book to be innovative. I was, however, unprepared for the intense misogyny displayed in this text. There seems to be a constant focus on women's beauty, women's bodies, women's use as sexual objects, but little on women as humans. They are portrayed as a man-hungry, appearance-obsessed, emotionally unstable species who are traded by men as if they were nothing but possessions. Any display of courage by the women in this text is sexualized and immediately undercut by a focus on their physical appearance. The "love" affair between Zane and Luna is hackneyed and cheapened by AWEFUL dialogue. To say the least, as an adult reader, I was quite disappointed.
I will read the rest of the series again to see if the treatment of women improves, as the sexism in this book might just be part of Zane's character. However, I don't hold out much hope.
On another note, the Author's Note at the end of the text has to be one of the most transparent exercises in literary masturbation I've ever read. Anthony's pretension and undue pride come out in full force. It's just ludicrous, which is a shame because I love reading about the author's life from their own perspective, and learning about how an author completes a text. I'd love for more authors to include in-depth author's notes, but hopefully without the condescension that emits from this one.

This is a great book. Zane, a down on his luck schmuck, decides to go home and kill himself. Taken by surprise by a cloaked intruder, he shoots the intruder instead. Then the fun begins. Zane has a new job that will require him to challenge current beliefs and do some (pun intended) soul-searching. Read all seven in this series; they are a fun read that will make you think.

I find it interesting that a bunch of people who read this book because they 'loved' the show 'Dead Like Me' would complain that this book isn't good. 'Dead Like Me' is terrible.

This book was OK. Anthony's best effort was probably 'Shade of The Tree', but I've never really been a huge fan of his. I found the Xanth series fairly boring. I recall some of the 'Apprentice Adept' series as being good, but I read them when I was eight years old.
The story is heavily in the P.A. style, and I was waiting for a young girl/old man relationship to pop up. It didn't happen in this particular book, but it shows up later in the series.
This one is the better of the books in the 'Incarnations of Immortality', and may be the best. I've only read the first five, so I'm not entirely sure. It's definitely the best of that series out of the ones I've read, and really the only one I actually enjoyed.
It was better than anything I've ever read by Dean Koontz. OR John Grisham, that I will say.

I'd recommend it for fans of his 'Mode' series (which was almost, kind of ahead of it's time, slightly; but then again, I read those books when I was thirteen/fourteen), if they haven't already read this for some odd reason.

When my brother suggested that I read On A Pale Horse, I was skeptical. The idea of the book never really caught on. I was hooked after the first couple of pages. This book opened my mind to new possibilities I have never dreamed of before. After reading his first book, I quickly ran out and bought all seven Incarnations of Immortality books. I have read the series thrice over and am still awed by the imaginative stories and the openness of ideas created and portrayed in the books. And, givin the time, I would read the stories again and again.

I enjoyed reading this book. It deals with DEATH in a humerous, but human way. On the surface, this book is simply a fantasy book about a man who has to assume the job of death and his problems in dealing with that task. I especially like the mixture of science and magic that appears in this book. If you are very religious do not read this book, it can be extremely thought provoking regarding religion. I especially like the phrase "God created the world, but the Devil evolved it." I also recommend the other books in this series.

One rarely considers a science fiction book to be funny but this one is humorous. The main character fumbles through taking souls, riding his stead, and dealing with the devil. Talk about learning on the job, this book made me laugh out loud. The part where he took the baby's soul was especially poignant.

I first read this series in the 5th grade, and highly enjoyed it. In fact, it was one of the first "adult" fantasy series I read, and started me on a life-long love affair with good genre fiction. I recently found the entire set at a garage sale, so I decided to buy it and re-read it, now that I'm an adult.
I still love the premise, and find the idea of the book to be innovative. I was, however, unprepared for the intense misogyny displayed in this text. There seems to be a constant focus on women's beauty, women's bodies, women's use as sexual objects, but little on women as humans. They are portrayed as a man-hungry, appearance-obsessed, emotionally unstable species who are traded by men as if they were nothing but possessions. Any display of courage by the women in this text is sexualized and immediately undercut by a focus on their physical appearance. The "love" affair between Zane and Luna is hackneyed and cheapened by AWEFUL dialogue. To say the least, as an adult reader, I was quite disappointed.
I will read the rest of the series again to see if the treatment of women improves, as the sexism in this book might just be part of Zane's character. However, I don't hold out much hope.
On another note, the Author's Note at the end of the text has to be one of the most transparent exercises in literary masturbation I've ever read. Anthony's pretension and undue pride come out in full force. It's just ludicrous, which is a shame because I love reading about the author's life from their own perspective, and learning about how an author completes a text. I'd love for more authors to include in-depth author's notes, but hopefully without the condescension that emits from this one.

This is a great book. Zane, a down on his luck schmuck, decides to go home and kill himself. Taken by surprise by a cloaked intruder, he shoots the intruder instead. Then the fun begins. Zane has a new job that will require him to challenge current beliefs and do some (pun intended) soul-searching. Read all seven in this series; they are a fun read that will make you think.

I find it interesting that a bunch of people who read this book because they 'loved' the show 'Dead Like Me' would complain that this book isn't good. 'Dead Like Me' is terrible.

This book was OK. Anthony's best effort was probably 'Shade of The Tree', but I've never really been a huge fan of his. I found the Xanth series fairly boring. I recall some of the 'Apprentice Adept' series as being good, but I read them when I was eight years old.
The story is heavily in the P.A. style, and I was waiting for a young girl/old man relationship to pop up. It didn't happen in this particular book, but it shows up later in the series.
This one is the better of the books in the 'Incarnations of Immortality', and may be the best. I've only read the first five, so I'm not entirely sure. It's definitely the best of that series out of the ones I've read, and really the only one I actually enjoyed.
It was better than anything I've ever read by Dean Koontz. OR John Grisham, that I will say.

I'd recommend it for fans of his 'Mode' series (which was almost, kind of ahead of it's time, slightly; but then again, I read those books when I was thirteen/fourteen), if they haven't already read this for some odd reason.

When my brother suggested that I read On A Pale Horse, I was skeptical. The idea of the book never really caught on. I was hooked after the first couple of pages. This book opened my mind to new possibilities I have never dreamed of before. After reading his first book, I quickly ran out and bought all seven Incarnations of Immortality books. I have read the series thrice over and am still awed by the imaginative stories and the openness of ideas created and portrayed in the books. And, givin the time, I would read the stories again and again.

I enjoyed reading this book. It deals with DEATH in a humerous, but human way. On the surface, this book is simply a fantasy book about a man who has to assume the job of death and his problems in dealing with that task. I especially like the mixture of science and magic that appears in this book. If you are very religious do not read this book, it can be extremely thought provoking regarding religion. I especially like the phrase "God created the world, but the Devil evolved it." I also recommend the other books in this series.

One rarely considers a science fiction book to be funny but this one is humorous. The main character fumbles through taking souls, riding his stead, and dealing with the devil. Talk about learning on the job, this book made me laugh out loud. The part where he took the baby's soul was especially poignant.

Set in a "modern" world where science is in perpetual conflict with magic, this is the tale of Zane, a mixed-up Everyman, destined to play Death after he accidentally kills the former visage of the Grim Reaper. Fascinating and amusing look into the life of an "incarnation of immortality" (as indicated by the series' title). If you ever wonder how Death manages to gather souls in such little time and whether or not he/she has a love life, read this book. Fabulous fantasy from the equally fabulous Piers Anthony.

Great book! Have re-read this several times. Definitely the best in the Incarnations of Immortality series. One of Piers Anthony's best books (beyond Xanth, Phaze, & Mode series). A must-read for sci-fi or fantasy fans.

This was the first book I read by this author and I loved it. It had a well defined plot and it really made me think. even if you don't like fantasy or sci fi this is an amazing book with interesting ideas.

This was one of the first science fiction books my hubby then boyfriend suggested for me. Since then I was hooked on all the Incarnations of Immortality. In the whole series, this has to be by far one of my favorites.
Piers Anthony introduces Zane, your average run of the mill guy who gets some "life changing experiences". On the Pale Horse is the first in the series that gets you into a new perpective of the Incarnations. Truly a great series to enjoy!

While the book and it's following books are entertaining, it's more escapism than anything. Some of the time-lines seem a bit hard to decipher, especially some of the later books. Its a world of magic mixed with science, each complementing the other. Good and Evil fight to become dominant, and with the help of the Incarnations on the side of Good, (except for maybe Nox?) it's an uphill battle all the way.

This is a wild, stunningly surreal story, that plays with archetypical ideas of life, death, heaven and hell. Piers Anthony mixes fantasy with everyday situations in such a unrestricted manner, that it just keeps surprising you. It has a perfect balance of humor (from the absurdity of certain concepts) and suspense (for he makes you love the characters). As long as you do accept the weirdness of Piers's universe, you're gonna have a great time reading this thoughtful novel.

This book is one I read years ago in high school and read it again recently. I enjoyed the concept, but as another reviewer mentioned, Piers Anthony may have some excellent books, but his series go down the tubes the further along he goes. I recommend this series, but the Xanth series (which I enjoyed the beginning of) went WAY down the tubes and would not recommend any past the 3rd book.

So many times, an author's earlier works are the best...and we have here a wonderful example of such. This isn't typical of what you're likely to find nowadays from a Piers Anthony novel. Not only highly entertaining, but extremely thought-provoking. You will contemplate your own beliefs about good and evil, life and death....

I found this book etertaining and enjoyable. The main character is an ordinary man who discovers inordinary abilities and strenths in himself after he dies. Assuming the office of death Zane (our character) draws on his new found strength of character to defy Satan and save the world from hell. Five stars!

I read the back cover of this book, and expected a humorous story of Death's death and the poor stupid fool who shot him. I was entirely wrong. This book combined questions and ideas from religion and science, and had a fantasy bent that had absolutely nothing to do with anything. I ended up questioning my own thoughts and ideas about death and the afterlife, because underneath the story plot were vague references to real life. It takes skill, in my mind, to throw these references into a fantasy story without making the reader conscious of them. It didn't preach, it inspired.

Ok, I read this book in sixth grade and loved it to death (no pun intended!) Shamefully it was a school copy and had to go for the next three years trying to remember the title. Now that I have found it.... Well that a whole nother story! I highly recomend this book, it is very good. I started to read it and couldn't put it down until I read it twice!

On a Pale Horse is an excellent science fiction novel that starts of a superb series, the immortalities of life. The book does an job at targeting vast age groups, but most primarily targets middle aged adults. The story is a fascinating world in which both magic and science coexist, whether it be magic carpets and cars, or medicine and spells. Also heaven and hell are both real, and advertise to the people, but ultimately the story begins with the main character committing suicide, and as he does, death comes for him. In response, Zane, the main character, shots death in the face. Too which from there on he now must carry out the duties of death, judging people in almost perfect balance then send them on their way, and also interact with the other immortalities, mother earth, fate, war and time, also the occasional chat with either Satan or God. The superb diction, tone and mode created by the author, creates a marvelous story.
The theme of this story many ways helps create the mood and tone of the story. This is especially true since it is viewed from only one characters perspective, giving accessibility to his thought and what he views is moral and immoral. Zane often displays the theme of sin and judgment, in which he is the judge of who goes to which after life, he must often consider does the person deserve it or not and also question why he is the one who gets to judge. Zane often displays using his power on how he wishes to help these people, “I just don’t like to see a life wasted or a person damned who could be saved” (55). Many times he wishes to help the people live longer so that they can unbalance and set themselves to go to heaven, so the can do more good things and be more balanced in sin. He also despises himself for having the power to judge other people, since in order to become death you must also be balanced. “You have done something horrible to help your farther- as have I to help my mother, how can I condom you for that” (126)?. He claims he is worse than Luna, another character essential to the plot and should not be allowed to judge her soul, as he does with all of his other clients, supporting on how he should not be the one who judges their sin.
The tone often portrayed makes the story marvelous in which it makes the characters more realistic and understandable. Being that Zane is the only perceptive heard from you ofte n can imagine his anti-condescending/modest tone in which he carries himself, he displays this anti condescending mindset when he claims souls and judges them. He frequently undermines is own power and influence as beginning death, “ Death is merely the office. I’m just the man who blundered into it. I don’t think I deserve it” (112). He multiple times believes other people deserve the office more than he does, making an atmosphere of self-hate. He is often willing to sacrifice himself to help other who he believes are better people them himself, “We must save the drowning man quickly, he still has much to live for” (56). Although Zane is not literally sacrificing himself he is aware he is failing his job as death, thus for pushing him closer to hell as he saves the man, valuing his afterlife over his own.
The constantly changing mood helps develop the characters and supports the well created story. The mood of the story is continually changing, but the two main one are curiosity and anger. The mood of the reader is also shared with Zane since he acts as a very relatable character, even in his odd scenario. ‘Who is this mysterious man who consults with me? Immortal or Man” (44)? Often throughout the book being that it just 1/7 many questions are set up and created, making an ill found confusion of the character as he ponders through the tools and life of death, leaving the reader to contemplate the discoveries found. He displays rage, creating a rage flustered environment in which the reader is consume in. “ HELL-O! IT’S WARM BELOW! SIGN UP FOR PREFERTIAL TREATMENT. Zane was tempted to knock the billboard down and burn it to ash and stop the hellish advertisement” (79). Directly as earlier Satan’s plot is reviled each time he is mentioned Zane, and the novel undergoes a period of rage.
The diction used by Piers Anthony creates a specific excellent novel well displaying moods and emotions. His precious use of words in object descriptions displays excellence, using the perfect word for the perfect emotion. Many times creating the scene, “Um, Zane said noncommittally”(89). Also in which each of the Immortalities speak different sense each one is a separate age from a separate time period, showing differentials in word choices for each of the characters, giving of the mood in which the reader’s emotions change by the sheer arrival of each of the immortalities.
The elements blend together to form an epic novel in which each of the charecters seem relatable and the illusive world seem plausible. Making the first of 7/8 books which are quite fantastic. The novel was quite marvelous and an excellent page turner, who has written 165 books.

i was looking forward to reading this series and i really tried with this book but it's just awful. great premise, terrible execution. it's very immature and clearly written by and for someone with a below average IQ. don't waste your time.

Piers Anthony, On a Pale Horse (Del Rey, 1983)

I tried. I really did try. Even after attempting the horror that was Xanth, and failing miserably, I still went ahead and gave Incarnations of Immortality the good old college try. I mean, the premise is irresistible-- seven novels, each based on one of the seven immortals. The plot here is a clever one, and from the outset Anthony shows that he's a very shrewd worldbuilder; when Death comes for a young man contemplating suicide, said young man instinctively shoots Death instead, and thus is called to assume the office. We see various aspects of Anthony's cleverly-constructed world through the eyes of a character who must travel all around it, looking at it through, as it were, new eyes. This is great stuff, and a moderately competent writer could turn it into pure gold.

Piers Anthony, however, is not a moderately competent writer. While the florid language that made A Spell for Chameleon such unreadable dreck is toned down some here, there's still way too much of it per paragraph to make this book anything but a trial to read. As well, his characters-- most of whom, more's the pity, seem as if they're quite well-drawn-- converse as if they couldn't possibly be less interested in the world around them. This is definitely not the attitude one wants one's main character to take when said main character is learning the ropes of one of eternity's most important jobs, is it?

Where abandoning Xanth was a relief, with Incarnations of Immortality, it's frustrating, because it's obvious there's more potential in any given aspect of this book's existence than there is in, say, Tom Clancy's entire corpus. Piers Anthony, however, was exactly the wrong writer to attempt to pull it off. (zero)

Though the author seems to have some interesting philosophy behind his writing, I was not impressed with the dialogue and setting of the book. The creation of this scientific/magical future was unbelievable to me. The conversations between the characters seemed forced and badly timed. To me, the only time when the story flowed was when the writing led to the internal workings of the characters' minds.

This book was about the best book I've ever read. Peirs Anthony so eloquently puts Death as a Human with feelings and scruples. This book also brigs accross some provacative thought on death and religion.

i was looking forward to reading this series and i really tried with this book but it's just awful. great premise, terrible execution. it's very immature and clearly written by and for someone with a below average IQ. don't waste your time.

I beleive that On a Pale Horse is good, even for young readers. It's easy to read, touching, and well written. Piers Anhtony has a way with words, and he shows them perfectly here. I like the way he describes his characters, so that you can get a real feel for them--just what I love.

Piers Anthony, On a Pale Horse (Del Rey, 1983)

I tried. I really did try. Even after attempting the horror that was Xanth, and failing miserably, I still went ahead and gave Incarnations of Immortality the good old college try. I mean, the premise is irresistible-- seven novels, each based on one of the seven immortals. The plot here is a clever one, and from the outset Anthony shows that he's a very shrewd worldbuilder; when Death comes for a young man contemplating suicide, said young man instinctively shoots Death instead, and thus is called to assume the office. We see various aspects of Anthony's cleverly-constructed world through the eyes of a character who must travel all around it, looking at it through, as it were, new eyes. This is great stuff, and a moderately competent writer could turn it into pure gold.

Piers Anthony, however, is not a moderately competent writer. While the florid language that made A Spell for Chameleon such unreadable dreck is toned down some here, there's still way too much of it per paragraph to make this book anything but a trial to read. As well, his characters-- most of whom, more's the pity, seem as if they're quite well-drawn-- converse as if they couldn't possibly be less interested in the world around them. This is definitely not the attitude one wants one's main character to take when said main character is learning the ropes of one of eternity's most important jobs, is it?

Where abandoning Xanth was a relief, with Incarnations of Immortality, it's frustrating, because it's obvious there's more potential in any given aspect of this book's existence than there is in, say, Tom Clancy's entire corpus. Piers Anthony, however, was exactly the wrong writer to attempt to pull it off. (zero)

Though the author seems to have some interesting philosophy behind his writing, I was not impressed with the dialogue and setting of the book. The creation of this scientific/magical future was unbelievable to me. The conversations between the characters seemed forced and badly timed. To me, the only time when the story flowed was when the writing led to the internal workings of the characters' minds.

If it weren't Piers Anthony, this dreck would have never been published. It is frightfully bad.

First of all, be very clear that this book is primarily a fable to convince you of the moral rectitude of assisted suicide. If you can't tolerate that, don't even start the book. I happen to be quite sympathetic to the idea, but that does not warm me to the book.

The world starts out kind of interesting. However by the mid-point of the book, the internal logic of the world is hopelessly contradictory. The handling of Satan and God is particularly ridiculous. The context that the characters operate in becomes more and more contrived, until the plot is nothing more than a series of contrivances to say yet again how death is a mercy to the sick/aged/infirm...

You might hope at this point that your interest in the characters and their development could carry you through. Maybe the author has something interesting to say about the human condition in the presence of such contrivances. Too bad... Characters in this book (especially women) are shallow and uninteresting.

Don't buy or even borrow this book. If you want something from Mr. Anthony, read some of the early Xanth stuff instead.

Summary: very little is good about this book. The writing is bad, the characters poorly drawn, the ideas are shallow and the SF/Fantasy elements are awkward and uncreative. I laughed at passages which were not intended to be funny, and rolled my eyes a lot.

Despite obvious efforts to delve into shades of gray (sometimes literally), there is no depth here. The basic premise itself is interesting, but it's ruined by stilted attempts at fantasy prose and awkward, unbelievable dialogue. I often found myself thinking, "who talks like that?" This book is supposed to be set in the 20th century, but everyone sounds like they're trying to play a D&D character. The characters don't have much personality; they all sound much like each other. Much description is superfluous and occasionally patronizing. The book reads as if it were written by an older teenager for an audience of 13 year old boys. As a science fiction/fantasy book, it fails, because the SF and fantasy elements feel dropped in the story without effectively integrating them, so it's not a believable world; it's more like 3 semi-believable worlds slapped together.

The characters throughout the books make sexist comments and act in a sexist way, which the author usually tries to show are not justified. However, he doesn't do a good job of it, and so the book comes off as sexist overall anyway. Perhaps it's because male-female relations and attempts to generalize about men and women end up being a major theme in the book, and breasts seem to be a favorite focus. Some of the overt sexual elements make this a totally inappropriate book for children - not a criticism, just something to note.

I've had many friends recommend this series as one of his best, and that generally speaking his series tend to start well and get worse with the sequels. If that's the case, I won't waste my time with any more of his writing.

When I first read the Incarnation series 15 years ago, I really enjoyed them. I recently saw them at the library and picked them up again. I've forced myself through the first three books and am so appalled at them that I'm returning the fourth book to the library and won't bother with the next ones in the series.

I enjoy good fantasy and still read it regularly (and yes, I'm over 30 years old and have a regular, well-paying job). However, I have found the Incarnation series to be infuriating. The blatant and repetitive sexism is appalling. It's disgusting and it's on every page with every character, male or female, young or old. Women are always considered sex objects and are *always* thought of as less intelligent than men.

The general concept is fascinating, and like the previous poster, I think it has incredible potential. But Anthony degrades the concept by pursuing ridiculously simplistic and uninteresting plot lines with no character development. I have literally skipped over 50 page sections of the book because they boring and irrelevant. I doubt I will ever bother reading any of Anthony's books again. (I used to enjoy the Proton/Phaze series as well, but doubt that I would find it any different.)

For those of you with children and are considering purchasing this for them, please reconsider. We learn patterns of behavior from many sources, including the books we read. I, for one, would never want my children exposed to this man's misogynistic view of women.

I found the concept of Death as an occupation utterly fascinating and was looking forward to reading this series. Boy was I dissapointed!

The dialoge is the WORST I have ever read - conversations with the female 'love interest' were trying at best, and with the Devil were beyond ridiculous. I kept thinking that the words were not matching the characters personalities - shallow as they are.

Multiple times I found myself putting the book down in disgust for lack of depth when dealing with major religious overtones. The only reason I finished it was b/c I was on a cruise and had nothing else to read.

Needless to say I won't be reading the rest of the series.

I also picked up this book because I'd heard it had inspired the tv show "Dead Like Me". I have read some of Piers Anthony's books before (the Mode series). I always saw these books in the bookstores, and I never picked one up, so finally I decided to give it a try.

I'm almost sorry I wasted my time on it, but fortunately, it was short. This book is one of the worst books I have ever read. The premise is interesting. I love mythology, and I thought that reading about the character of death would be interesting. Unfortunately, the prose is extremely wooden, the characters are very flat, and the little humor that is present is out of place (neigh!). The whole gemstone thing seems extremely contrived and patched together with the story of the office of death. The plot is extremely predictable and paced too slowly in places. Satan/Hell and God/Heaven are almost completely glossed over. At least a little more time is spent on purgatory, but not much. The roles of women are extremely flat, which bothers me more than the sexism and the frequent breast references.

All in all, it reads like something written by a 13 year old. Nice effort, needs work. Interesting idea, could have been SO MUCH BETTER.

Too bad. I'm definitely not wasting money on the rest of the series.

This is perhaps the worst book I have ever read. The prose is sub-literate, the dialogue excruciating, the plot hackneyed, and the 'romance' trite. It could function as a parody of bad writing, I suppose . . .

I picked this book up because they say it inspired Dead Like Me the tv programme on Showtime. It was against my better judgement to even finish this book.

This starts out interesting enough -- main character Zane kills death, assumes his office and is now the Grim Reaper. Cool idea, definately.

But after about 2 or 3 chapters, the story spirals down: the characters are one dimensional; the plot murky, predictable and lame; the dialog is as bad as a cheesy 70's porn film.

I wouldn't recommend this book to my worst enemy, I really wish I'd stopped it when it went downhill, because I might have been more forgiving that way.

On a future/parallel Earth, where myth and magic are as ubiquitous as technology, a down-on-his-luck photographer named Zane has an appointment with Death. Death has grown careless, however, and allows Zane to get the drop on Death, shooting him. "Fate" then shows up, and decrees that since Zane has killed Death, he must become Death, taking up death mask, scythe, and pale horse. Follow Zane in his misadventures as Death in this light-hearted madcap fantasy romp.

Well, not quite! See title of review.

As Piers Anthony boasts/admits in his Afterword, this is not just light fantasy, as his Xanth novels were, but also an excuse for what he calls "serious social commentary". Hence, when Anthony takes time out from his story to preach nonsense - often offensive nonsense -- it is no longer possible to brush it off as a mere joke.

For instance: Anthony preaches in favor of "murdering" the sick and elderly, and makes this a central theme of the story. Zane, initially, feels guilty for having "murdered" his mom, and eventually comes to realize that "murdering" his mom was okay after all, and, moreover, that a lot more inconvenient elderly people need to be "murdered". The only fictional examples of such "murders" that Anthony provides involve the removal of patients from extraordinary life support with their explicit consent. Does Anthony not realize that this is something nobody is against? That nobody calls this "murder"? Or is he not being honest about his agenda? My suspension of disbelief was completely shattered when Zane, now over his guilt, massacred an entire nursing home full of patients, by removing every single one of them from extraordinary life support with their unanimous explicit consent. It may be that Anthony is basically in line with mainstream thought,and only supports such "murders" under the narrow circumstances portrayed; but if so, methinks the man doth protest too much. More likely, he has a broader agenda, which he is not presenting honestly.

Straw man attacks come up in other areas, particularly in the area of Judeo-Christian theology. For instance, it is not true that Christian churches have preached that children of incest are cursed or should be stigmatized. Nor is it true that the idea "ought implies can" is alien to traditional ethics.

And on it goes. Anthony's "serious social commentary" touches on many subjects: child sex laws (unfair to children who want to have sex with adults); incest taboos (unfairly stigmatizes children of incest); male infidelity (okay because men can't help their urges); betrayed wives (selfish witches - it's really their fault); rape (men can't help themselves - nature makes them do it); dumping your pregnant girlfriend (okay because women want true love, not pity). The only saving grace is that such ideas are presented more by clumsy exposition than by direct illustration. Zane, our hero, usually behaves semi-honorably, making it possible for the inattentive reader to imagine that the author does not really mean the things he keeps hinting at.

It all appears to be part of an attack on traditional ethical norms, by a man trying to convince himself that he is not really bound by any moral rules and can basically do as he wants.

The spirituality of this book initially seems dualistic, but is ultimately revealed to be that of the occultist, whose ultimate ambition is to kill God and become God. Hence, it was no surprise, at the end, when Zane learns that God (like Death) is merely a mortal playing a part.

When Zane hits an all-time low in his life, he decided to end it. When Death walked through his apartment door, the sight of him startles Zane and he shoots death instead. The second death’s body hits the floor, Fate walks in, informing Zane of his new occupation, Death. The man who murders Death, becomes him.
Zane finds himself suddenly claiming the souls of those who passed away with a nearly equal slate, to determine whether they go to heaven or hell. But when Zane questions the rules, things become strained. It isn’t until Zane discovers Satan cheating that things become downright ugly. What will Zane do when the woman he loves is targeted by the Devil himself?
I found this book to be unique. I am literally in-between whether or not I like this novel.
The character of Zane is vague with contradicting morals and ideologies. He is a good man and cares about the souls that he has to collect, but at the same time, he exhibits degrading opinions in some of the people he encounters.
Personally, I did not appreciate the way the author wrote about the female characters in this story. Every female encountered was graded upon her beauty and sexual appeal to the character of Zane. That aside, the female characters, most of them at least, were written as all too ready to offer themselves, bodily, up to Zane, for one reason or another. Even a female ghost who offered her body to Zane for his courageous conduct in the face of danger.
I do understand that the main character, Zane, is in fact a male. Therefore, when seeing it from his point of view, it would make sense for him to notice a female’s beauty before knowing her personality. However, I felt that the author over did this in the extreme, especially when having every female degrade themselves by selling their bodies to every man who comes along, or does the right and respectable thing.
I did find the idea of Death, as well as Fate, Mother Nature, Father Time, and War to be interesting occupations. Not to mention the way the author depicted them as an entire lifestyle. I did not like Mother Nature’s portrayal, nor that of Mars (War), overtly much, but the concept itself intrigued me.
I have debated how many stars I felt this novel deserved and I have decided to give this novel two and a half out of five stars, which explains why I previously stated that I was on the fence.
I received my copy of this novel as a gift and have been granted permission to use an image of the cover artwork above.
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