A Spot of Trouble
An innocent piece of Mundane Snail Mail has provoked the dreaded Demon Jupiter to hurl his Red Spot at the magical land of Xanth. As the dire Dot draws closer, the unwelcome ordeal of saving the enchanted realm falls to Umlaut, an unlikely lad with an unknown past and an uncertain future. With a handful of colorful companions at his side, Umlaut must unravel a high-stakes intergalactic puzzle, uncover the secret of his mysterious past, and learn to understand the urgings of his own heart.
It might have been the merest chance that brought Umlaut to Castle Zombie that morning and launched him on a harrowing adventure. But in the magical land of Xanth, things are seldom left to chance, and adventures lurk around every corner.
An unassuming young man with a uncanny knack for attracting lovely young ladies and an uncommon talent for emulating anyone he wished, Umlaut was forced to flee a flock of overly friendly females by disguising himself as a Zombie girl. In his haste to find a hiding place, he found himself face-to-face with a drea

When the Demon Jupiter decides to hurl his giant Red Spot toward the land of Xanth, a young man called Umlaut, whose talent as an emulator allows him to change his appearance at will, and his newfound companion, Sesame the Sea Serpent, must prevent that event and save the world. The 26th installment of Anthony's popular "Xanth" series contains a wealth of puns and wordplay, as well as a host of ingenuous and likable protagonists. Continuing the tale begun in Swell Foop, the author brings a strong metaphysical element to his world, as demons vie with one another, using the worlds of Xanth and Mundania as their playgrounds. Good reading for fans of the series and a required purchase for most libraries. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

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Profusely punning his path through his 26th Xanth fantasy, the prolific Anthony (The Dastard, etc.) focuses on a contest between Demon Jupiter and Demon Fornax, reviving to great effect the dueling demons theme from last year's Swell Foop. Believing a piece of Mundane Snail Mail has provoked Demon Jupiter to hurl his red spot at the Demon Earth (which could result in the obliteration of Xanth), Umlaut, the story's hero, sets out with Sesame Snake and Sammy Cat to consult the Good Magician. To avert tragedy, they must deliver the letters that remain from the Snail Mail left at the Zombie Castle. As they crisscross Xanth, they encounter many of the characters featured in Anthony's previous works. To add depth to the plot, the Demoness Metria appears regularly to tempt Umlaut from his path using raging hormones and the "Adult Conspiracy" theme that salts all the Xanth novels with schoolboy humor and sophomoric jokes. Anthony's latest offering is certain to please fans. New readers, however, may lack the patience to plow through so many puns and so much childish humor. (Dec. 2) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.