Magical Talents of Piers Anthony's Xanth Quiz

Answer: Weather control

The Storm King (later identified as Aeolus) is the human king of Xanth during much of the first book, "A Spell for Chameleon" (1977). He is an elderly, cranky man who is described as a powerful Magician who could manipulate and control various weather phenomenon. Age and senility, however, have weakened his control and ability until he can barely raise dust devils.

While king, he decreed that any human without a magic talent would be exiled from Xanth on his or her 25th birthday. This sets the events of the first book in motion as Bink was unable for a long time was unable to determine his magic talent or even if he had one.

Answer: Immunity to magical harm

Bink is the protagonist of the first two Xanth novels, "A Spell for Chameleon" and "The Source of Magic". Good Magician Humphrey is able to determine that Bink has a powerful talent, but not its specifics. Trent is the one who determines what his talent entails: Bink can not be harmed by magic.

The way this talent is described in various books suggests that the talent itself almost consciously plays a role. The talent does not prevent Bink from being embarrassed by magic, only harmed. The talent also shapes events around Bink so that it will not be discovered. If Book's opponents knew that he could not be harmed by magic, they would use non-magical means to attack him. Bink has no unusual protection against non-magical harm: in the first book he recalls how, in a moment of carelessness, he accidentally chopped off his finger with an ordinary cleaver.

Answer: Communication with the inanimate

Dor is the son of Chameleon and Bink. He becomes the king of Xanth after Trent permanently retires. Dor first shows his ability to communicate with inanimate objects as an infant when objects around him begin speaking. Dor is a leading character in "Castle Roogna" (1979) and "Centaur Aisle" (1981) and plays a smaller role in many later novels.

After he marries Irene, they have three children: Dolph, Ivy, and Ida (who did not appear until several novels later because she was misplaced by the storks).

Answer: Information to answer any question

Humphrey appears in many Xanth novels in a supporting role. Many of the novels begin with the protagonist travelling to find Humphrey and asking him a question. Humphrey is often grumpy, however, and does not like to be disturbed. The questioner must overcome three challenges to meet Humphrey and then must agree to work for Humphrey for a year in return for his answer.

Many questioners consider this an acceptable option since Humphrey has the ability to find the answer to any question. On some occasions, Humphrey sends the questioner on a quest in lieu of personal service to him.

Answer: Plant growth control

Irene is the daughter of the Sorceress Iris and King Trent. She has the ability to control the growth of plants. At first this was seen as a lesser talent, but Irene is shown, as time goes on, to make increasingly effective use of her talent. Later she marries Dor and becomes human queen of Xanth when he becomes human king. Irene also supports and spreads the dread Adult Conspiracy which blocks the access of minors to a number of topics including sexual information.

In this regard, the earliest Xanth novels (before Piers Anthony began referring to the Adult Conspiracy) have a different feel.

Answer: Illusion

We first meet Iris in "A Spell for Chameleon" when Bink's ship lands on the Isle of Illusion where she makes her home. She attempts to seduce him with her illusions which are described as engaging all the senses. Extremely convincing, the illusions only lack a physical presence.

At the conclusion of the first book she agrees to enter into a political marriage with the soon-to-be King Trent. She is the first of the Sorceresses to become temporary king of Xanth during the novel "Night Mare" (1983), after Arnolde the Centaur determines a Sorceress is simply another name for a female Magician.

Answer: Zombies

Jonathan is often referred to by his title of the Zombie Master. He has the magical talent of reanimating dead people and other creatures as zombies. His zombies run the gambit from very well-preserved and barely dead to heavily decayed corpses. As explained in "Castle Roogna", he originally comes from the time of King Roogna, several hundred years before the present of the first two novels.

He fell in love with Millie the castle maid before she became Millie the Ghost. Jonathan's personality is usually reserved and somber.

Answer: Making things go wrong

Just like the saying, Magician Murphy has the magical ability to make what you are trying to accomplish go wrong in some way. In "Castle Roogna", he competes with Roogna to be the next King of human Xanth. After his defeat, he voluntarily exiles himself to the Brain Corals pool. Later he and Vadne leave together for Mundania where they have a son, Grey, together.

Answer: Transformation (of other creatures)

Trent had the magical talent of being able to transform any living creature into any other living creature. In one case he turned a man named Justin into a tree. As a young man he tried to take control of Xanth from the Storm King and was forced into exile in drear Mundania. During the events of "A Spell for Chameleon" he returns to Xanth, is able to determine Bink's magical talent, and is offered the crown by the people of Xanth.

His years in exile gave him access to many skills that many people of Xanth do not ordinarily possess.

Answer: Topology

Vadne is the Sorceress of Topology. While she can not create or destroy an object, she can alter its shape to an enormous degree. In one case she stretches a finger ring enough that human sized creatures are able to step through it. She plays an important role in "Castle Roogna", where she causes great harm to Millie the maid and is sent into the exile of the Brain Coral's pool. Later she leaves for Mundania with Magician Murphy.