Anthony, Piers

Entry updated 18 November 2024. Tagged: Author.

Working name of US author Piers Anthony Dillingham Jacob (1934- ) for all his published work. Born in England, he was educated in the USA and took out US citizenship in 1958, beginning to publish short stories with "Possible to Rue" for Fantastic in April 1963, and for the next decade appearing fairly frequently in the magazines, though he has more and more concentrated on longer forms; early work is fairly represented in Anthonology (coll 1985). He has written large amounts of both sf and fantasy; though there is no clear demarcation, it is certainly the case that he has more and more concentrated his energies on the latter form. His two most ambitious sf novels came early in his career. Chthon (1967), his first, is a complexly structured adventure of self-discovery partially set in a vast Underground Prison, and making ambitious though sometimes over-baroque use of Pastoral and other parallels; its sequel, Phthor (1975), is less far-reaching, less irritating, but also less involving. Anthony's second, genuinely ambitious novel is the extremely long Macroscope (1969; cut 1972), whose complicated Space-Opera plot combines astrology with more traditional Sense-of-Wonder concepts like successful SETI and the use of the planet Neptune (see Outer Planets) as an interstellar World Ship. In constructing a series of sf devices in this book to carry across his concern with representing the unity of all phenomena, microscopic to macroscopic, Anthony evokes themes from Superman to Cosmology and Jungian Psychology; of all his works, this novel alone manages to seem adequately structured to convey the burden of a sometimes mercilessly hasty imagination.

The allegorical implications of Macroscope received more expansive – but less sustained or intense – treatment in two later series: the Tarot sequence, best read in recomposed form as Tarot (omni 1987) [see Checklist for details], in which various protagonists engage in a quest for the meaning of an emblem-choked Universe; and the Incarnations of Immortality series – beginning with On a Pale Horse (1983) and ending with And Eternity (1990) [see Checklist] – which features protagonists who are themselves embodiments or Icons of a meaningful Universe, and who are recruited to represent in their very being aspects of the Universe like Death, Fate, Gaia, Time and War. The final volume involves a search to replace an increasingly indifferent God (see Gods and Demons). Although the sequence is predominantly fantasy, portions of it apply sf logic to the organization of Heaven and Hell (Purgatory, for example, makes heavy use of Computers) in a manner distantly reminiscent of Rudyard Kipling's "On the Gate: A Tale of '16" (June 1926 McCall's as "The Gate"; vt in Debits and Credits, coll 1926).

In distinct contrast to complex works like these lies the Post-Holocaust Battle Circle sequence, comprising Sos the Rope (July-September 1968 F&SF; 1968), winner of the $5000 award from Pyramid Books, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction and Kent Productions, Var the Stick (1972; cut 1973) and Neq the Sword (1975), a combat-oriented trilogy assembled as Battle Circle (omni 1978). Here and in other novels Anthony resorts to stripped-down protagonists with monosyllabic and/or generic names, like Battle Circle's Sos, Var and Neq, or like Cal, Veg and Aquilon, whose adventures on various planets make up Of Man and Manta, a second trilogy comprising Omnivore (1968), Orn (1971) and OX (1976), assembled as Of Man and Manta (omni 1986): humanity turns out to be the omnivore. Both these series use action scenarios with thinly drawn backgrounds and linear plots not comfortably capable of sustaining the weight of significance the author requires of them. Perhaps the most successful of such books is Steppe (1976), a singleton featuring Alp, whose single-minded career playing Genghis Khan in a future dominated by a galaxy-spanning computer-operated game (see Games and Sports) is refreshingly unadulterated with any attempts at significance.

Prostho Plus (stories November 1967-October 1970 If and November 1967 Analog; fixup 1971) and Triple Detente (March 1968 Analog as "The Alien Rulers"; exp 1974) are both interstellar epics, the former comic and featuring a dentist required to treat a bizarre variety of Alien and even Robot patients, the latter concentrating on an Overpopulation theme and its solution through culling by Invasion. Far more ambitious – though again by no means more assured – are two series in the same vein. The Cluster series, comprising Cluster (1977; vt Vicinity Cluster 1979), Chaining the Lady (1978), Kirlian Quest (1978), Thousandstar (1980) and Viscous Circle (1982), is an elaborate Space Opera; it relates to Tarot [for this fantasy sequence, see Checklist below] in its use of Kirlian auras and other similar material in a universe ultimately obedient to occult commands. The Bio of a Space Tyrant sequence – Refugee (1983), Mercenary (1984), Politician (1985), Executive (1985) and Statesman (1986) – slowly but surely embroils its initially ruthless protagonist in a solar system whose complexities, which map allegorically on to contemporary world Politics, demand of him a moral (and therefore self-limiting) response.

The less wide-ranging Apprentice Adept sequence, whose initial trilogy comprises Split Infinity (1980), Blue Adept (1981) and Juxtaposition (1982), presents sf and Fantasy aspects of the same distant world (see Science and Sorcery), with repeated crossings of the "curtain" dividing a generic fantasyland from an inhospitable sf planet of Computers, Robots, and a prolonged Games and Sports tournament worked out with some inventiveness; the imaginary Element "protonite" which is a valuable Power Source on the sf plane is also the fantasyland's source of Magic.

Anthony is a writer capable of sweepingly intricate fiction, though his tendency to produce less demanding work may obscure this ambitiousness of purview. He is fluent and extremely popular, though his great success has done little to modify the truculent and solitary tone of his utterances on a variety of subjects. The critical apparatus surrounding the republication of But What of Earth? (1976; text restored 1989) with Robert Coulson, related to the Tarot sequence, serves as an extraordinary (and, with the original Laser Books edition not in print, not easily testable) exercise in special pleading: apparently Roger Elwood of Laser Books instructed Coulson to perform a substantial rewrite and billed him as co-author, while Anthony had expected no more than routine copyediting and sole credit. Anthony's autobiography, Bio of an Ogre (1988), similarly reveals a man unreconciled, unforgiving; though a later autobiographical work, How Precious Was That While: An Autobiography (2001) seems moderately less angered. It might be added, too, that few of Anthony's numerous fantasies (listed below) seem built to last. When he is helter-skelter – and much of even his better work is marred by hasty-seeming digressions – Anthony is of merely marginal interest; but the ongoing Geodyssey sequence – comprising Isle of Woman (1993), Shame of Man (1994), Hope of Earth (1997), Muse of Art (1999) and Climate of Change (2010) – is a strongly argued presentation of humanity's life on planet Earth, conducted through successive incarnations of exemplary human types beginning in the realm of Prehistoric SF. It seems to be the case that only when Anthony embraces a complex mythologizing vision of the meaningfulness of things does his work shake itself apart. He has become an entertainer of great skill, and his tales evoke powerful empathetic responses in a wide readership. [JC/DRL]

Piers Anthony Dillingham Jacob

born Oxford, Oxfordshire: 6 August 1934

works

series

Aton/Chthon

Chthon (New York: Ballantine Books, 1967) [Aton/Chthon: pb/]
- Earth (London: Severn House, 1996) [vt of the above: Aton/Chthon: hb/]
Phthor (New York: Berkley, 1975) [Aton/Chthon: pb/Richard Powers]

Of Man and Manta

Omnivore (New York: Ballantine Books, 1968) [Of Man and Manta: pb/]
Orn (Garden City, New York: Nelson Doubleday, 1971) [Of Man and Manta: hb/Frank Frazetta]
OX (Garden City, New York: Nelson Doubleday, 1976) [Of Man and Manta: hb/Richard V Corben]
- Of Man and Manta: A Trilogy (London: Corgi Books, 1986) [omni of all three titles: Of Man and Manta: pb/]

Battle Circle

Sos the Rope (New York: Pyramid, 1968) [Battle Circle: pb/Jack Gaughan]
Var the Stick (London: Faber and Faber, 1972) [Battle Circle: hb/]
- Var the Stick (New York: Bantam Books, 1973) [cut version of above: Battle Circle: pb/M Hooks]
Neq the Sword (London: Corgi Books, 1975) [Battle Circle: pb/Patrick Woodroffe]
- Battle Circle: A Trilogy (New York: Avon Books, 1978) [omni of all three titles: Battle Circle: pb/Patrick Woodroffe]

Jason Striker (martial arts)

Kiai! (New York: Berkley, 1974) with Roberto Fuentes [Jason Striker: pb/]
Mistress of Death (New York: Berkley, 1974) with Roberto Fuentes [Jason Striker: pb/]
- Kaia! and Mistress of Death (Bloomington, Indiana: Xlibris Corporation, 2001) [omni of the above two: Jason Striker: pb/]
The Bamboo Bloodbath (New York: Berkley, 1974) with Roberto Fuentes [Jason Striker: pb/]
Ninja's Revenge (New York: Berkley, 1974) with Roberto Fuentes [Jason Striker: pb/]
- The Bamboo Bloodbath and Ninja's Revenge (Bloomington, Indiana: Xlibris Corporation, 2001) [omni of the above two: Jason Striker: pb/]
Amazon Slaughter (New York: Berkley, 1974) with Roberto Fuentes [Jason Striker: pb/]
- Amazon Slaughter and Curse of the Ninja (Bloomington, Indiana: Xlibris Corporation, 2001) [exp of the above as coll, adding "Curse of the Ninja", previously unpublished: Jason Striker: pb/]

Xanth (fantasy)

A Spell for Chameleon (New York: Ballantine Books, 1977) [Xanth: pb/Michael Whelan]
- A Spell for Chameleon: The Parallel Edition ... Simplified (New York: Del Rey/Ballantine, 2012) [ebook: rev of the above: Xanth: na/]
The Source of Magic (New York: Ballantine Books, 1979) [Xanth: pb/Doug Beekman]
Castle Roogna (New York: Ballantine Books, 1979) [Xanth: pb/Darrell Sweet]
- The Magic of Xanth (Garden City, New York: Nelson Doubleday, 1981) [omni of the first three titles: Xanth: hb/Tony Fiyalko]
  - Three Complete Xanth Novels (Avenel, New Jersey: Wings Books, 1994) [omni: vt of above: Xanth: hb/Keith Parkinson]
  - Xanth: The Quest for Magic (New York: Ballantine Books/Del Rey, 2002) [omni: vt of above: Xanth: pb/Terese Nielsen]
Centaur Aisle (New York: Ballantine Books, 1982) [Xanth: pb/Michael Whelan]
Ogre, Ogre (New York: Ballantine Books, 1982) [Xanth: pb/Darrell Sweet]
Night Mare (New York: Ballantine Books, 1983) [Xanth: pb/Darrell Sweet]
- More Magic of Xanth (New York: Ballantine Books/Del Rey, 2002) [omni of the above three: Xanth: pb/]
  - The Continuing Xanth Saga (Avenel, New Jersey: Wings Books, 1997) [omni: vt of above: Xanth: hb/Romas Kukalis]
Dragon on a Pedestal (New York: Ballantine Books, 1983) [Xanth: pb/Darrell Sweet]
Crewel Lye: A Caustic Yarn (New York: Ballantine Books, 1984) [Xanth: pb/Darrell K Sweet]
Golem in the Gears (New York: Ballantine Books, 1986) [Xanth: pb/Darrell K Sweet]
Vale of the Vole (New York: Ballantine Books, 1987) [Xanth: pb/Darrell K Sweet]
Heaven Cent (New York: Avon Books, 1988) [Xanth: hb/Darrell K Sweet]
Man from Mundania (New York: Avon Books, 1989) [Xanth: hb/Darrell K Sweet]
Isle of View (New York: Morrow, 1990) [Xanth: hb/Darrell K Sweet]
Question Quest (New York: Morrow, 1991) [Xanth: hb/Darrell K Sweet]
The Color of Her Panties (New York: Morrow, 1992) [Xanth: hb/Darrell K Sweet]
Demons Don't Dream (New York: Morrow, 1993) [Xanth: hb/Darrell K Sweet]
Harpy Thyme (New York: Tor, 1993) [Xanth: hb/Darrell K Sweet]
- Xanth by Two (New York: Tor, 2010) [omni of the above two: pb/Darrell K Sweet]
Geis of the Gargoyle (New York: Tor, 1994) [Xanth: hb/Darrell K Sweet]
Roc and a Hard Place (New York: Tor, 1995) [Xanth: hb/Darrell K Sweet]
Yon Ill Wind (New York: Tor, 1996) [Xanth: hb/Darrell K Sweet]
Faun and Games (New York: Tor, 1997) [Xanth: hb/Darrell K Sweet]
Zombie Lover (New York: Tor, 1998) [Xanth: hb/Darrell K Sweet]
Xone of Contention (New York: Tor, 1999) [Xanth: hb/Darrell K Sweet]
The Dastard (New York: Tor, 2000) [Xanth: hb/Darrell K Sweet]
Swell Foop (New York: Tor, 2001) [Xanth: hb/Darrell K Sweet]
Up in a Heaval (New York: Tor, 2002) [Xanth: hb/Darrell K Sweet]
Cube Route (New York: Tor, 2003) [Xanth: hb/Darrell K Sweet]
Currant Events (New York: Tor, 2004) [Xanth: hb/Darrell K Sweet]
Pet Peeve (New York: Tor, 2005) [Xanth: hb/Darrell K Sweet]
Stork Naked (New York: Tor, 2006) [Xanth: hb/Darrell K Sweet]
Air Apparent (New York: Tor, 2007) [Xanth: hb/Darrell K Sweet]
Two to the Fifth (New York: Tor, 2008) [Xanth: hb/Darrell K Sweet]
Jumper Cable (New York: Tor, 2009) [Xanth: hb/Darrell K Sweet]
Knot Gneiss (New York: Tor, 2010) [Xanth: hb/Darrell K Sweet]
Well-Tempered Clavicle (New York: Tor, 2011) [Xanth: hb/Darrell K Sweet]
Luck of the Draw (New York: Tor, 2012) [Xanth: hb/Julie Dillon]
Esrever Doom (New York: Tor, 2013) [Xanth: hb/Julie Dillon]
Board Stiff (Los Angeles, California: Premier Digital Publishing, 2013) [Xanth: pb/]
Five Portraits (New York: Open Road Integrated Media, 2014) [Xanth: pb/]
Isis Orb (New York: Open Road Integrated Media, 2016) [Xanth: hb/]
Ghost Writer in the Sky (New York: Open Road Integrated Media, 2017) [Xanth: hb/]
Fire Sail (New York: Open Road Integrated Media, 2019) [Xanth: hb/]
Jest Right (New York: Open Road Integrated Media, 2020) [Xanth: hb/]
A Tryst of Fate (New York: Open Road Integrated Media, 2021) [Xanth: hb/]
Skeleton Key (New York: Open Road Integrated Media, 2021) [Xanth: hb/]
Six Crystal Princesses (New York: Open Road Integrated Media, 2022) [Xanth: hb/]
Apoca Lips (New York: Open Road Integrated Media, 2023) [Xanth: hb/]

Cluster

The Tarot subsequence is more a Science Fantasy exploration of Religion than sf.

Cluster (New York: Avon Books, 1977) [Cluster: pb/Ron Walotsky]
- Vicinity Cluster (London: Millington, 1979) [vt of above: Cluster: hb/]
Chaining the Lady (New York: Avon Books, 1978) [Cluster: pb/Ron Walotsky]
Kirlian Quest (New York: Avon Books, 1978) [Cluster: pb/Ron Walotsky]
God of Tarot (New York: Jove/HBJ, 1979) [Cluster: Tarot: pb/Rowena Morrill]
Thousandstar (New York: Avon Books, 1980) [standalone novel in series setting: Cluster: pb/Ron Walotsky]
Vision of Tarot (New York: Berkley, 1980) [Cluster: Tarot: pb/Rowena Morrill]
Faith of Tarot (New York: Berkley, 1980) [Cluster: Tarot: pb/Rowena Morrill]
- Tarot (New York: Ace Books, 1987) [omni recasting all three Tarot books into one story: Cluster: Tarot: pb/Kinuko Y Craft]
Viscous Circle (New York: Avon Books, 1982) [standalone novel in series setting: Cluster: pb/Ron Walotsky]

Apprentice Adept (sf/fantasy crossover)

Split Infinity (New York: Ballantine Books, 1980) [Apprentice Adept: hb/Rowena Morrill]
Blue Adept (New York: Ballantine Books, 1981) [Apprentice Adept: hb/Rowena Morrill]
Juxtaposition (New York: Ballantine Books, 1982) [Apprentice Adept: hb/Lawrence Schwinger]
- Double Exposure (Garden City, New York: Nelson Doubleday, 1982) [omni of the above three: Apprentice Adept: hb/Victoria Poyser]
  - Apprentice Adept (New York: Ballantine Books/Del Rey, 1983) [omni: vt of the above: Apprentice Adept: pb/Lawrence Schwinger]
Out of Phaze (New York: Ace/Putnam, 1987) [Apprentice Adept: hb/Darrell K Sweet]
Robot Adept (New York: Ace/Putnam, 1988) [Apprentice Adept: hb/Darrell K Sweet]
Unicorn Point (New York: Ace/Putnam, 1989) [Apprentice Adept: hb/Darrell K Sweet]
Phaze Doubt (New York: Ace/Putnam, 1990) [Apprentice Adept: hb/Darrell K Sweet]

Bio of a Space Tyrant

Refugee (New York: Avon Books, 1983) [Bio of a Space Tyrant: pb/Jim Burns]
Mercenary (New York: Avon Books, 1984) [Bio of a Space Tyrant: pb/Jim Burns]
Politician (New York: Avon Books, 1985) [Bio of a Space Tyrant: pb/Jim Burns]
Executive (New York: Avon Books, 1985) [Bio of a Space Tyrant: pb/Jim Burns]
Statesman (New York: Avon Books, 1986) [Bio of a Space Tyrant: pb/Jim Burns]
The Iron Maiden (Bloomington, Indiana: Xlibris Corporation, 2002) [Bio of a Space Tyrant: pb/]

Incarnations of Immortality (sf/fantasy crossover)

On a Pale Horse (New York: Ballantine Books, 1983) [Incarnations of Immortality: hb/Michael Whelan]
Bearing an Hourglass (New York: Ballantine Books, 1984) [Incarnations of Immortality: hb/Michael Whelan]
- Incarnations of Immortality (New York: Science Fiction Book Club, 2013) [omni of the above two: Incarnations of Immortality: hb/John Jude Palencar]
With a Tangled Skein (New York: Ballantine Books, 1985) [Incarnations of Immortality: hb/Michael Whelan]
Wielding a Red Sword (New York: Ballantine Books, 1986) [Incarnations of Immortality: hb/Michael Whelan]
Being a Green Mother (New York: Ballantine Books, 1987) [Incarnations of Immortality: hb/Michael Whelan]
For Love of Evil (New York: Morrow, 1988) [Incarnations of Immortality: hb/Rowena Morrill]
And Eternity (New York: Morrow, 1990) [Incarnations of Immortality: hb/Rowena Morrill]
Under a Velvet Cloak (Cincinnati, Ohio: Mundania Press, 2007) [Incarnations of Immortality: pb/SkyeWolf]

Kelvin of Rud (fantasy)

Dragon's Gold (New York: Tor, 1987) with Robert E Margroff [Kelvin of Rud: pb/Steve Hickman]
Serpent's Silver (New York: Tor, 1988) with Robert E Margroff [Kelvin of Rud: pb/Darrell K Sweet]
Chimaera's Copper (New York: Tor, 1990) with Robert E Margroff [Kelvin of Rud: hb/Manuel Morales]
- The Adventures of Kelvin of Rud: Across the Frames (New York: GuildAmerica, 1992) with Robert E Margroff [omni of the first three: Kelvin of Rud: hb/Dean Morrissey]
  - Three Complete Novels (New York: Wings Books, 1993) with Robert E Margroff [omni: vt of the above: Kelvin of Rud: hb/Mel Grant]
Orc's Opal (New York: Tor, 1990) with Robert E Margroff [Kelvin of Rud: hb/Darrell K Sweet]
Mouvar's Magic (New York: Tor, 1992) with Robert E Margroff [Kelvin of Rud: hb/Darrell K Sweet]
- The Adventures of Kelvin of Rud: Final Magic (New York: GuildAmerica, 1992) with Robert E Margroff [omni of the above two: Kelvin of Rud: hb/Dean Morrissey]

Pornucopia

Pornucopia (Houston, Texas: Tafford Publishing, 1989) [Pornucopia: hb/Charles Platt]
The Magic Fart (Cincinnati, Ohio: Mundania Press, 2003) [Pornucopia: pb/]
- The Pornucopia Compendium (Cincinnati, Ohio: Mundania Press, 2015) [omni of the above two: Pornucopia: hb/]

Mode (sf/fantasy crossover)

Virtual Mode (New York: Ace Books, 1991) [Mode: hb/Daniel R Horne]
Fractal Mode (New York: Ace Books, 1992) [Mode: hb/Daniel R Horne]
Chaos Mode (New York: Ace Books, 1993) [Mode: hb/Romas Kukalis]
DoOon Mode (New York: Ace Books, 2001) [Mode: hb/Daniel R Horne]

Geodyssey

Isle of Woman (New York: Tor, 1993) [Geodyssey: hb/Eric Peterson]
Shame of Man (New York: Tor, 1994) [Geodyssey: hb/Brad Schmehl]
Hope of Earth (New York: Tor, 1997) [Geodyssey: hb/Tristan Elwell]
Muse of Art (New York: Tor, 1999) [Geodyssey: hb/Tristan Elwell]
Climate of Change (New York: Tor, 2010) [Geodyssey: hb/Getty Images]

ChroMagic

Key to Havoc (Cincinnati, Ohio: Mundania Press, 2003) [ChroMagic: hb/]
Key to Chroma (Cincinnati, Ohio: Mundania Press, 2003) [ChroMagic: hb/]
Key to Destiny (Cincinnati, Ohio: Mundania Press, 2004) [ChroMagic: hb/]
Key to Liberty (Cincinnati, Ohio: Mundania Press, 2007) [ChroMagic: hb/]
Key to Survival (Cincinnati, Ohio: Mundania Press, 2008) [ChroMagic: hb/SkyeWolf]

Relationships

Relationships (no place given: Venus Press, 2006) [coll: Relationships: pb/]
Relationships, Vol 2 (Cincinnati, Ohio: Phaze Press, 2008) [coll: ebook: Relationships: na/]
Relationships, Vol 3 (Cincinnati, Ohio: Phaze Press, 2008) with Joseph Inabnet [coll: ebook: Relationships: na/]
Relationships, Vol 4 (Cincinnati, Ohio: Phaze Press, 2008) [coll: ebook: Relationships: na/]
Relationships V (Cincinnati, Ohio: Phaze Press, 2012) [coll: Relationships: pb/]
Relationships 6 (Sumrall, Mississippi: Dreaming Big Publications, 2018) [coll: Relationships: pb/]
Relationships 7 (Sumrall, Mississippi: Dreaming Big Publications, 2019) [coll: Relationships: pb/]
Relationships 8 (Sumrall, Mississippi: Dreaming Big Publications, 2020) [coll: Relationships: pb/]

Return of Aladdin

Aladdin Relighted (no place given: Rain Press, 2011) with J R Rain [ebook: Return of Aladdin: na/]
Aladdin Sins Bad (no place given: Rain Press, 2011) with J R Rain [ebook: Return of Aladdin: na/]
Aladdin and the Flying Dutchman (no place given: Rain Press, 2012) with J R Rain [ebook: Return of Aladdin: na/]

Aliena

Aliena (New York: Open Road Media, 2014) [ebook: Aliena: na/]
Aliena Too (New York: Open Road Media, 2014) [ebook: Aliena: na/]

The Trail Mix

Amoeba: Trail Mix, Volume One (Playa Vista, California: Premier Digital Publishing, 2013) [Trail Mix: pb/]
Beetle Juice: Trail Mix, Volume Two (Playa Vista, California: Premier Digital Publishing, 2013) [Trail Mix: pb/]

The Metal Maiden

To Be a Woman (New York: Open Road Media, 2014) [ebook: Metal Maiden: na/]
Shepherd (New York: Open Road Media, 2014) [ebook: Metal Maiden: na/]
Fly Trap (New York: Open Road Media, 2014) [chap: ebook: Metal Maiden: na/]
Awares (New York: Open Road Media, 2014) [chap: ebook: Metal Maiden: na/]
- The Metal Maiden Collection (New York: Open Road Media, 2014) [omni of the above four: ebook: Metal Maiden: na/]

Hair Suit

Hair Power (Sumrall, Mississippi: Dreaming Big Publications, 2016) [Hair Suit: pb/]
Hair Suite (Sumrall, Mississippi: Dreaming Big Publications, 2016) [Hair Suit: pb/]
Hair Piece (Sumrall, Mississippi: Dreaming Big Publications, 2019) [Hair Suit: pb/]

Fantasy Collective (fantasy, listed in reading order)

The Journey (Scotts Valley, California: CreateSpace, 2017) with J R Rain [Fantasy Collective: pb/]
Dolfin Tayle (Scotts Valley, California: CreateSpace, 2014) with J R Rain [Fantasy Collective: pb/]
The Worm Returns (no place given: Rain Press, 2016) with J R Rain [Fantasy Collective: pb/]
Lavabull (no place given: Rain Press, 2015) with J R Rain [Fantasy Collective: pb/]
Jack and the Giants (Scotts Valley, California: CreateSpace, 2014) with J R Rain [Fantasy Collective: pb/]
The Dragon Assassin (Scotts Valley, California: CreateSpace, 2014) with J R Rain [Fantasy Collective: pb/]

Pakk Trilogy

Virtue Inverted (Sumrall, Mississippi: Dreaming Big Publications, 2017) [Pakk Trilogy: pb/]
Amazon Expedient (Sumrall, Mississippi: Dreaming Big Publications, 2018) [Pakk Trilogy: pb/]
Magenta Salvation (Sumrall, Mississippi: Dreaming Big Publications, 2019) [Pakk Trilogy: pb/]

individual titles: sf

The Ring (New York: Ace Books, 1968) with Robert E Margroff [in the publisher's first Science Fiction Special series: pb/Diane and Leo Dillon]
Macroscope (New York: Avon Books, 1969) [pb/Charles Santore]
- Macroscope (London: Sphere Books, 1972) [cut version of above: pb/Tony Roberts]
The E.S.P. Worm (New York: Paperback Library, 1970) with Robert E Margroff [pb/Herbert Norton Rogoff]
Prostho Plus (London: Victor Gollancz, 1971) [fixup: first appeared as stories November 1967-October 1970 If and November 1967 Analog: hb/nonpictorial]
Race Against Time (New York: Hawthorn Books, 1973) [hb/Bruce Wadman]
Rings of Ice (New York: Avon Books, 1974) [hb/Vincent Di Fate]
Triple Detente (New York: DAW Books, 1974) [exp from "The Alien Rulers" in Analog, March 1968: pb/Jack Gaughan]
But What of Earth? (Toronto, Ontario: Laser Books, 1976) with Robert Coulson [pb/Kelly Freas]
- But What of Earth?: A Novel Rendered into a Bad Example (New York: Tor, 1989) [text of the above restored: pb/Don Maitz]
Steppe (London: Millington, 1976) [hb/W F Phillipps]
Pretender (San Bernardino, California: The Borgo Press, 1979) with Frances Hall [hb/Larry Ortiz]
Mute (New York: Avon Books, 1981) [pb/Ron Walotsky]
Ghost (New York: Tor, 1986) [hb/Ron Walotsky]
Total Recall (New York: Morrow, 1989) [tie: novelization of Total Recall: hb/John Berkey]
- Total Recall (New York: Avon Books, 1990) [rev of above: pb/]
Dead Morn (Houston, Texas: Tafford Publishing, 1990) with Roberto Fuentes [hb/Jeff Myers]
Balook (Novato, California: Underwood Miller, 1991) [hb/Patrick Woodroffe]
Mer-Cycle (Houston, Texas: Tafford Publishing, 1991) [hb/Ron Lindahn and Val Lakey Lindahn]
Killobyte (New York: Ace, 1992) [hb/Den Beauvais]
Spider Legs (New York: Tor, 1998) with Clifford A Pickover [hb/Latif Kazbekov]
- Spider Legs (New York: Open Road Media, 2014) with Clifford A Pickover [ebook: rev of the above: na/]
Tortoise Reform (Cincinnati, Ohio: Mundania Press, 2007) [pb/]
The Sopaths (Portland, Oregon: Eraserhead Press, 2011) [pb/Dan Henk]
Eroma (Los Angeles, California: Premier Digital Publishing, 2013) [pb/]

collections and stories

Anthonology (New York: Tor, 1985) [coll: hb/Joe Bergeron]
Hard Sell (Houston, Texas: Tafford Publishing, 1990) [coll of humorous sf: hb/David Welling]
Alien Plot (New York: Tor, 1992) [coll: hb/Erin McKee]
Writer's Retweet (Sumrall, Mississippi: Dreaming Big Publications, 2016) [coll: pb/]

individual titles: fantasy

Hasan (San Bernardino, California: The Borgo Press, 1977) [early version first appeared December 1969-January 1970 Fantastic: pb/George Barr]
- Hasan (New York: Tor, 1986) [exp of the above: pb/Don Maitz]
Shade of the Tree (New York: Tor, 1986) [hb/Linda Garland]
Through the Ice (Novato, California: Underwood-Miller, 1989) with Robert Kornwise [hb/Daniel R Horne]
Firefly (New York: Morrow, 1990) [hb/Lisa Stein]
Tatham Mound (New York: Morrow, 1991) [hb/Jerry Lofaro]
The Caterpillar's Question (New York: Ace Books, 1992) with Philip José Farmer [hb/Romas Kukalis]
If I Pay Thee Not in Gold (New York: Baen Books, 1993) with Mercedes Lackey [hb/Darrell K Sweet]
The Willing Spirit (New York: Tor, 1996) with Alfred Tella [hb/Tristan Elwell]
Quest for the Fallen Star (New York: Tor, 1998) with James Richey and Alan Riggs [hb/Tristan Elwell]
Dream a Little Dream (New York: Tor, 1999) with Julie Brady [pb/Tristan Elwell]
Reality Check (Pahrump, Nevada: Pulpless.Com, 1999) [pb/Billy Tackett]
The Secret of Spring (New York: Tor, 1999) with Jo Anne Taeusch [hb/Tristan Elwell]
The Gutbucket Quest (New York: Tor, 2000) with Ron Leming [hb/Tristan Elwell]
Pandora Park (New York: Open Road Media, 2014) [pb/]
WereWoman (New York: Open Road Media, 2014) [ebook: na/]
Service Goat (Sumrall, Mississippi: Dreaming Big Publications, 2016) [pb/]

nonfiction

Bio of an Ogre (New York: Ace Books, 1988) [autobiography: hb/Darrell K Sweet]
Piers Anthony's Visual Guide to Xanth (New York: Avon Books, 1989) with Jody Lynn Nye [nonfiction: Xanth: pb/Darrell K Sweet]
Letters to Jenny (New York: Tor, 1993) [hb/Jael]
How Precious Was That While: An Autobiography (New York: Tor, 2001) [autobiography: hb/Darrell K Sweet]

works as editor

Uncollected Stars (New York: Avon Books, 1986) with Barry N Malzberg, Martin H Greenberg and Charles G Waugh [anth: pb/]
Tales from the Great Turtle (New York: Tor, 1994) with Richard Gilliam [anth: hb/Lynn Newmark]
One and Wonder: Piers Anthony's Remembered Stories (New York: Fantastic Planet Books, 2014) [anth: pb/]

about the author

Michael R Collings. Piers Anthony (San Bernardino, California: The Borgo Press, 1984) [nonfiction: chap: dated 1983 but published 1984: hb/]
Phil Stephensen-Payne and Gordon Benson Jr. Piers Anthony: Biblio of an Ogre: A Working Bibliography (Leeds, West Yorkshire: Galactic Central Publications, 1990) [bibliography: chap: in the publisher's Bibliographies for the Avid Reader series: pb/nonpictorial]

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