History YMMV / Xanth

* DamselScrappy: Millie in ''Castle Roogna''. She does nothing useful throughout the plot, and her only reaction to danger is screaming and kicking her legs.

* TheProblemWithLicensedGames: Averted. The AdventureGame based on one of the novels managed to be at least halfway decent. The novel is based off of the game that is based off the novel. It's maddeningly recursive on YourHeadASplode levels. Basically, in the novel, the protagonists are ''playing the game that is now out, based on the novel'', making it a bit of IWishItWereReal, as well. The Author's Note straightens this out: Anthony wanted to make a Xanth computer game, but lacked the expertise to do it himself. He wrote the novel to show Legend Entertainment what the Xanth game should be like, and they went and made it for him.

* TheissTitillationTheory: As with most Anthony books, characters who are fully clothed and characters who are fully nude are treated about the same. Characters who are partially nude, or seem to be inches from nudity, are so dangerously sexual that it can cause men to Freak Out at the very sight.

* DamselScrappy: Millie in ''Castle Roogna''.

* PeripheryDemographic: Young kids and teenagers, actually, due to the Puns.
** Funnily enough, Anthony stated in one of his Author's Notes that the reason the Adult Conspiracy was hiding less in later books was that he was offended that his books were being put in the Teens section of the library and wanted to emphasize that the books were meant for adults.
* TheProblemWithLicensedGames: Averted. The AdventureGame based on one of the novels managed to be at least halfway decent.
** Except the novel is based off of the game that is based off the novel. It's maddeningly recursive on YourHeadASplode levels. Basically, in the novel, the protagonists are ''playing the game that is now out, based on the novel'', making it a bit of IWishItWereReal, as well.
*** The Author's Note straightens this out: Anthony wanted to make a Xanth computer game, but lacked the expertise to do it himself. He wrote the novel to show Legend Entertainment what the Xanth game should be like, and they went and made it for him.

** SeasonalRot: There are effectively "seasons" to the books, which can be judged by the protagonists and their connections to the royal family. About the time the series starts wandering further and further afield of Bink's direct descendants, it becomes obvious that Anthony [[MoneyDearBoy is just writing to meet his word count]], with entire chapters of {{Filler}} that either [[BigLippedAlligatorMoment have no effect on the overall story]] or just serve to [[PoorlyDisguisedPilot transparently and hamhandedly introduce characters or situations]] for a [[SequelHook later book]].

** SeasonalRot: There are effectively "seasons" to the books, which can be judged by the protagonists and their connections to the royal family. About the time the series starts wandering further and further afield of Bink's direct descendants, it becomes obvious that Anthony [[MoneyDearBoy is just writing to meet his word count]], with entire chapters of {{Filler}} that either [[BigLippedAlligatorMoment have no effect on the overall story]] or just serve to [[PoorlyDisguisedPilot transparently and hamhandedly introduce characters or situations]] for a [[SequelHook later book]].

* {{Sequelitis}}: And how. The first book was amazingly original, but by Harpy Thyme the prose is so badly written it can be painful to read in places, among other problems. Many people recommend stopping by Question Quest, and giving the later books a miss except those with characters from the early series (like the aforementioned Harpy Thyme, sadly).

* MarySue: A fair few, but nowhere as bad as the three princesses introduced later - "Rhythm", "Harmony" and "Melody". Whereas characters previously had a limited talent, which was used in a clever way to solve a plot roadblock, the three princesses have the talent to (described in-text) literally "Do Anything" by using their ~ Summonable ~ instruments. Any inventive solutions to plot roadblocks were thrown out the figurative window, as the princesses (who showcase in most books) will solve the problem by themselves with no intervention by the main character of the story.
** The moons of Ptero also count in a way, as a convenient dumping ground for pun libraries and easy character solutions, due to the presence of "alternate" plot characters and convenient havens for happy, age-inappropriate romances.

* GuiltyPleasure: Oh god yes. The puns, the tropes used, the plots... all combined combined with the ParentalBonus makes re-reading the Xanth novels 10-20 years out of the target audience a very guilty pleasure indeed.
** That's if it doesn't produce a "I actually liked reading this? What was I thinking?" reaction.

* PanderingToTheBase: Xanth is read mostly by hormonal teenagers (of both genders), and Piers Anthony is ''distinctly'' aware of this -- and includes a weird combination of fanservice and strong female characters for both sides.

* DudeNotFunny: Putting gay men in strait jackets, though as with all tropes on this page, your mileage may vary. Some think it's just upright UnfortunateImplications, while some think it's a wonderful mockery of the sort of yuck gay people in many countries have to go through. It doesn't help that there's only one other reference to gay people in the entire series[[note]]In ''Demons Don't Dream'', Dug encounters the grouchy and unpleasant Fairy Nuff, who is annoyed that everyone assumes that, because he's a fairy, he must be gay. Dug solves his problem by telling him to spell his name "FAERIE" instead of "FAIRY".[[/note]]

* PeripheryDemographic: Young kids and teenagers, actually, due to a combination of Puns and FetishFuel.

* RunningTheAsylum, AscendedFanon: Readers send Piers Anthony enough suggestions in fan mail that Xanth novels now consist almost entirely of such material. Piers Anthony acknowledges these contributions in his chapter-long Author's Note at the end of every book.
** The way the Dolph/Nada Naga/Electra love triangle was resolved (which hinges on the ExactWords that the Good Magician Humphrey said) was suggested by a fan; in the Author's Note for ''Isle of View'', Piers Anthony said that he hadn't thought of that solution, and had even already written an ending in which the wrong girl "won".

** SeasonalRot: There are effectively "seasons" to the books, which can be judged by the protagonists and their connections to the royal family. About the time the series starts wandering further and further afield of Bink's direct descendants, it becomes obvious that Anthony [[MoneyDearBoy is just writing to meet his word count]], with entire chapters of {{Filler}} that either [[BigLippedAlligatorMoment have no effect on the overall story]] or just serve to [[PoorlyDisguisedPilot transparently and hamhandedly introduce characters or situations]] for a [[SequelHook later book]].
* UnfortunateImplications: Chameleon's (involuntary) talent is that she shifts from beautiful-but-stupid to smart-but-ugly, and back, every thirty days. In other words, a monthly cycle... (Which is also the first appearance of the recurring "Smart People Are Insufferable Jerks" theme)
** It has also been argued that this isn't really '''unintentional''' Unfortunate Implications, but rather how the author actually thinks about women.
** Tellingly, Bink (her husband) likes her best at mid-cycle, when she's average in intelligence and looks.

* UnfortunateImplications: Chameleon's talent is that she shifts from beautiful, but stupid to smart, but ugly, and back, every thirty days. In other words, a monthly cycle... (Which is also the first appearance of the recurring "Smart People Are Insufferable Jerks" theme)
** It has also been argued that this isn't really '''unintentional''' Unfortunate Implications, but rather how the author actually thinks about women.

* UnfortunateImplications: Chameleon's talent is that she shifts from beautiful, but stupid to smart, but ugly, and back, every thirty days. In other words, a monthly cycle... (Which is also the first appearance of the recurring "Smart People Are Insufferable Jerks" theme)

** SeasonalRot: There are effectively "seasons" to the books, which can be judged by the protagonists and their connections to the royal family. About the time the series starts wandering further and further afield of Bink's direct descendants, it becomes obvious that Anthony is just writing to meet his word count, with entire chapters of {{Filler}} that either [[BigLippedAlligatorMoment have no effect on the overall story]] or just serve to [[PoorlyDisguisedPilot transparently and hamhandedly introduce characters or situations]] for a [[SequelHook later book]].

** SeasonalRot: There are effectively "seasons" to the books, which can be judged by the protagonists and their connections to the royal family. About the time the series starts wandering further and further afield of Bink's direct descendants, it becomes obvious that Anthony is just writing to meet his word count, with entire chapters of {{Filler}} that either [[BigLippedAlligatorMoment have no effect on the overall story]] or just serve to [[PoorlyDesguisedPilot transparently and hamhandedly introduce characters or situations]] for a [[SequelHook later book]].

** SeasonalRot: There are effectively "seasons" to the books, which can be judged by the protagonists and their connections to the royal family. About the time the series starts wandering further and further afield of Bink's direct descendants, it becomes obvious that Anthony is just writing to meet his word count, with entire chapters of {{Filler}} that either [[BigLippedAlligatorMoment have no effect on the overall story]] or just serve to [[PoorlyDesignedPilot transparently and hamhandedly introduce characters or situations]] for a [[SequelHook later book]].

* DudeNotFunny: Putting gay men in strait jackets, though as with all tropes on this page, your mileage may vary. Some think it's just upright UnfortunateImplications, while some think it's a wonderful mockery of the sort of yuck gay people in many countries have to go through. It doesn't help that there's only one other reference to gay people in the entire series[[hottip:*:In ''Demons Don't Dream'', Dug encounters the grouchy and unpleasant Fairy Nuff, who is annoyed that everyone assumes that, because he's a fairy, he must be gay. Dug solves his problem by telling him to spell his name "FAERIE" instead of "FAIRY".]]

* DudeNotFunny: Putting gay men in strait jackets. This troper wanted to give whoever came up with that one a nutcracker, If You Know What I Mean.
** Oooooooooh, ''yes it is'' funny. Keep in mind that homosexuality used to be considered a mental illness, and still is in several countries. There are still many people who profess to be able to 'cure' it with therapy, and gay people who go to those things and force themselves, or are forced into, straight lives. The entire concept is ridiculous and ''deserves'' to be mocked with an IncrediblyLamePun.
*** Except that it's the only mention of gay people in the books that this troper can remember, and is not said in a derisive tone at all.
*** There's one more reference; in ''Demons Don't Dream'', Dug encounters the grouchy and unpleasant Fairy Nuff, who is annoyed that everyone assumes that, because he's a fairy, he must be gay. Dug solves his problem by telling him to spell his name "FAERIE" instead of "FAIRY".

* HighOctaneNightmareFuel: What Trent found in Castle Roogna's library in the first book.

** That's if it doesn't produce a "I actually liked reading this? Was I retarded?" reaction.