Wielding a Red Sword

Incarnations of Immortality, Book Four

By: Piers Anthony

Narrated by: George Guidall

Legendary science-fiction/fantasy writer Piers Anthony combines fascinating magic with a gripping struggle between good and evil in this most ambitious series. As with the series' other stand-alone novels, Wielding a Red Sword depicts a mere mortal who is called to serve as a god-like incarnation. It is the thrilling story of Mym, an Indian prince who takes up the Red Sword to become Mars, the Incarnation of War.

To avoid breaking his betrothal to the princess Rapture and the war that would surely result, Mym accepts the fearsome office. As Mars, he plans to keep Rapture by his side as he stops the suffering caused by Earth's incessant wars. But will Mym's princely training, even his abilities as a berserker, be enough to defeat Satan himself?

Piers Anthony weaves together adventure, romance, and Eastern and Western mythologies to create this charming allegory. Master narrator George Guidall delivers the elegant tale with a dignified tone and much dramatic flair.

Don't miss the other books in the Incarnations of Immortality series.©1986 Piers Anthony Jacob (P)2000 Recorded Books

Disturbingly sexist, given who it is aimed at

This is a good read, but it is NOT appropriate for the young readers it is aimed at. The characters live in a blasted hellscape where the worst stereotypes about men and women are not only taken as fact, they _are_ fact. Woman are weak and untrustworthy and men are promiscuous and strong. Also, all of the good female characters are objects with no real agency (you might point to Luna and the Amazon queen, but the first one does nothing onscreen and the second follows the plans of the male lead). Rapture is a possible exception, but it's debatable whether the book views her as good or evil. Unfortunately, this is typical of the series, but if you can look past all that, the world is interesting, the characters are likeable (in same-sex company, and when not discussing women), and the plot is compelling. Hence the overall 4-star review despite the subtle but pervasive sexism.

Mars needs a girlfriend? srsly?

Love the author and narrator, but this installment in the series is my least favorite.

Piers Anthony, incarnations of immortality, awes

I am listening to the series I loved as a teen. while no one likes war, this war is lovable. surprises and delights, early and often. love this series!!!

Fascinating

As great a story as Pale Horse, but completely different! Funny, bittersweet, and brilliant!

Very good series!

Interesting take on the incarnations. The books in the series tie together but are very individual.

War

I think two few people have heard this book or give it to credit it really deserves it stands out as a stronger model than most people give it credit for. You will be hanging on every word

spellbinding like the books before it.

I love the series this far and am about to continue on. so well spoken and blissful to listen to.

The idiot trap

Apparently, when I first read this, I hadn't lost patience with the practice of using inexplicably poor decisions by the protagonist as a literary device.

The Red Sword

The fourth novel of the Incarnations series tells the story of Mym, a young Indian prince. As the story opens, Mym has fled his father's cort, believing himself unfit for his station due to a severe stutter and the presence of his more desirable brother. To make ends meet, he joins a traveling circus where he meets Orb, a beautiful young woman with a unique gift, the ability to put people into a trance whenever she sings and plays her harp. With the aid of his magic ring Mym aproaches Orb and soon forms a connection with her. As time goest by the two fal in love, but Mym is soon discovered and take back to his fathher. His brother is dead, meaning that Mym must become Raja uponhis fathher's death. Mym refuses to accede to the arranged marriage, resulting in the deaths of several would-be brides. Finall his father arranges for him to spend a month with Princess Rapture of Malachite at the Honeymoon Castle, a castle with magical properties that leave the thoughts of those who reside within the grounds open to one another. As time goes by Mym discovers that Rapture is indeed worth loving and finally agrees to marry her. Before the wedding can take place, the Raja changes his mind and begins to arrange a different marriage for Mym. This results in Rapture's father declaring war on Mym's kingdom, greatly angering both Mym and Rapture. Mym's anger draws a strange red sword to him, which e takes only to learn from Gaea, Incarnation of Nature, that he is now Mars, Incarnation of War and that it is now his mission to foil the plots of Satan, Incarnation of Evil. Mym has trouble wit this concept, having come from a completely different belief system. It's not long before Satan approaches Mym, and only time will tell whether Mym will have the necessary quickness of mind to avoid falling prey to Satan's insidious plots.
All in all this is an excellent book and George Guidall does a fine job of bringing it to life. It's unfortunate that he doesn't narrate the next three books in the series.

I really loved this book.

Piers Anthony approached this book from a different cultural view point. love how he weaves in the previous stories while maintaining the the integrity of the current plot.