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The Adept series of novels by Piers Anthony tells the story of the parallel worlds of Phaze and Proton.  While Proton is an over mined world of technology, Phaze is a lush world of magic.  Both worlds share not simply mere similarities, but citizenry, geography and most importantly -- fates.

The main character, a lowly resident of Proton named Stile is able to cross the boundaries between the two linked worlds a trip made possible by the death of his Phaze counterpart.  Having crossed the boundary accidentally, he is new to the world of magic. Stile must learn how to master his magical abilities while earning his citizenship on Proton.  But Stile isn't the only one with plans...or access to both worlds.

Anthony continues to prove that he can create worlds apart from those of his other series -- and tell stories unique to each.  I started reading the Adept series in High School and then completed the series as it was published into the early 1990s.  Anthony's style of writing is in this series casual and reads quickly.

• Split Infinity
• Blue Adept
• Juxtaposition
• Out of Phaze
• Robot Adept
• Unicorn Point
• Phaze Doubt

Xanth is a world of magic.  Sounds like so many other stories.  But in Xanth (which is suspiciously shaped like Florida), everyone is born with a unique ability -- a talent no one else in the world (with rare exceptions) can do.  Unfortunately for most citizens, the ability is something rather useless.  For a few, the talent is judged to be Magician-level, which comes with not only status and recognition, but one step toward becoming King of Xanth.

Anthony fills his world with puns.  Centipedes are of course smaller than nickelpedes.  Night mares are horses that bring scary dreams.  Children are protected from the facts of life by The Adult Conspiracy.  His writing style reads easily for someone as young as 13 or so...but aren't perhaps appropriate for younger children.  Each book is a complete story.  While they share characters and follow a chronology there are no "cliff-hanger" plots that carry across volumes.

I started reading the Xanth novels with A Spell for Chameleon around 1982 and stopped reading the series with Xone of Contention around 2000.  I keep thinking I should pick up the series again as Anthony continues to put out new novels -- one of these days!

• A Spell for Chameleon
• The Source of Magic
• Castle Roogna
• Centaur Aisle
• Ogre, Ogre
• Night Mare
• Dragon on a Pedestal
• Crewel Lye
• Golem in the Gears
• Vale of the Vole
• Heaven Cent
• Man from Mundania
• Isle of View
• Question Quest
• The Color of Her Panties
• Demons Don't Dream
• Harpy Thyme
• Geis of the Gargoyle
• Roc and a Hard Place
• Yon Ill Wind
• Faun & Games
• Zombie Lover
• Xone of Contention
• The Dastard
• Swell Foop
• Up in a Heaval
• Cube Route
• Currant Events
• Pet Peeve
• Stork Naked
• Air Apparent
• Two to the Fifth
• Jumper Cable