On a Pale Horse

Piers Anthony

Feb 2012 · Incarnations of Immortality Book 1 · Sold by Del Rey

About this eBook

In this first novel of the Incarnations of Immortality, Piers Anthony combines a gripping story of romance and conflicting loyalties with a deeply moving examination of the meaning of life and death. This is a novel that will long linger in the reader's mind. 

Shooting Death was a mistake, as Zane soon discovered. For the man who killed the Incarnation of Death was immediately forced to assume the vacant position! Thereafter, he must speed over the world, riding his pale horse, and ending the lives of others. 

Zane was forced to accept his unwelcome task, despite the rules that seemed woefully unfair. But then he found himself being drawn into an evil plot of Satan. Already the prince of Evil was forging a trap in which Zane must act to destroy Luna, the woman he loved.

He could see only one possible way to defeat the Father of Lies. It was unthinkable—but he had no other solution!

Ratings and reviews

This was my favorite book as a teenager. Plenty of wry comedy, a unique protagonist, and action. All good things. However, as I've aged, it doesn't suit my tastes anymore. There isn't much wrong with it (aside from a certain misogynistic treatment of women), but it is definitely less mature than I remember. Nonetheless, a fun trip down memory lane and a decent, light read.

the incarnations of immortality series of books is very well written and weaves a nice universe. each book ads to the story and the universe spanning the ages as magic and technology become more intertwined throughout the story. the first book starts this off with the main character being a loser and as such tries to commit suicide. then he kills death and gets his job. what follows is an interesting ride of intrigue and a little romance. though now that I'm older it feels more like a tween book due to the subject matter it still holds a certain appeal even to this day.

Obviously written by a male with little insight into women. The female characters are weak. was ok till he started rapey torture scene. Couldn't read after that.

About the author

Piers Anthony, sometimes called Pier Xanthony, is the pseudonym of a Mundane character who was born in England in 1934, came to America in 1940, was naturalized in 1958, and moved to Xanth in 1977. His first story was published in 1963, and his first novel, Chthon, in 1967. His first Xanth novel, A Spell for Chameleon, won the August Derleth Fantasy Award as the best novel for 1977, and his fantasy novels began placing on the New York Times bestseller list with Ogre, Ogre. He shifted from writing in pencil to writing on the computer, and Golem in the Gears was his first novel created on the machine; naturally, the computer found its way into Xanth.