Piers Anthony

Piers Anthony, born Piers Anthony Dillingham Jacob, is an American author widely recognized for his contributions to the science fiction and fantasy genres. He is particularly celebrated for his extensive and long-running Xanth novel series. Throughout his career, Anthony's books have frequently appeared on The New York Times Best Seller list. He has also noted his personal achievement of publishing books starting with every letter of the alphabet.

Anthony's early life involved his Quaker pacifist parents' relief work in Spain, leading to his upbringing in England and later the United States. He experienced a challenging youth, marked by bullying and academic struggles, which influenced his views on education. After marrying Carol Marble, he served in the U.S. Army before dedicating himself to writing. He established a pact with his wife: if he could sell a piece of writing within a year, he would pursue his literary dreams. His success in selling a short story that year allowed him to continue his chosen path, with his wife's support being instrumental to his career's inception.

Piers Anthony is known for his prolific output in science fiction and fantasy, most notably the Xanth series. His career has seen him move between publishers, often due to disagreements over editorial interference, which he felt compromised his artistic vision. To support aspiring writers, Anthony maintains an Internet Publishers Survey and has been recognized for his contributions to the electronic publishing community. His novels frequently feature an "Author's Note" at the end, where he discusses personal experiences, reader correspondence, and real-world influences on the book. Since around 2000, he has adopted a Linux environment for writing his novels. The Xanth series itself has garnered significant recognition, including a ranking in a national poll of best science fiction and fantasy books.

Anthony's personal life includes a vegetarian diet and a history of significant relationships. He was married to Carol Ann Marble Jacob, with whom he had two daughters. His first wife passed away in 2019 after a long illness. He later remarried in 2020. Anthony relocated from his tree farm in Florida to California in 2023. Regarding his philosophical outlook, Anthony identifies as agnostic but leans towards atheism, stating in 2017 that he is more certain of the non-existence of God and the afterlife. He has also been candid about personal difficulties, including bullying and academic struggles during his youth, which have shaped his perspective.

Anthony's work has not been without controversy. Some critics have pointed to stereotypical and misogynistic portrayals of female characters, particularly in the earlier Xanth novels, as well as themes of pedophilia and eroticism. Anthony has publicly refuted these criticisms, stating they do not accurately represent his work and noting that he receives substantial fan mail from women. His novel "But What of Earth?" experienced publication disputes, where Anthony alleged significant unauthorized alterations by an editor, leading to a revised edition published later. Beyond literary critiques, his Xanth series has inspired adaptations, including a video game and a board game, demonstrating the broader cultural impact of his fictional worlds.

“I didn't like being a member of the underclass, of the peons like that”

“I'm agnostic, which means I regard the case as unproven, but I'm much closer to the atheist position than to the theist one.”

“I am more certain about God and the Afterlife: they don't exist.”