And so we finally get it straightened out, and I, the author, will finish this Author's Note myself. I have just one thing to add. It is of a personal nature, but important to me. While working on this novel in Mayhem 1991 I attended a memorial service, and I spoke there. The person being honored was extremely popular in her community, and there were many there to speak well of her. I think my own words are self-explanatory. Actually I did not speak as well as this rendition makes it seem; my thoughts got tangled by emotion, and some were left out. So this is the full text, including what I meant to say as well as what I did.
"My mother said 'Oh, I'm going!' and she died. I was not ready. I did not want her to start that journey so soon. I cannot change it, but perhaps I can conjecture where it was that she was going. Call this a fantasy, if you will. My mother was in her way a creature of trains; when she traveled she did not like to fly, though she would do so when she had to, and I don't think she really liked long car drives either. I share these sentiments. So I'm sure it was a train she chose when it came time to make this final journey. There is just something about a train, in its beauty and power and reliability. A train is like portable civilization. Everything you need or want is there. Edna St.
Vincent Millay put it nicely: 'There isn't a train I wouldn't take, no matter where it's going.' You can trust a train. Now we are here at the station to see my mother off. This is a special train; it comes from eternity, and it is making a round trip. When she boards it, she finds that many of her friends are on it, having boarded at prior stations, and more will join them down the line. She has a window seat, and beyond that window is all the universe, past, present, and future. There is land and sea and sky, cities and forests, houses and people. There is the joy of day and the mystery of night. Everything is out there, and none of it is ever lost; one has only to look. But there is no need, for there is also much within the train. There are sleeping compartments, and a dining car, and a pleasant hall for games and conversation. She has the companionship of compatible people, including many she never met in life but who are well worth knowing now. It is a nice place, and she is happy there, as she was here; and though I am so sad to see her go, I hope she rides that train forever."
And the usual note: readers who want a source for all of my news and available titles can call 1-800 HI PIERS.
About the Author
New York Times-bestselling author Piers Anthony has written over one hundred books. His first fantasy, A Spell for Chameleon, won the August Derleth Fantasy Award for best novel in 1977, and commenced his acclaimed Xanth series. Please visit him at www.hipiers.com.
Eos Books by Piers Anthony
The Xanth Series
13: Isle of View
14: Question Quest
15: The Color of Her Panties
The Incarnations of Immortality Series
Book Six: For Love of Evil Book Seven: And Eternity
Credits
Cover illustration by Darrell K. Sweet
XANTH 15: THE COLOR OF HER PANTIES. Copyright © 1992 by Piers Anthony Jacob. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of PerfectBound™.
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Table of Contents
Start
The Color of Her Panties
Contents
CHAPTER 1. Mela
CHAPTER 2. Gwenny
CHAPTER 3. Okra
CHAPTER 4. Che
CHAPTER 5. Ida
CHAPTER 6. Jenny
CHAPTER 7. Panting
CHAPTER 8. Godiva
CHAPTER 9. Humfrey
CHAPTER 11. Nada
CHAPTER 12. Challenge
CHAPTER 13. Simurgh
CHAPTER 14. Roxanne
CHAPTER 15. Rescue
CHAPTER 16. Arrival
CHAPTER 17. Chief
History of Xanth (simplified) by E. Timber Bram
Author's Note
About the Author
Eos Books by Piers Anthony
Credits
Copyright page
About the Publisher