# 26 - Up In a Heaval [UIAH]
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Profusely punning his path through his 26th Xanth fantasy, the prolific Anthony (The Dastard, etc.) focuses on a contest between Demon Jupiter and Demon Fornax, reviving to great effect the dueling demons theme from last year's Swell Foop. Believing a piece of Mundane Snail Mail has provoked Demon Jupiter to hurl his red spot at the Demon Earth (which could result in the obliteration of Xanth), Umlaut, the story's hero, sets out with Sesame Snake and Sammy Cat to consult the Good Magician. To avert tragedy, they must deliver the letters that remain from the Snail Mail left at the Zombie Castle. As they crisscross Xanth, they encounter many of the characters featured in Anthony's previous works. To add depth to the plot, the Demoness Metria appears regularly to tempt Umlaut from his path using raging hormones and the "Adult Conspiracy" theme that salts all the Xanth novels with schoolboy humor and sophomoric jokes. Anthony's latest offering is certain to please fans. New readers, however, may lack the patience to plow through so many puns and so much childish humor.
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Major Characters |
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| Character Name |
Species |
Origin |
Talent |
Notes |
First Chapter Mentioned |
| Metria |
Demoness |
Hades |
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Lover of Gromden; wife of Veleno; mother of Threnody, Ted, and Chaos; troublemaker who has a problem with vocabulary; has alter egos Mentia and Woe betide |
03 |
| Para |
Boat |
Xanth |
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A duck-footed boat that can go on land or sea, to the Isles of WO |
09 |
| Sammy |
Cat |
Two Moons |
finding things, except home |
Mate of Claire Voyant; father of Kitten Kaboodle; pet of Jenny Elf; cute orange fluffball |
03 |
| Surprise |
Crossbreed |
Xanth |
Many |
Daughter of Rapunzel and Grundy; wife of Umlaut; mother of Prize; delivered at age 6. With her talent, one never knows what magic will manifest. Initially she showed talents of size change, hair, changing objects, invisibility, and bringing nightfall, later, a whole paragraph more. However, she thinks she can only use each talent once. She now lives in Euphoria in Mundania. |
12 |
| Umlaut |
Golem |
Xanth |
Emulation |
Husband of Surpise; father of Prize; created by Fornax for a bet with the semblance of body, life, and awareness. If he accomplishes his chore, Xanth wins. Gained a real soul at the conclusion of his quest. |
02 |
| Sesame |
Serpent |
Xanth |
Emulation |
Mate of Souffle; trapped in the basement of Castle Zombie while fleeing from another sea serpent; found by Breanna and Justin after the Zombie Master retired and named Drivel. |
02 |
| Claire Voyant |
Cat |
Xanth |
Clairvoyance |
Mate of Sammy Cat; mother of Kitten Kaboodle |
09 |
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