Summary ...

When the child he had fathered died of an incurable disease, and the woman he loved committed suicide in her grief, Norton no longer cared what happened to him. Thus, when Gawain the Ghost informed him that the position of the Incarnation of Time was about to be vacant, Norton volunteered.

Story Synopsis ...

Being Time wasn't so bad at first, though he now lived backward from present to past. The Hourglass enabled him to journey back to see the one he had loved again. The other seemingly all-powerful, living Incarnations—Death, Fate, Nature, and War—all welcomed him to their ranks. Even Satan visited him, bringing a gift—a trip to the world of Bat Dursten and the Berns. Another jaunt took him to the world of the Damsel in Distress, the Evil Sorceress, and the Enchanted Sword.

But Satan was the Father of Lies and illusions. Norton learned that, while he was being distracted, he had already become deeply enmeshed in a foul plot of Satan to destroy all that was good. Death's beloved Luna was now a Senator, and her deciding vote could thwart Satan's plans for Earth. Norton had been tricked by the Evil One into enabling Satan to spread His minions through the past to make her election impossible.

Using the Hourglass, Norton could go back through time to try to overcome this threat. But the schemes of Satan were never that simple. Behind the obvious menace lay deeper and deeper levels of intrigue. In the end, Norton was forced to confront the immense power of Satan indirectly. And though Satan banished him to Hell, he knew he must fight on.

Like On a Pale Horse, this second, complete-in-itself novel of the Incarnations of Immortality is a richly imagined and always fascinating story. Only Piers Anthony could have written this novel!

Story Excerpt ...

It all began with a ghost.

"I'm a ghost, " Gawain repeated. "Here, I'll demonstrate."

He extended his hand. Norton clasped it expecting a crushing grip—and encountered air. He touched Gawain's arm, and his hand passed through without resistance, disappearing into the man's body.

"You certainly are," he agreed ruefully. "You look so solid—"

"Do I?" Gawain asked, becoming translucent.

Norton shook his head. "I never met a real, live—uh—"

"Real, at any rate," Gawain laughed, firming up to solid semblance again. "Norton, I like you. I'd have enjoyed your company when I was alive. I think I have a favor to ask of you."

"I'll do any man a favor. But I don't think there's much—"

"I need an heir," the ghost said. "The dragon cut me off before I could take care of that myself. So I want you to take my wife and get me a son."

Author Information ...

Piers Anthony was born in England in 1934. He sold his first story in 1962 and had his first novel published in 1967. His fantasy novel A Spell for Chameleon, Volume One of the Magic of Xanth series, received the August Derleth Award as Best Novel of 1977. Seven Xanth novels have followed and all have become best-sellers. Piers Anthony and his wife and two daughters live in Florida.

Chapters ...

The following chapter list refers to the Hardbound publication of Bearing an Hourglass.