And Eternity

January 1, 1990
With this seventh book Anthony concludes his series called the Incarnations of Immortality. Previous works have focused on Death, Time, Fate, War, Earth, Evil; the subject here is the Incarnation of Good, and the setting is an alternate Earth where Magic and Science share power. Each of the offices of these Incarnations must be filled by a human who will not age while occupying the position. Following the theme of the series, this book is concerned with the transition to a new Incarnation of Good. Each Incarnation has different rules for change, and that of Good requires the agreement of all six other Incarnations, including Evil, a decided complication that the other five must deal with. Anthony's excellent prose and well-thought-out plotting deliver an enjoyable and logical surprise solution to the conflict, following the resolution of Luna Kaftan's critical vote (a subplot of the entire series).

AND ETERNITY is the last of the Incarnations of Immortality series. As with other books in the series, Anthony challenges his readers to consider broad questions about the universe in new and different ways. As the Incarnation of Goodness (aka God) becomes increasingly detached from his responsibilities and the balance of good and evil is threatened, an interesting trio of women steps into the void to restore order and balance. For repeat listeners, Barbara Caruso remembers her characters well. With a few new characters added to the familiar mix, Caruso is once again effective as a storyteller who draws out the best of the story and its characters. Following the book, George Guidall interviews the author. J.E.M. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine