On a Pale Horse

Piers Anthony

6/8/2001

In this near future world, science and magic coexist peacefully. Zane is shopping for magic stones to help improve his life. When he passes up a chance for great love he decides to commit suicide. Instead of killing himself, he kills the Incarnation of Death. He then finds himself taking on the role of Death.

As the new Incarnation of Death starts his job, he learns it is not easy taking people's souls as they are dying. His compassion makes him rebel against the mundaness of the job. He instead tries to make dying easier for those people who become his clients. He meets the other Incarnations. They guide him in his new position, but leave more questions unanswered after each visit.

Then he meets a great magician and his daughter Luna. Zane/Death finds himself attracted to her. Then he discovers that Satan has scheduled an early death for her. Zane now has to face off with the other Incarnations and Satan.

On a Pale Horse is the first novel of the Incarnations of Immortality series. The first five are great. Ignore the last two follow up books Anthony decided to add later. This one is very good. The Incarnations round out the world Anthony has created. This is a believable mixture of magic and science.

You can find more about this series of books at .

The Series:

On a Pale Horse
Bearing an Hourglass
With a Tangled Skein
Wielding a Red Sword
Being a Green Mother
For Love of Evil
And Eternity