The Source of Magic

Infobox Book |
name = The Source of Magic


image_caption =
author = Piers Anthony
country = USA
language = English
cover_artist = Doug Beekman
genre = Fantasy novel
publisher = Del Rey Books
release_date = February 1979
media_type = Print (Paperback)
pages = 326 pp (paperback 27th printing)
isbn = ISBN 0-345-35058-8
preceded_by = A Spell for Chameleon
followed_by = Castle Roogna

"The Source of Magic" is the second book of the Xanth series by Piers Anthony.

Plot introduction

This novel begins one year after the events of "A Spell for Chameleon", and describes the adventures of Bink after he has settled down with his pregnant wife, Chameleon. King Trent had appointed Bink the Official Researcher of Xanth at the end of the previous book, and given him the task to discover Xanth's source of magic. After many hazards, Bink and his companions succeed but Bink makes a moral choice that ends up destroying the magic of Xanth.

Plot summary

Xanthchar
Primary=Bink
Major=Humfrey Crombie Grundy ChesterOn his way to Queen Iris's masquerade ball in honor of Trent's accession to the throne one year before, Bink is attacked by a floating sword, which he deflects using his talent of protection against magical harm. At the ball, he is attacked again by an unseen enemy. Finally, Bink confides in King Trent, who decides to remove Bink from harm's way by sending him out on a mission to find the source of magic of Xanth. To help him, King Trent sends Chester the Centaur and the soldier Crombie. Crombie is turned into a griffin by King Trent, whose magical talent is the ability to transform living things.

First, the party heads to the Good Magician Humfrey's castle, to ask his advice about their quest. When they tell him they are attempting to discover Xanth's source of magic, Humfrey decides he wants to come as well. They come across someone who tells them they should abandon their quest, as it could result in the destruction of all magic in Xanth. At this time they also find Grundy the Golem, whose talent is understanding any language. This is particularily useful because Crombie in griffin form can only speak in squawks, which Grundy is able to translate.

On their quest, they meet many obstacles, including a Siren, a Gorgon whose face turns men to stone, madness itself, a dragon, tangle trees, and an ogre. Bink narrowly escapes all enemies through a series of seemingly circumstantial events, due to his talent. Eventually they find the source of magic - a demon named X(A/N)th imprisoned deep below the surface. Bink is faced with a moral dilemma, to let it be free and destroy all magic in Xanth and act against the Brain Coral, or to keep it against its will. He eventually lets the magic go by freeing the demon, but is convinced by Cherie Centaur to go back and look for the demon again, hoping to convince it to stay. After some negotiation, the demon agrees under the condition that the magic shield which separated Xanth from Mundania will protect him from foolish intruders.

Upon Bink's return home, he discovers his son (to be named Dor) possesses a magician calibre talent - he can make the inanimate speak.