Centaur Aisle

Infobox Book |
name = Centaur Aisle


image_caption = The cover of Centaur Aisle.
author = Piers Anthony
country = United States
language = English
cover_artist = Michael Whelan
genre = Fantasy novel
publisher = Del Rey Books
release_date = January 1982
media_type = Print (Paperback)
pages = 294 pp (paperback 16th printing)
isbn = ISBN 0-345-35246-7
preceded_by = Castle Roogna
followed_by = Ogre, Ogre

"Centaur Aisle" is the fourth book of the Xanth series by Piers Anthony.

Plot introduction

King Trent has left Xanth on a mission of trade to Mundania and has left Dor as temporary king. When Trent fails to return after some time, Dor must find a way to rescue Trent. He is informed that the means to rescue Trent lies to the south on Centaur Isle, the home of a tribe of centaurs.

Plot summary

Xanthchar
Primary=Dor
Major=Irene Smash Grundy Chet Arnolde

Xanth's King Trent has left for drear Mundania, leaving Dor to practice governing the magical kingdom of Xanth. Dor's magical talent is communication with the inanimate which for information gathering is very helpful, but for dealing with citizens needing discipline it leaves room for improvement. But when Trent goes to establish trade routes with Mundania, Dor and his friends (a golem named Grundy, the centaur Chet, Smash the ogre, and Dor's love interest Irene) must keep the land in line.However, former King Trent does not return when he was supposed to (1 week). After three weeks, Dor gathers his gang and decides to go find something that will help rescue Trent from what is surely a horrible fate of imprisonment in non-magic Mundania.

This mission leads them to Centaur Isle, to find a supposed Centaur Magician. Centaurs are very negative on the concept of having magical talents, so when they find Arnold the Centaur and discover his talent, he is exiled and willing to help them rescue Trent. Arnold's talent is magical projection, casting out a field of magic about him. Arnold, or the Centaur Aisle, can help by letting Dor and his friends use magic outside of the normal field of Xanth.

The whole gang (minus Chet, who got injured) travel by rainbow north to Mundania and (after a large hassle with staying hidden) find a scholar named Ichabod. From him, they learn that they are in the wrong time strand and must go back to Xanth and re-cross the border. Eventually Dor and his friends find the correct time and go to the castle where they think Trent and his wife Iris were last. After a nice dinner and a little betrayal, they get captured and locked in a dungeon. After escaping, they smash down a couple walls to find Trent and his new friend King Omen, the proper king of this area.

The group (plus the new additions) struggle to get Omen into his rightful throne. After exchanging farewells, they decide to return to Xanth with King Trent and Queen Iris.