Shade of the Tree

By Piers Anthony

Book Overview

The estate was Joshua Pinson's inheritance from his oddball uncle Elijah: isolated in the deep Florida woods, with a half-built solar house stocked with enough supplies to weather a siege. Josh decided it was time to take his two young children away from New York and the memories of their murdered mother. Time to make a new life in sunny Florida. There was just one thing that Josh hadn't counted on. The place was haunted.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312937245
• ISBN13: 9780312937249
• Release Date: January 1986
• Publisher: Tor Books
• Length: 348 Pages
• Weight: 1.22 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Amazing read - GREAT twist to the ending!!

I can't remember now why I was randomly searching through Piers Anthony's books - I had mostly given up on him years ago when I realized that after the first couple of books in any given series (Xanth, Apprentice Adept), that series would devolve into repetitious silliness and idiocy. Maybe it was in hopes of finding another gem like Firefly (which is another amazing read, if you can find it). Well, I ran across this book and was immediately intrigued and set about to find it. I'm glad I did - I couldn't put it down. It starts out slow - setting a mood, slowly inserting more and more elements that just don't quite belong. Joshua Pinson, the new owner of the property, is a rational man - a computer programmer - and finds it harder and harder to explain away the occurrences, although he continues to attempt to do so, not wishing to give in to the superstitions of those who live in the area concerning his property, and especially the large tree under which shade his new house sits. Finally during an extended rainy period things seem to hit a sort of critical mass . . . but I don't want to ruin anything, so you'll just have to read it for yourselves. I highly recommend this book for those who like a good ghost story, a good mystery, a good scare, or just a well-written book. You won't be disappointed!

One of Anthony's Best

Piers Anthony demonstrates his competence at horror novel writing. This story enthralls almost immediately, about a father and his two children taking refuge from The Big City in a safe, rural setting. Anthony builds empathy for the plight of the family, who have just lost their mother to NY crime. But as he does this, he begins to insert elements into the rural Florida setting that don't quite fit, that can be explained away at first, but then ...I won't give anything away, but this could have made a great X-Files episode. Anthony demonstrates that he can run with King or Straub with this story. His characterization is much deeper than usual, but he doesn't neglect his perversely creative ability to plot beyond the lines.Great bedtime reading for city dwellers. Not certain I'd read it at all if I lived in an old house under an old tree, miles from anywhere ...

Suspenseful and intelligent

There was a day when Piers was known for more than his stupid and silly fantasies, and this is one the best books from those times. Much of the scenery and background is taken from his real life, but here he creates more suspense and drama than I've ever seen in any of his books. The characters are real and believeable, the writing is tight and descriptive, and the overall suspense of the book keeps you turning the pages until the very end -- where the book goes from suspense/horror to outright light fantasy. But hey, I'm not complaining, at least it's not some cope out, splatter the wall with blood ending that Stephen King has come up with a hundred and one times already. I highly recommend this book to all who are even remotely interested in this genre of writing; it is not, however, for those who are incapable of conceiving of literature beyond Xanth.

A really good Book!

I've read it more than 10 years ago and still thinks this book is one of the better book written by Piers Anthony. I truly loved the story and advise you to buy the book and read it.

A must read for those that like horror.

This is a well writen book of horror by a fantasy writer. If you bother to read the back cover you will know that this is Anthony's first attempt at horror. I for one think that he did a good job. But I would not advise the younger reader to read it due to some graphical nature. Anthony leaves his rule of no sex from Xanth in the dust.