On a Pale Horse [Paperback]

In this first novel of the Incarnations of Immortality, Piers Anthony combines a gripping story of romance and conflicting loyalties with a deeply moving examination of the meaning of life and death. This is a novel that will long linger in the reader's mind. 

Shooting Death was a mistake, as Zane soon discovered. For the man who killed the Incarnation of Death was immediately forced to assume the vacant position! Thereafter, he must speed over the world, riding his pale horse, and ending the lives of others. 

Zane was forced to accept his unwelcome task, despite the rules that seemed woefully unfair. But then he found himself being drawn into an evil plot of Satan. Already the prince of Evil was forging a trap in which Zane must act to destroy Luna, the woman he loved.

He could see only one possible way to defeat the Father of Lies. It was unthinkable—but he had no other solution!Piers Anthony, sometimes called Pier Xanthony, is the pseudonym of a Mundane character who was born in England in 1934, came to America in 1940, was naturalized in 1958, and moved to Xanth in 1977. His first story was published in 1963, and his first novel,Chthon,in 1967. His first Xanth novel,A Spell for Chameleon,won the August Derleth Fantasy Award as the best novel for 1977, and his fantasy novels began placing on theNew York Timesbestseller list withOgre, Ogre. He shifted from writing in pencil to writing on the computer, andGolem in the Gearswas his first novel created on the machine; naturally, the computer found its way into Xanth.“Death,” the proprietor said clearly, showing the stone. It was a bright red ruby, multifaceted, set in a plain gold ring. It was a full carat—large for this quality.
 
Zane shook his head, experiencing a chill. “I don’t want that one!”
 
The man smiled, an obviously perfunctory and practiced expression reserved flĂ,