Apprentice Adept
A heptalogy of two worlds, magic and science, linked by a curtain.
Piers Anthony’s *Apprentice Adept* series is a seven-book blend of fantasy and science fiction. The story unfolds across two parallel worlds, Phaze and Proton, which share the same physical space but exist on separate dimensional planes. Phaze is a vibrant, magical world, while Proton is a desolate mining planet driven by science. At the start of the series, every person born on one world has a counterpart on the other. However, if someone lacks a duplicate—for instance, because they immigrated from another planet or their counterpart died—they can cross between worlds through an energy curtain that surrounds each realm.
The first three books follow Stile, a serf from Proton, as he enters Phaze and rises to political power there. The next three focus on Mach (Stile’s son), Bane (Stile’s son), and Bane’s companions. The seventh volume, *Phaze Doubt*, shifts to the adventures of Bane’s and Mach’s nine-year-old children, Flach and Nepe, among others.
**Setting**
**Proton** Proton is just one planet in a galaxy of human-inhabited worlds. Most of its atmosphere was destroyed by mining Protonite, a valuable energy source, so people live in domed cities with artificial life support. Despite its advanced technology, Proton’s society resembles a medieval hierarchy. The planet is ruled by immensely wealthy Citizens, while the majority of inhabitants are serfs. Serfs must work for a Citizen and remain naked unless ordered otherwise. A Citizen has total authority over their serfs and can command them to do anything. Even the poorest Citizens have wealth rivaling medieval kings. Serfs are not slaves, however; they chose serfdom as their occupation (or are descended from those who did). After twenty years of service, a serf earns a gram of Protonite and retirement—a small amount on Proton but enough for a comfortable life elsewhere in the galaxy. Many serfs would prefer to stay after their term, but this is usually forbidden unless they advance far enough in the Tourney (see below). Besides Citizens and serfs, Proton has advanced robots, some of which are self-aware and possess free will, though this is not common knowledge at the series’ start. Humanity has also made contact with alien species, some of whom live on Proton.
**The Game** The main pastime on Proton is called the Game. To play, two people go to a Game console.
- Author
- Piers Anthony
- Nationality
- English American
- Genre
- Fantasy and science fiction
- Number of volumes
- 7 (heptalogy)
- Setting
- Phaze and Proton (two dimensional planes)
- First three books protagonist
- Stile
- Next three books protagonist
- Mach, Bane, and companions
- Final volume protagonist
- Flach and Nepe
Lore & Background
Phaze, in contrast, is a lush world of magic powered by Phazite, the same substance as Protonite. It is populated by humans, unicorns, werewolves, vampires, trolls, and animalheads. Most humans can do minor magic, but powerful Adepts—each with a unique mode of magic—are the exception. Adepts are named after colors: Blue uses music and rhymes, Yellow uses potions, Red stores magic in amulets, White draws sigils, Black uses a line to create objects, Green uses hand gestures, Orange controls plant life, Purple manipulates geology, Brown makes golems, Translucent controls water, Tan uses the Evil Eye, and Grey uses illusion. Unicorns are intelligent, colorful, shapeshifters with hollow horns used as musical instruments. The Oracle's source line runs through the north pole, not the west pole. Adepts cannot directly harm another Adept with magic at all, and a group cannot magically overpower a lone Adept; the rule is absolute.
Reader's Guide
The Apprentice Adept series is significant for its dual-world structure, blending fantasy and science fiction in a single narrative. It explores the interplay between magic and technology, with characters often having alternate selves on each world. The series' socioeconomic commentary on Proton—where serfs choose their status and Citizens wield absolute power—adds depth. The Game system provides a unique framework for conflict and character development. The series' legacy lies in its imaginative world-building and the moral questions it raises about identity, choice, and the nature of reality. It remains a notable example of Piers Anthony's work, appealing to readers of both genres.
Did You Know?
- Each person born on Phaze and Proton has an alternate self living on the other world.
- Unicorns in Phaze are as intelligent as humans and can shapeshift into two other forms.
- The Oracle is actually a computer with its source line running through the west pole.
- Adepts cannot harm or affect another Adept through magic for very long, but a group can overpower a lone Adept.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote the Apprentice Adept series?
Piers Anthony, an English American author, created this seven-volume blend of fantasy and science fiction.
What are Phaze and Proton in Apprentice Adept?
They are two parallel worlds occupying the same physical space on separate dimensional planes. Phaze is a lush, magic-rich realm, whereas Proton is a bleak, technology-driven mining planet.
Who is the main protagonist of Apprentice Adept?
Stile carries the narrative as the central hero across the first three volumes of the heptalogy.
How does the curtain between Phaze and Proton work?
An energy barrier normally keeps the two planes apart, but a person who has no living counterpart on the opposite side—whether because they arrived from elsewhere or their twin is dead—can slip through it.
How many books are in the Apprentice Adept series?
The series is structured as a heptalogy, meaning it spans seven volumes in total.
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