Stork Naked
"Stork Naked" by Piers Anthony is the thirty-first installment in the Xanth series and features Surprise Golem as its protagonist. When Surprise's expected baby is inexplicably not delivered by the stork, she sets off on a fantastical quest to discover what went wrong. Her journey takes her through the various pun-laden landscapes of Xanth, with a rotating cast of quirky companions including the Demon Ted and the ever-curious Pet Peeve. Along the way, she confronts bureaucratic absurdities, magical barriers, and personal revelations, all wrapped in Anthony’s signature wordplay and light satire.
The novel continues the Xanth tradition of combining whimsical fantasy with clever linguistic humor, although its focus on bureaucratic processes and offbeat characters leans heavily on the series’ long-established tropes. "Stork Naked" may not introduce much novelty for longtime readers, but it stays faithful to the playful tone and imaginative style that define the series. Anthony uses this outing to poke fun at red tape and explore family bonds in his own pun-filled way.
I recommend "Stork Naked" to devoted fans of the Xanth series who enjoy its zany logic and pun-heavy narrative. New readers may find it confusing without prior context, but those familiar with Anthony’s universe will likely appreciate another ride through the ever-eccentric realm of Xanth.