CHAOS MODE
by Piers Anthony
Third of Anthony's Mode series (Fractal Mode, 1992)—a reality-hopping adventure combined with advice on personal growth, with an overly complicated premise but solidly agreeable character interactions. Of the cast—currently: neglected, young-teen rape victim Colene; Darius the magical king of another reality; Seqiro the telepathic horse; and beautiful, sexy, magical free-spirit Nona—one major addition is made per book (here, it's Burgess, an indescribable creature from a set of alternate Earths where vertebrates never evolved) while another drops out (Seqiro, after victory in a magical/telepathic duel with a rival). Though this episode lacks firm direction and a strong plot, the Modes notion continues to be one of Anthony's more thoughtful, hard-working, and substantial series.