Smash the ogre and Tandy are the two most important characters in Ogre, Ogre; however, a host of other characters contribute to the action. Some, such as Chem the centaur; Blythe, a brass woman; John, a female fairy; a Siren; Fireoak, a dryad; and Goldy, a female goblin appear in several episodes because they join Tandy and Smash on their journey. All of these characters have quests similar to Tandy's and Smash's; however, their quests for mates or to rescue a tree seldom involve a change in character, whereas the quests of Tandy and Smash require internal changes and inner development.

Few real villains exist in Xanth, and dealing with them never involves conquest through annihilation. Surely the Gap Dragon, a huge dragon who patrols the valley dividing Xanth, is more of a dumb beast demanding intelligent handling than a horror to eliminate.

Even...