While Ogre, Ogre is sensitive about environmental issues and the use of force, feminists have been angered by Anthony's work. Some note a harem instinct in Smash, who leads a caravan of females through Xanth, while others point to language and situations that seem sexist. Phallic humor, concern whether Medusa will turn her husband, Good Magician Humfrey, to stone, for example, bothers some, while others note remarks such as Smash's about Irene's desire to show off her legs. Still others are irritated about Smash's picking up Blythe by her brassiere, or Smash's early interest in Tandy as food.

Perhaps Anthony's problem with women's reaction to his work arises from misreading third-person narration summarizing a character's consciousness. Crombie, Tandy's father in Ogre, Ogre, judged the distaff to be good for only one thing. Nymphs were good for that one thing. Human girls could be good at it...