One of the most interesting aspects of this book is how these ancient stories are still able to force the reader to confront the natures of good and evil: What makes people act the way they do? How do they decide right and wrong? Are traditions always good? There is little violent confrontation in the book; after all, the heroes are not warriors but magicians. Still, their use of magic to solve problems could give rise to discussions on coping with life's troubles. In the world of the heroes, magic was a tool; in the real world, people must depend upon discerning right and wrong and acting accordingly. The heroes of the epic usually act for the good, sometimes in spite of themselves. When they do not, they are punished. With or without magic, good and evil are forces in the world that must be reckoned...