The fables of Aesop, with their lessons and morals about greed, violence, oppression, and mankind's short-sightedness, have-throughout time-always reminded us of our better selves and the importance of real virtues. And never before, especially at this time, does society need to be reminded of the importance of compassion, peace, contentment, and cooperation. This book, along with books one and two, are reminders about the need to stand firm against oligarchy and discrimination, the two forces that have always torn societies and nations apart. The three tales that make up these books are set in the future, in a post-apocalyptical world set in Australia with the character of the dragon representing the voices, words, slogans, actions, ideas, and attitudes of 30 dictators, tyrants, oligarchs, and emperors over time: Franz Joseph I, Emperor of Austria, Napoleon, Benito Mussolini, Idi Amin, Muammar Gaddafi, Kim Jong-un, Bashar al-Assad, George Bush, and Donald Trump among others. By making Hasai, the Dragon, multi-dimensional in this regard, the concepts and the attitudes of oligarchs can be better understood. The first book also humorously criticizes the endless superstitions that have held people back, either through the concepts of tradition, false hopes, and faith. Besides using Chinese astrology as the core premise for the book (along with its descriptors for each of the 12 animals), the book also pokes fun at western astrology, lucky charms, healing crystals, fortune-telling, tarot cards, numerology, and ancestor worship. In short, these books have been written for the victims of discrimination like Mary Turner, and for those who died protecting others from bullies like Sam Reynolds in Texas, as well as for all of those who have suffered (and are suffering) from oligarchs and tyrants. Indeed, we may be at the end of an era as events out of the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East (Saudi Arabia) continue to highlight the pettiness and evil of the oligarchs and the hateful divisions in society. Oligarchs, unfortunately, do not go gentle into the good night, to reference the poet Robert Frost. Indeed, just a few days ago, we saw an attempted coup by one such oligarch, Donald Trump, who is fighting his own demise and possible imprisonment. This debacle, the lives which were needlessly lost, and the destruction from it should be a reminder to us all of the costs of allowing our "elites" to rule us. But as our population continues to soar, and our resources decline, the people will look for the "strong man" to lead them out of the wilderness; however, as always, the wealthy will do what they do best-which is to control and to oppress. It is only through wisdom that the poor, (like Aesop himself who was once a slave), will overcome these times. This novel, therefore, is a chance for children to better understand the importance of compassion, and to truly understand the evil and the complexity of their own world. It will-I hope-take one to a place where the land is wide, the flowers are blossoming, the sun is bright, and the roses are white, 'a land of all.'
