Just because your book is fantasy fiction it doesn't follow that what you're reading isn't about real life. And just because that ring of power wasn't found in your backyard doesn't mean that you don't have to arise from your quiet fields ' to shake the towers and counsels of the Great'.
Think about Dolly the Sheep Clone. Here is a magnificent opportunity for mankind to improve the breeding stock of domestic sheep. Genetic research could eliminate disease and distress in humans and feed the world's hungry with genetically modified crops. But knowledge is power and genetic research could also lead to 'designer babies' and perhaps a terrifying kind of selection for a master race. Now, the decisions that our scientists and leaders take will show whether our special knowledge is to be used for good or for evil. he battle is on. As Great-Uncle Merry muses in 'Over Sea, Under Stone':
That struggle goes on all round us all the time, like two armies fighting. And sometimes one of them seems to be winning and sometimes the other, but neither has ever triumphed altogether. Nor ever will...for there is something of each in every man.
And if knowledge is a kind of power, Ogion the Mage has some advice for us in 'A Wizard of Earthsea':
Have you never thought how danger must surround power as shadow does light? This sorcery is not a game we play for pleasure or for praise. Think of this: that every word, every act of our Art is said and is done either for good, or for evil. Before you speak or do you must know the price that is to pay!
Our wizard, Sparrowhawk, in 'A Wizard of Earthsea' becomes so concerned that his power may upset the natural balance of things that he is reluctant to practise his arts at all. And in 'The Lord of the Rings' neither Elrond nor Gandalf are persuaded to take the ring of power to hide it or to wield it because they fear the ring's enormous power will corrupt them.
One common strand in these satisfying sagas of the battle of good against evil is the importance of the role of the small character who finds himself besieged by dark forces and simply acts in the way which he knows to be right whatever personal sacrifice is required of him. Surely this is a role model we should carry away with us into real life?
kLg, girl, age 15, from United Kingdom, on 6th October 2005.
good vs evil is a great story line not only because its an even war of morals but because of the things poeple do in name of thier beliefs. the thing i find so intriging about the good vs evil conflict is why charecters choose certain paths and what makes them an 'evil' path or an 'evil' person is the person evil or are they just so tormented and confused they go the wrong way for a good/bad cause take Callem out of 'noughts and crosses' for example is he evil because was a terrorist for the right cause and does he make any attonment for what he did at the end of the book? if you read that book and hate callem or do not pity him then i am very surprized. good vs evil is good story line because one can't exist without the other, there is no such thing as a utopia (i know i spelt that wrong)in everyone there is a bit of evil or good its part of our nature. and we struggle through the battle every day even if its something as small as not helping someone whos in trouble for no good reason because you know you'll get in trouble for helping. we decide things every day that are both good and evil. no one is born evil its just a question of how far you go and if you tip the scales to much. soz for rambling but theres my real view
_, boy, age 13, from -, Australia, on 10th August 2005.
I belive that good VS. evil is one of the best story lines ever the one bad thing is the fact that the good side always wins.
Peanutbutter, girl, age 5, from N.Walse, United Kingdom, on 19th December 2004.
Good against evil is the best plot ever.In every book that you read, in every film you see and every minute you live its good against evil. It can be a bully at school or a big, mean boss of a big factory it doesn't matter they can all be the bad guy or they can be the good guy. Come to think of it, its in the Bible! You know God v. Satan. If its good enough for god its good enough for us!(I don't intend to upset Very religous people because i am one myself)
