Earth from space when working their first spell together. His full name is long, but he agrees to let them call him "Fred". The Lone Power, also known as "The Lone One" and "Starsnuffer", is the antagonist . It is one of the Powers That Be, but one who went away from the path of good that was intended for the universe, and instead created death. Themes One theme is the ability to extend sympathy and understanding to anyone, even enemies. One excellent example of this takes place in the Other Manhattan. In this world, cars are alive, and when a Lotus Esprit kills another car, its prey, a piece of metal gets stuck in it. Upon finding the injured Esprit, Kit cuts out the piece of metal and the car zooms away. Later, when Nita, Kit, and Fred are attempting to find the dark book, the Esprit returns and offers the three of them a ride. It proceeds to assist them in finding the book and in protecting them from the Lone One. This example shows how by offering sympathy and assistance to the car, who was originally Kit's enemy and would have attacked if it could, Kit received kindness in return. Another theme is the balance between good and evil. In an interview with Harcourt Books, Duane writes The issues of the choice between right and wrong has to be an ongoing concern for everybody, at every age. There is no magical point in a human life when anyone is or becomes immune to the second-by-second choice to do right instead of wrong. Everyone has to deal with the choice with every breath, and it's so easy to fail at any moment, no matter how well you've been doing the moment before or may do the moment after. [...] Kids want to know (just as much as adults do, or more) how the hard choices look when they approach, and how to deal with them. "How shall a man do right?" has been one of the most basic human questions since long before Ecclesiastes. It turns up in the Book of the Dead and in old Hittite and Assyrian writings. I don't think I'd qualify as human if it didn't turn up in mine. Reception and reviews So You Want to Be a Wizard is listed in What Else Should I Read? Guiding Kids to Good Books, Vol.