ðə bˈʊks kæn ðˈɛɹfoːɹ biː ɹˈɛd æz ɐ kˈɔːʃənˌɛɹi tˈeɪl ɹᵻɡˈɑːɹdɪŋ ðɪ ɪŋkəmpˌæɾəbˈɪlᵻɾi ʌv mˈædʒɪk ænd hjˈuːmən səsˈaɪəɾi, ænd ˈɔːlsoʊ æz ɐ kɹˈɪɾɪsˌɪzəm ʌvðə kˌævɐlˈɪɹ tɹˈiːtmənt ʌv mˈædʒɪkəl pˈaʊɚɹ ɪn mˈɛni wˈɜːks ʌv fˈæntəsi, ɪspˈɛʃəli hˈaɪ fˈæntəsi.
The books can therefore be read as a cautionary tale regarding the incompatibility of magic and human society, and also as a criticism of the cavalier treatment of magical power in many works of fantasy, especially high fantasy.