Bob's book have characters that are secretly based on famous philosophers. Mostly Ancient or existential. But plenty of less applauded ones as well (Marquis de Sade). Author of The Phoenix Cycle. One suggestion before you read The Phoenix Cycle and become one of his fans that leaves Bob a slew of aggressive love letters. (Just kidding, only happened once or twice) is to read the book slowly. This book is not Twilight. Go too fast and you'll have no idea why it's doing what it's doing. Nearly every line of the book has 3 meanings, ranging from story structure, character point of view, to the philosophical.