On the surface, The Brief and Frightening Reign of Phil is about strange mechanical creatures.

Like all parables, however, it is really about much more. Also called allegories or fables, parables use non-human characters to talk about real issues in the human world. They often use satire to criticize human weaknesses and vices.

How are politicians, taxation, the military, and the media portrayed in the novel? What does the novel say about the dangers of national pride, imperialism, and "following the crowd"?

In what ways does the novel satirize these aspects of the modern world? Find specific examples from the novel that can be related to real-world examples.