Alamut is one of Tarr's most popular and widely known books. It would be a good first choice for any discussion dealing with her work as a whole. Its medieval Near East is an exotic place, but it does appear as the locale of a fair amount of fiction. Many novels of the Crusades take place there. Susan Shwartz has also used it as a background for fantasy novels. And of course there is the Arabian Nights, a treasure chest of wonder stories originating in that time and place. A session which included some of these works could be interesting for the contrasts in point of view and approach.

Alamut is almost a textbook example of character development. Each of the three main characters has to face what he or she fears most, before winning through to a happy ending. Examining why this is so could...