The primary theme of Castaways of the Flying Dutchman is the eternal battle of good versus evil. Jacques develops this theme through the characters of Ben and Ned and the adventures they have on their wanderings. Neb and Den begin the story as bedraggled, oppressed, and forgotten creatures who have been rejected by the rest of humanity and do not even have names of their own. Orphaned and left for dead by his brothers, Neb stows away on the Flying Dutchman only to be enslaved by Petros, the mean Greek cook and given the unpronounceable name of Nebuchadnezzar. The captain and the other crewmen are equally unsavory, and as the voyage unfolds Neb is exposed to cruelty, dishonesty, depravity, and mania. The black Labrador brings the first loyalty, affection, and goodness Neb has experienced, which provide an important contrast to his life's experiences so...