 Writing about the series in The Atlas Society newsletter, Willam Perry states that Goodkind's "characters, plots, and themes...are clearly and directly influenced by Rand’s work, and the book’s heroes occasionally invoke Objectivist principles".Perry notes the Objectivist themes become most obvious in "Faith of the Fallen", which made the novel controversial among Goodkind's fan base; moreover, the novel contains several scenes that echo the plots of Rand's books "The Fountainhead" (1943) and "Atlas Shrugged" (1957).Some of Goodkind's political views have provoked controversy, notably the dedication to his novel "The Pillars of Creation" (2001)