The collection presents the first three (and, according to many critics, the BEST) Golding novels. They are united by the theme of survival, doom, and loneliness of a person in a changing world - aggravated by the inevitability of God's punishment for cowardice and the inability to look oneself in the eye. "Lord of the Flies" is a bestseller, included in the compulsory reading program of many English and American schools, has been filmed four times, combined sales exceeded 100 million copies. The Descendants and Martin the Thief are critically acclaimed works that have influenced the work of many modern writers, from Martin Amis to Stephen King.