There is a lot of good in this document, and I particularly applaud the succinct chapter XII (Too Long;Didn't Read) and recommend it to those who are starting out on the road to becoming a great GM. The preceding eleven chapters are also well-written, though experienced GMs (myself included) will undoubtedly find passages that they don't agree with. Even new GMs are probably passing fair players already and will take exception to certain parts or inferences. Good! One size does not fit all. But this volume would feel less preachy if there was a disclaimer of opinion in the author's notes or the opening chapter.

I was looking for a product to help me crystallize plans for a game of social intrigue, and the Long Knives section of Situations is a great resource for setting up such a game. In four short pages, it gives a clean method for establishing the tangled web of characters into which the player characters will be thrust. The other five parts are also generally good, with varying levels of detail. My only wish (applicable primarily to the Situations involving social conflict but also to the others to some degree) would be that there would be some space devoted to how conflicts play out; as it stands, the pieces and parts of each Situation are designed to be static, moving only when interacted with by the players.

This is a great product for introducing the younger generation to gaming. Its rules are extremely simple--all PCs and NPCs boil down to four basic archetypes with just one mechanic to remember. The hand-drawn crayon maps and character tokens are a great element because the artwork resonates with the drawing ability of the target audience (though my 6-year-old prefers to play using the adults' miniatures). Encounter designs are simple enough to play without much thought, but allow tactical options to be discussed as the kids mature.

The best part, as with any entry level game, is that the kids will have fun. The bonus is that along with the creative play they will develop basic math skills, problem solving, and teamwork.