Haroun and the Sea of Stories is a book that appears quite simple on the surface but that has many underlying adult themes. Haroun is haunted by the question he overhears Rashid ask Soraya: "What's the point of stories that aren't even true?" This shapes much of the rest of the book up to the climax. The climax occurs when Haroun makes a wish that causes the moon (Kahani) to rotate. In some ways this seems to be an anti-climax, as there are many other characters and circumstances which would seem to be pivotal to the development of the plot, and Haroun's wish is merely that of a frustrated and confused young man. All further writings that come after Haroun's wish work toward the resolution of the story and the self-knowledge Haroun must embrace in order to travel into manhood.