I suppose not. Physical books, even if magical, would probably not have all the advantages of a digital network.

Except. . . that part would definitely be an advantage! -- that the books kept the record of what people said. The train's network doesn't do that, the comments just vanish in a certain amount of time, so if I'm trying to remember what somebody said. . . too bad!

Oho, so you're more powerful than some older wizards might now be! It seems that it isn't just the amount of time a wizard spends studying wizardry, it's how young they start. Apparently, the Powers prefer the young. [ He laughs with her. ]

Take your victories where you find them! [ Another laugh. ]

I can agree with you there, even though I didn't go to college or even to high school. As I've said, I used to read in my grandfather's library, and in my father's, when he would let me. I wouldn't have liked it if either of them had tried to teach me what the books meant and given me homework assignments. I very much preferred to figure it all out for myself.

[ Curufin thinks the Elvish magical arts are more important than schoolwork, so he can identify with Dairine. ]