These questions direct the reader through the story, point out the character of Gordon Krantz, and emphasize the themes Brin offers.
- What is the most dangerous thing in the world? Why is Gordon desperate?
- How did he get away?
- Why did Gordon engage Septien in conversation?
- What happened to Gordon's plan for revenge?
- What does he discover after the blueberries? And what is his immediate fear about that discovery?
- Where did Gordon spend the night?
- What particulars of the war and aftermath seemed important?
- What stolen supplies were regained after his night's sleep?
- Tell Gordon's conclusions about his investigations of the dead postman.
- What caused Gordon to enter Pine View after his thoughts of travelers entering other villages?
- What ideas did his performances give the village?
- What special meaning did Gordon's clothes have for the people of the village?
- What information did the letter from the Mayor of Gilchrist give Gordon?
- Why did Abbey seem to want to see Gordon? Really?
- Why couldn't Gordon stay in Pine View?
- What were Gordon's duties while he did stay in the village?
- What did many villagers expect Gordon to do when he left?
- What were Abby's plans for the future?
- What advice and information did Mrs. Thompson offer as she walked with Gordon?
- How did Gordon know there were no running machines in Oakridge?
- What did Gordon find in the fifth house? How was it hidden?
- Who were the ones who stole his find?
- What caused Gordon's wound?
- The wagon driver's dicussion pointed out what social and political problems?
- How does Gordon get the mayor's attention?
- Why is he not directly admitted to Oakridge?
- How did he eventually get in?
- What new physical characteristics of Gordon are given the reader?
- What is the result of Gordon's reaction to the dogs fighting?
- What is in store for the Mayor of Cottage Grove? Your proof?
- How has Gordon's pretend duty grown?
- What matters according to Gordon for a smooth-running society?
- What did Gordon discover on his way back from the bathroom?
- What evidence suggests that Eugene is not a place of living people?
- What was Cyclops?
- What was the screaming about?
- Rogue River has been mentioned often; what does it symbolize?
- How did Gordon get away from the survivalists?
- Since the people of Harrisburg didn't believe Holnists were close by, how did Gordon convince them to return with him?
- In what condition was his mail when he found it?
- How successful--generally--is the mail service?
- What evidence is there that the peaceful society of the Lower Willamette is prospering?
- What three bits of information did Gordon get from Aage's tour?
- What do the 'Servants of Cyclops' do?
- Consider Gordon's imagining and expression of guilt connected with Cyclops's not stating a clear place to dig. What idea is the reader supposed to get about Cyclops?
- What did Gordon overhear when he lagged behind during his tour?
- Why would a Faraday Cage save Cyclops from an EMP?
- Why do you think Dena was so interested in history?
- Give reasons Corvallis didn't want to prepare for a survivalist invasion.
- What reason could Cyclops have for giving Gordon a bad map?
- What did the digging advice to the Mayor of Sciotown cost?
- Whom are Dr. Graham and the women suggesting to kill? What might happen to the townsfolk's thoughts if he were killed?
- What similarity is there between Cyclops and the Wizard of Oz?
- Who was the voice of Cyclops?
- What was happening at the House of Cyclops as Gordon was riding away?
- "Who will take responsibility ..." forces Gordon into what action?
- What new position has Gordon taken upon himself?
- What was Phil intending to do to anger the "cow-eyed" farmers?
- What stops the Holnist invasion?
- Whom did Johnny Stevens bring from Roseburg?
- Why were the southerners more successful in repelling the survivalists?
- What kept more help from coming to aid the area around Corvallis?
- What was Dena's purpose in coming to Gordon's room a second time?
- What new technology did Mark Aage try to demonstrate? Explain how Murphy's Law was at work.
- What objections to Cyclops's military plan are made?
- What actions does Gordon recognize must be done to defend the population?
- What trouble lurked for the band as they went south?
- How has civilization declined since Gordon first passed through on his way north?
- Describe the inhabitants of Southern Oregon.
- What seemed strange to the Willametters about the fortifications of Roseburg which had stopped the survivalists?
- Who is George Powhatan?
- What difference is there in what George Powhatan has and what Corvallis and Cyclops has?
- When he went looking for George, what did Gordon find him doing?
- What does the story of the two chimpanzees tell about George's willingness to get invovled?
- What is the evening meeting intended to accomplish?
- What was Gordon's last attempt at enlisting military aid? What was the greatest difficulty he had in offering it?
- What information did the two sheets of paper contain?
- When Powhatan criticizes Dena's intentions, what does Gordon criticize him for? And George answers?
- What breaks Gordon's thinking about giving up his responsibility to a dream?
- How did Gordon warn his group of the attack? With what result?
- What medieval image does the rule of the Holnists portray?
- What need do the Holnists have for prisoners?
- Who was the fellow prisoner helping Gordon during the forced march?
- How is the general population of Agness described?
- Why should Gordon and Johnny have been treated so well: cleaned, clothes mended, food?
- Who is Bezoar?
- What in Gordon's mind was the cause of the nation dying after the war?
- How had re-emerging villages reacted to the survivalists?
- Describe Macklin and his aides?
- What does Macklin know of Gordon? How?
- What figure and possession appear from Gordon's past?
- What is Nathan Holn's basic premise for living?
- What is the "Big Lie" technique?
- Who does Cincinnatus sound like?
- The embroidered patch on the dying man is a clue to later. What might it indicate?
- What is Macklin's offer to Gordon?
- What are "augments"?
- What does Gordon offer as the reason Macklin is moving to the Willamette Valley?
- What quote from Holn gave Gordon power over Bezoar?
- What small spark of rebellion has appeared in Agness?
- Why was Isterman executed?
- What does Gordon's dream mean?
- Who helped Gordon and Johnny escape? Why? Who joins them?
- Why is killing the guard at the canoes poetic justice?
- How does Johnny die?
- What does Gordon again think of idealism in his situation?
- What is Gordon's physical position as Macklin talks to him this time?
- Why has Macklin not been concerned with Powhatan?
- How does Gordon know Bokuto is still alive?
- Who were Marcie and Heather attending?
- What halts the escape, again?
- How successful has Bokuto been in his one-man guerrilla raid?
- What is the ransom for Gordon's freedom? And the surprise challenger?
- What do the early stages of the fight hint at?
- What is Powhatan's information for Macklin?
- What forced Powhatan to follow Bokuto?
- What does the new legend pervading Oregon mean?
- What mixture of ideals passes to Mrs. Thompson from Gordon?
- How was the "Scouts' Sacrifice" supposed to work?
- Why does Gordon feel the need to "move on"?
- What three myths Gordon wouldn't try to dispell?
- What is Gordon's new destination?