Bewilderment

Theo tries his best to be a single parent but is often critical of his parenting style. Is Theo too harsh on himself?

Alyssa is a strong presence in the novel even though she died before the narrative takes place. How does her memory haunt the characters and how do they interact with her?

Chester the dog died not long after Alyssa. Theo suggests that the dog died of grief and confusion. To what extent is Theo projecting his own emotions onto the animal? Does this happen again in the novel?

Currier’s machine enables Robin to communicate with an emotional record of his mother. To what extent is Robin’s interaction with his mother authentic? Does Currier’s machine allow people to talk to the dead?

Theo is jealous of Currier’s relationship with Alyssa. To what extent does his jealousy affect his interactions with Currier?

Theo’s job involves creating a list of potential planets where life might manifest. What is the symbolic meaning of these planets?

To what extent does Robin’s death echo his mother’s death?

Theo blames the President for political inaction in the face of a climate emergency. How does the President represent institutional failure in the novel?