Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.
- The novel's two main time periods are 1998 and 1962-63. Why do you suppose these two time periods were chosen? Interestingly, these time periods are equal distances from the novel's publication date of 1980. Does this suggest anything to you about their significance?
- Marjorie is the only main point-of-view character who is a woman. She is also the only main POV character who is not a professional. Why do you think she is provided the power of POV? How does the inclusion of her insights affect your reading of the novel and its themes?
- Many of the novel's scenes take place either in a laboratory or during a meal/dinner party. Why do you suppose these two settings are used so often?
- Do you think this novel has an antagonist character? Sure, Lakin is a piece of work, but would you really say he is Gordon's antagonist? If you can't think of a character that serves as the antagonist, then would you say there is a force or philosophy that plays the antagonistic part? If so, what?
- There sure are a lot of shout-outs in Timescape. As in, a lot a lot, and most of them are about historically significant scientists and their discoveries. Why do you think the novel spends so much time shouting out to them? How do you see it serving the story or the writing style?
- How does this book compare to other science fiction novels you've read? How is science portrayed differently? What about the protagonists?
- Timescape brings up several questions about tachyons, paradoxes, and the affects of altering with the timeline, but we never get any definitive answers to these questions. Why do you suppose that is? Why does the novel choose to keep this information close to the chest and leave the answers open-ended?