Readers_guide

1. In Teresa Ristow's thoughtful essay, she lamented on the lack of clarification of the
two Rules in Xen's future Utopia. "Everyone will be reasonably reasonable, there now
being only two basic rules; these will cover every situation." To be fair, one of the
author's children asked the same question after reading the manuscript! What are the
two rules?

2. "Both religion and weapons were invented by man due to his fears: fear of the
unknown and fear of other men. Apparently and unfortunately, even in the distant
Utopian future of mankind according to Solomon, these fears will persist," Teresa
Ristow wrote. Why might this have been the case in Xen's Utopia?

3. Nichole Norling wrote, "Pawkey is not that unlike Jesus on the cross." What other
evidence might suggest that Xen is the "Last Testament of Mankind?"

4. In Erin Nemeth's essay on the use of English in Xen, she catalogued many
contradictions. What other contradictions exist in the novel?

5. Contrast masculine versus feminine in Xen.

6. Casey Archer finely teased various motifs out of Xen. What other techniques,
motifs, and use of metaphors are evident in Xen?

7. What is the role of sexuality in Xen?

8. Summer Li expressed concern about the absence of anger in Xen's Utopia.
Distinguish anger from rage as well as evidence that anger per se still exists in the
future Utopia.

9. Pawkey Seneschal "has no respect for the institution of marriage," Teresa Ristow
wrote. What evidence is there to support this claim as well as to refute it?

10. Teresa Ristow cleverly elucidated various meanings of the characters' names in
Xen. What other options are there for these names?

11. What is the role of dogs in Xen?

12. Explain the cover art of the book.

13. Teresa Ristow questioned the utility of Book 3, Mother & Child in Xen. Why might
the author have included it, ie what is its purpose?

14. What transformations occur in Xen?

15. Why is Xen a highly feminist work?

16. Summer Li suggested that in the future Utopia, "people still desire materialities,
most likely more than they need to survive on...excessive consumption...Everyone may
be guilty of greed or gluttony." Why might this not be the case?

17. Teresa Ristow questioned the lack of an explanation about where the abundant
natural resources will come from to satisfy such a large population. What is the
explanation given in Xen? More importantly, consider doing the math, which might
make for a great class project or for book club members. That is, take each of these
areas no longer present in the Utopia and come up with a realistic figure for each of
their current costs, detailing exactly what these would include so terms are realistically
defined, and then add them all up!

18. The Utopia of Xen is unique. What single aspect did you like the most or would
prefer to enjoy now and why?

19. How does the Utopia of Xen fit into a world of Tao?

20. It has been suggested that Erewhon by Samuel Butler defies easy classification into
a specific genre although it can certainly be regarded as “Utopia, fiction” for one.
Discuss at least 5 different genres under which Xen could be classified and then
choose the best, justifying your decision.

21. In the complete and unexpurgated version of Xen, the reprehensible word “nigger”
is used relentlessly during a portion of Book 2, Scientist I. Discuss why the author did
this.

22. Xen breaks many of the rules of writing contemporary fiction. Discuss at least 5
examples of this and explain how the book remains a successful work.

23. Compare and contrast the author’s voice in Xen with James Joyce’s in Ulysses.

24. Nicole Olson noted in her essay that “women have ruled in the past, but they have
always been figureheads.” Discuss the exception of Margaret Thatcher, particularly in
light of her military re-conquest of the Falkland Islands, resulting in hundreds of deaths,
barely twenty-five years ago and how this might augur the ruling of another major
country by a female leader.

25. The future inhabitants of the Utopian world in Xen would “desire nothing,” wrote
Margaret Koenig in her essay. Discuss the many examples contradicting this
assertion.

26. “If reason has made them accept less intelligent and less progressive species
on other planets, would it not also make them accept their imperfect predecessors? It is
a fact, that the process which made the world fit for them to live in and made them
perfect is repulsive to their reasonable nature that respects all life forms,” postulated
Margaret Koenig. Discuss this paradox.

27. Ian Harris worried that “laziness and greed by even one member of the society
would ultimately cause its failure,” in his essay. Explain how this is avoided in the future
Utopia of Xen and discuss what if anything prevents an individual or many from
spending their entire lives in “diversions,” whiling away their lives with recreational
drugs for example or other “nonproductive” pursuits.

28. “Fire's disappearance seems to go hand-in-hand with the disappearance of the
hero and of the martyr, which are completely absent from the Eartherian society,” Ian
Harris suggested. Why may there still be heros? Why and why not may there not be
martyrs in Eartherian society?

29. Is the future world of Xen utopian or dystopian, sterile and without the desire for
aggressiveness or physical acumen, to paraphrase Ian Harris?

30. Toward the end of Book 3, Mother and Child, Sum asks, “When are we going to get
to the sex part?” Why is a “toddler” or offspring of this age asking this? Discuss the
implications.

Reader's guide to
Xen by D. J. Solomon

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