The Last Book In The Universe

Rather than writing a realistic book set on Earth at the time of its publication, Philbrick wrote a dystopian novel set several hundred years in the future, after a cataclysmic event. What can the audience learn from reading dystopic fiction? What is the author able to do within this setting that a traditional novel would not be able to achieve?

The plot of this book carries the reader across four different “latches” and finally into Eden. How does Spaz differentiate these locations from one another? What do each of these settings add to the reader’s understanding of class structure?

What do mindprobes represent in this novel? How does Philbrick’s decision to offer a futuristic stand-in, rather than reaching for the real life equivalent, change the reader’s experience of this book?

Does Spaz’s epilepsy limit his abilities to survive in the Urb? Is there any evidence in the text that his seizures would harm others, especially Bean? Use examples to show how and why, or why not.

Ryter frequently refers to his "pages" (215) and making notes for his book. What are some things that pages symbolize in the novel? How do they relate to the theme of memory?

Ideas of past, present, and future measure heavily on this novel. Why are proovs able to envision a future more easily than people from the Urb? 

Why do you think Philbrick would have chosen to portray a different leadership style in Eden than the Urb? What are some key differences in their government structures? Consider their judicial systems in your answer.

How is the theme of memory explored in this novel? Name some tangible vehicles for its exploration in the text.