To Sleep in a Sea of Stars

Many of the characters in the novel, such as Falconi, hold freedom in the highest regard. What does freedom mean to the different Wallfish crew members, and how do they achieve it?

In the novel, Earth is referred to as Homeworld. What is Earth’s position in the conglomerate of human settled planets, and what is the prevalent perspective on and attitude about Earth?

Analyze Paolini’s use of an “Addendum” for this novel. How does it contribute to the reader's understanding of the novel? How do its contents deepen or complicate its meaning?

There are several references to fractals throughout the novel. What is a fractal, and how do these references contribute to the larger meaning of the text?

Falconi’s bonsai tree is a rare and unusual item. What does the bonsai symbolize in the novel, and how does its ownership deepen the reader’s understanding of Falconi? 

When the xeno destroys Kira’s implants, she says, “The thing had reduced her to the level of an animal, to nothing more than meat” (76). What does Kira mean when she says this, and how does it connect to the larger meaning of the novel?

The space opera is a popular science fiction subgenre. How does Paolini use genre conventions to create an epic space opera with To Sleep in a Sea of Stars?

Paolini’s universe is filled with powerful weapons, technologies, and alien species. Kira, however, has possibly found the most powerful technology in the Seed. How does Kira deal with her new power, and how does she learn to accept it?