Empire of Silence

How unique is the author’s world-building, and to what extent does Ruocchio owe his own universe to the influences of other authors? Is his work a homage or a blatant derivation of other titles? Defend your stance with specific examples from this text and others.

How does the framing narrative influence the tone of the novel, and when does the narrator-Hadrian employ dramatic irony to expound on the philosophical considerations of The Tension Between Fate and Choice?

Compare and contrast Hadrian Marlowe with the other palatines depicted in the novel. What do these differences and similarities indicate about his character development?