In what ways might the practices of “resignation” and “recorporalization” be read in relation to the novel’s position on the conditions for a meaningful or good life?

Evaluate Kob’s personal resolution to seek redemption outside the Code. Do you think it’s enough for him to honor the memories of the people whose deaths he has caused, or should he resort to more tangible action, as with the United Freelancers, to atone for his sins?

Lee draws on her expertise in both martial arts and corporate strategy to inform the world of her novel. Where do the languages of business and combat overlap in the novel? What might this parallel reveal about the ethical dimensions of a competitive economic market?

Discuss the novel’s commentary on official narratives and histories. How does it critique the way the media portrays conflicting sides, especially in the context of the class struggle on Aquilo?

The novel borrows heavily from the Bushido, the traditional samurai code of honor, to indict honor-based social systems. How does the novel navigate the role of honor codes in society without necessarily condemning the Bushido as an immoral system?

How does the novel explore the hierarchy of loyalties within a capitalist system? Who should a worker be more loyal to: themselves or an organization that works toward something bigger than themselves?

Explore concepts like “the Vastness” and “the Great Silence” as commentary on space exploration as a contemporary endeavor.

What are the factors that affect Isako’s loyalty to the Code? How do these same factors influence her as she undergoes a paradigm shift and becomes disillusioned with the Code?