We Are Legion (We Are Bob)

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. We Are Legion (We Are Bob) blends hard science fiction concepts with a great deal of humor. How did this combination of technical problem-solving and Bob’s snarky, pop culture-filled narration affect your reading experience? Did you find it a compelling mix?

2. How does Bob’s journey as a solitary, resourceful problem-solver in space compare to other similar narratives you’ve encountered, such as Mark Watney’s survival story in Andy Weir’s The Martian (2011)? What makes the challenges and solutions in the Bobiverse feel unique?

3. The story is told from the first-person perspective, but the narrator frequently changes from the original Bob to one of his many clones. How did you find this shifting point of view? Did it help you connect with the idea of the “Bobiverse” as a growing community?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. To maintain his mental health, Bob creates a detailed virtual reality environment that serves as his sanctuary. Do you have a space that fully expresses who you are as a person? What does this place give you?

2. As the Bobs replicate, they quickly develop distinct personalities and priorities. Which of the Bobs did you identify with most, and why? Was it Riker the leader, Bill the scientist, Milo the explorer, or another version of Bob?

3. Bob’s sense of self is deeply tied to cultural references from his original lifetime. What role do you think shared stories, movies, and music play in forming our identities? What are some of the personal cultural touchstones that you feel define you?

4. Before his death, Bob’s friend, Karen, questions his decision to be cryogenically preserved, citing the immense emotional cost of outliving everyone he knows. What is your perspective on this? Do you think the chance at a new form of life is worth that profound loss?

5. The novel’s Foreword alludes to the human drive for exploration. Do you feel that same innate curiosity in your own life? What are the “remote things” (xiii) you feel driven to explore, whether they are physical places, ideas, or skills?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The novel depicts a future theocratic state, FAITH, which legally classifies replicants as property without rights. What commentary might the author be making on the potential conflicts between religious dogma, government control, and scientific advancement? How do these issues play out in our current time?

2. The 22nd-century space race among the American Union, the Brazilian Empire, and other powers is intensely competitive and militaristic. How does this fictional portrayal of global rivalries in space reflect historical or current geopolitical tensions on Earth?

3. Bob’s very existence raises questions about the definition of personhood. How does the debate over replicant rights in the novel connect with ongoing real-world discussions about the ethical implications of artificial intelligence and consciousness?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. The antagonist Medeiros and his clones represent a dark mirror of Bob’s own mission. How does Medeiros serve as a foil to Bob, particularly in his approach to being a Von Neumann probe? What do their opposing philosophies reveal about the novel’s ideas on progress?

2. The story directly engages with the philosophical puzzle known as the Ship of Theseus. How does the novel use the replication process and the clones’ diverging personalities to explore whether continuity of consciousness is enough to preserve a person’s identity?

3. Why are the personalized virtual reality environments important? How do they develop from a tool for survival into a key expression of each Bob’s emerging individuality?

4. How do the novel’s increasingly multiple perspectives as the Bobiverse expands mirror the book’s central themes of replication, identity, and collaborative endeavor?

5. The author, Dennis E. Taylor, has a background in computer programming. In what ways do you see this technical expertise shaping the story’s plot, the nature of the conflicts, and the way the Bobs solve problems?

6. Bob’s decision to intervene in the development of the Deltans challenges the classic sci-fi trope of non-interference. How does his approach compare to other “first contact” narratives you may have read, such as H.G. Wells’s The War of the Worlds (1898)? What does his choice ultimately say about his definition of humanism?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine you are a newly activated clone. What would you name yourself? What would your primary mission be? Would you focus on exploration, research, diplomacy, or another goal entirely?

2. Homer becomes what Riker jokingly calls an industrial tycoon by designing specialized orbital “donut” farms. If you were tasked with designing a new “donut,” what would it produce for the survivors on Earth, and what unique creative solutions would you need to make it work?

3. The young Deltan nicknamed Archimedes is fascinated by the technology “the bawbe” provides. Imagine you are Archimedes and have just found the wreckage of one of Bob’s drones. Describe your discovery and your initial theories about this mysterious being from the sky.