Sci-Fi Collection Discussion Questions

Select a story to view the corresponding discussion questions

An Incident on Route 12

Droozle

Earthmen Bearing Gifts

Impact

The Coffin Cure

The Cosmic Express

The Day Time Stopped Moving

The Man Who Hated Mars

The Mightiest Man

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An Incident on Route 12

1. Describe Phil Garfield's character.
2. The first line of the story says, “He was already a thief, prepared to steal again. He didn't know that he himself was only booty!” How does this line foreshadow the end of the story?
3. Garfield used his Packer as bait to get another car. By the end, we realized he has been a victim of the same strategy. Does he get what he deserves?

Droozle

1. Explain why Jean feels he can't marry Judy. Is this a valid reason?
2. Do you think this story fits better in the science fiction or humor genre? What aspects are sci-fi, and what are humor?
3. What other common objects could be imagined as animals? What would their personalities be?

Earthmen Bearing Gifts

1. After reading the story, explain the significance of the title.
2. Would you want to have the power to telepathically read others' minds?
3. The Martians could teach people on Earth how to avoid crime and war, among other things. Had the Martians lived and made contact with Earthlings, would the people on Earth be receptive to learning those things, or are we too arrogant to think another species has something to teach us?

Impact

1. This story portrays a mature civilization as one that is reminiscent of living in an Eden, free from development and technology, and living as one with nature. Do you think this portrayal is correct? If so, what does that say about our civilization now?
2. Following this line of thinking, it might be fair to say that early Native American and other indigenous cultures displayed more maturity than our culture now. In what ways might this be true?
3. This story also illustrates a common mistake: people believe they know or understand more about a situation than they do, causing them to make faulty assumptions. Upon landing, Lord assumes that his civilization is the more advanced. Do find that you make assumptions that are incorrect? Can you think of examples?

The Coffin Cure

1. What do you think the moral of this story is? Can you think of any real-life examples of this moral?
2. Do you think there is any significance to the names of the characters? The title of the story?
3. Imagine that your senses were all heightened, like the doctors' sense of smell in the story. What would it be like if your sense of touch was heightened? Sight? Hearing? Which heightened sense would be the most intolerable for you to bear?

The Cosmic Express

1. Do you believe, like the main character's wife, that science “has ruined nature, filled the world with silly, artificial people, doing silly, artificial thing”?
2. Is there a time in history that you would go back in time to experience? What about the time period excited or interests you?
3. Eric and Nada mistakenly thought they would find a more simple or natural life on Venus. Can you think of an idiom or common saying that describes this situation?

The Day Time Stopped Moving

1. Do you think that Dave did, in fact, learn his lesson? Predict what happens next in this story.
2. In a letter, Helen tells Dave that she can live with all sorts of his transgressions, but she can't live with a coward. What is your line in the sand? What is the one trait you can't forgive in a person you love?
3. Have you ever done something to spite someone, and found that it hurt you more?

The Man Who Hated Mars

1. Do you think people are entitled to second chances? Why or why not? Have you ever been given a second chance? Did Ron Clayton deserve a second chance?
2. What is Ron Clayton's biggest character flaw?
3. Much like Ron Clayton wanted to be thrown in prison over living on Mars, can you think of a place so unpleasant that prison would be preferable?

The Mightiest Man

1. The aliens gave the prisoner the power to kill anyone he chooses simply by thinking it. If you could have a supernatural power, what would it be?
2. Do you think extraterrestrial life exists?
3. If someone offered you the prisoner’s power, would you take it? Why or why not?