Soroche

What did you think of the parallels between Zaga's rags-to-riches-to-rags story and Jemmy Button's? Obvious or compelling? What do you think the author was saying about money and privilege? Do you think Zaga was foolish?

And any theories on why the story was titled "Soroche," which means altitude sickness?

Rare Bird

I loved this story, for its two heroines and also for its mysterious and romantic ending. Sarah Anne's destiny seemed so determined and heavy and irreversible — almost like she was trapped underwater like the sparrows. But unlike the tiny birds, she managed to break free and embark on a magical migration, her true path.

Sparrows are common birds, so what do you think the "rare bird" of the title is?

How do you think this story works as a companion piece to the other Linnaeus story, "The English Pupil"?

The Littoral Zone

I didn't know what to think about this story. What is it about, exactly? The mystery of passion? The death of love? Regret?

I found the title, "The Littoral Zone," a tiny bit obvious. The littoral zone is described as "that space between high and low watermarks where organisms struggled to adapt to the daily rhythm of immersion and exposure." Then on the very next page she describes Jonathan and Ruby like this: "they swam in that odd, indefinite zone where they were more than friends, not yet lovers." I think Barrett is a fantastic writer, and maybe it's just because I wasn't terribly fond of this particular story, but did the littoral metaphor strike you as a mite belabored?

Great description, and why "The English Pupil"?

OK, here's something from "The English Pupil," the second story, now that I have my book, that I thought was fabulous. It's about Linnaeus.

His once-famous memory was nearly gone, eroded by a series of strokes — he forgot where he was and what he was doing; he forgot the names of plants and animals; he forgot faces, places, dates. Sometimes he forgot his own name. His mind, which had once seemed to hold the whole world, had been occupied by a great dark lake that spread farther every day and around which he tiptoed gingerly. When he reached for facts they darted like minnows across the water and could only be captured by cunning and indirection.

Any theories on why this story was called "The English Pupil"?

Rewind to first story

In a story dealing with heredity, what do you think was the point of Richard's being born with six fingers?