1. Tick has to deal with a lot of bad things happening to his family. Often he must weigh their safety against much bigger dangers that could result in enormous loss of life. What would you do in such a situation?
2. How do you feel about Mistress Jane after reading this book? Do you think she’s purely evil? Is there any truth to her feeling that the ends justify the means? In other words, if the end result is her perfect Utopian Reality, is it okay for her to do anything, no matter how bad, to reach that point?
3. We learn a little more about Sofia and why she doesn’t feel very welcome at home. How does that make you feel?
4. We find out that Tick is the only version of himself still alive throughout the known Realities. He has no surviving Alterants. What’s your theory as to what this means? Do you think it has anything to do with his odd powers over Chi’karda?
5. What do you think of the Haunce? It seems distant and unwilling to interfere with human life until the entire universe is in jeopardy. And yet it obviously has strong powers. Should it help out more?
6. How do you feel about the progress Tick has made in controlling his powers? Is his power something you would wish for, or would it be too much pressure and too dangerous?
7. Sato is devastated that he wasn’t able to save every child from the Factory before being winked out by Master George. Put yourself in that situation. How would you feel? Would you be able to focus on the ones you saved instead of being haunted by the ones you didn’t?
8. Were you surprised that Tick ended up reunited with Mr. Chu and Mistress Jane in the Nonex? What do you think is in store for them in Book 4?