Authors: Simone Pond
0692321314 (S) (26 page)
Thank you to my dearest friends and family (you know who you are) for giving me your shoulders and ears and boundless support. I’d be in a padded room without you. Thanks to my prayer warriors: Nan Hochberger, Stacia Ruby, Sheri Edwards, Vilma Haass and Cathy Emmett.
Mom and Dad, there aren’t enough words in the universe to express my love and gratitude. Happy 50th!!! Thanks for not throwing me in the trash.
A sincere thank you to my loving husband (and writing coach), Peter Stier Jr., who reads every draft from the shitty first one all the way through to the published version. You deserve some sort of medal for your brilliant mind and your patience. Thank you for teaching me to dig deep and for giving me the best ideas. I take notes when you speak.
As always, my deepest gratitude goes to God. He’s the coolest ever. He has never let me down. Not once.
D
ISCUSSION
Q
UESTIONS
Do you like how the story goes from Grace’s point of view to Ava’s point of view? Which storyline do you relate to more?
What does the mainframe represent to you?
What are your thoughts on Morray? Were you surprised about how things played out? Who do you think Morray represents? What do you think about his relationship with Dickson?
Do you think there’s a possibility of this future existing? Are there lessons learned or warning signs?
Although the technology to upload consciousness doesn’t exist (yet), is it believable in this story?
Do you like how
The Mainframe
pulled in pieces of the previous two novels? Is there anything you would have liked to know more about from the past?
Do you feel as though Ava has changed since her early days when she first escaped the Los Angeles City Center? Did you see any growth? What do you think happens to her at the end of the story?
What do you think about Grace’s behavior? Do you see a shift in her attitude from the beginning to the end of the story? Where would you have liked to see her change more?
What do you think about Grace’s relationships? Where would you like to see Grace and Lucas go from here?
There’s travel back and forth through the timeline. Do you find it confusing? Or were you able to follow the storylines and family lineage?
Were there any twists or surprises in this story? Did you want to keep reading to figure them out? Were your suspicions confirmed?
What are some of the more obvious themes in this novel? What are some of the less obvious ones? What do you think the author is trying to say about trust? Weakness? The physical world versus the non-physical world?
How do you think The New Agenda Series differs from others in this category?
What do you think the author is saying about freedom?
What are some of the books that have inspired you in the speculative fiction genre?
Do you think this series will continue? Where do you see it going?
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