1. What factors predispose Rob to rebel and leave the Conurb?

2. Describe the lifestyle of the Conurb.

What does Rob find desirable or undesirable there? What features of contemporary social life is Christopher satirizing in his picture of the Conurb?

3. What are Rob's strengths and weaknesses? Does he change at all over the course of the story?

4. Compare Rob and Mike. How have their backgrounds prepared them to feel about each other? How do they feel?

Why?

5. Compare the lifestyle of the County with that of the Conurb.

6. Why does Rob refuse to escape to the Conurb with Mike?

7. Why does Rob at first accept the proposal that he become one of the Guardians? Why does he change his mind?