1. Why is the protagonist of "Mortals" so driven by a desire to wring an admission of deception from Givens?

2. Are B. D.'s and Ryan's fate (or destiny) in "Casualty" inevitable?

3. What are the virtues and vices of the narrator's father in "Powder"?

4. Is Riley's behavior in "The Life of the Body" redeemed by his commitment to literature and the delights of language?

5. What is the appeal of building a jet plane in "Flyboys"?

6. How does Wolff balance sympathy with critical analysis in "The Other Miller"?

7. How effective is Wolff's use of dialogue to reveal character in "Two Boys and a Girl"? Are the voices of all of the characters equally well developed?

8. Does the connection between events in "The Chain" lead to a plausible philosophical position about randomness and chance in human affairs?

9. Is the human element of appetite a sufficient explanation for...