Describe the two races that arrive at the OnOff star at the same time. What are the goals of each? How do their plans differ? Why do their plans differ?

Why are Spider children only to be born "in phase"? What happens when a child is born "out-of-phase"? Why? Compare this to a modern-day stigma about specific actions.

Describe the Spider race. How do they cope with the lack of sunlight from their star prior to Sherkaner's ideas? What changes with his ideas? What is the reaction of people to these changes? Why?

How does Sherkaner meet Victory Smith? Compare their relationship to that of Qiwi and Ezr. What are the similarities? The differences?

Who is Pham Nuwen? Who is Pham Trilini? Describe Nuwen's childhood. What is his ultimate goal? How does he believe it can be accomplished? What opposition does he encounter?

Who...