Pines

How does Ethan’s experience as a former soldier and federal agent affect his understanding of, and interaction with, the town of Wayward Pines? What qualities that made Ethan a good soldier and federal agent do not change as he pursues the truth? Which ones do?

Analyze author Blake Crouch’s use of science-fiction and horror conventions throughout the novel. How does he use them to amplify the meaning and impact of the story?

Toward the end of the novel, David Pilcher’s perspective on Ethan shifts, causing him to take a different approach. How does Pilcher’s attitude toward Ethan change, and why? Do you think Ethan will be compliant with Pilcher’s demands in the future?

In Pines, Crouch references other popular horror, mystery, and science-fiction works. What are some of the references he makes, and what is the effect of these references on the meaning of the text and on reader experience?

Discuss Crouch’s use of irony throughout the novel. How does he use it to emphasize meaning and theme?

Analyze the character of Sheriff Arnold Pope. What is the initial impression of him, and how does that change over the course of the novel? Consider his methods of leadership, his ethics, and his actions.

In Pines, Crouch uses a third-person point of view with limited omniscience that shifts mainly between Ethan and Theresa. Why might Crouch have chosen this approach, rather than, for instance, a first-person narrative? Analyze the effect of this point-of-view choice on the action and meaning of the novel.

Once Ethan decides to make his escape, he is compelled forward, first by the townspeople, then by the abbies, and even by the confines of the vent he crawls through. How does this act as a metaphor for Ethan’s intrinsic drive to find the truth?