Sign of the Qin
by L.G. Bass
Author Interview:
- Which Chinese legends and myths most inspired your
writing? Are there a few books your fans might especially enjoy?
- What sparked the initial idea for the novel? How did you
bring it to completion?
- What’s the best writing advice you ever received?
- If you could acquire any of your character’s powers
which would you choose? Why?
- Can you give us a sneak into Book Two in the trilogy?
Pre-reading:
Read the flap copy aloud and then create at least five
questions that you hope to have answered within the first fifty pages of the
novel.
Discussion Guide:
- What are the major settings of the story? What magical
elements help transform the typical landscape during key events? How do the
settings add to the conflict?
- How would the story be different if it was set in a
modern, urban setting? How does the setting of the novel evoke the mythical
landscape?
- While Monkey can be quite a mischievous character he is
also charming and clever. What is Monkey’s ultimate goal? Should he be trusted
to protect the Starlord? After 99 lives, has Monkey at last changed? How?
- The Starlord undergoes the most dramatic physical
transformation; do you think he changes a great deal in personality or emotion
as well? Do you think people generally keep their same personality from birth
to death? Will the Starlord regret his loss of innocence and childhood for the
greater good? Would you be willing to donate whole years of your life for the
betterment of others?
- Discuss the quotes that open each chapter. Which one is
your favorite? Why? What do they reveal about the speaker? The chapter they
open? Which ones may be applied by the reader to his own life?
- Weary of his trials on Earth, General Calabash pleads to
the Master Hand that he is finished being a warrior but the Master Hand
refuses his claim. Who is correct? Can someone relinquish their true nature?
Can love transform someone? How and with whom did General Calabash fall in
love? What will happen to this love and their future together?
- Tinghong, a peasant, boldly says to Prince Zong, “You
who rule are the lowest of the low, for you were born rich enough to do right.
But you choose instead to oppress us and turn a blind eye to our suffering.”
(p. 175-176) Do you agree with his assertion? Are people born in privilege
charged with more responsibility even in our own world? Why or why not?
- Silver Lotus is a devoted mother to the Starlord. How
does she show her loyalty and commitment to her only child? How does her love
help sustain him? In what ways does Silver Lotus change by the end of the
novel? What has she learned? How will it serve the prince?
- Various battles are sprinkled throughout the course of
the novel. Which one is your favorite? Why? Which one would you most like to
see in a movie version? What creates the perfect battle scene? Are fantasy
battles more interesting to read? Why?
- Which of these gifts would you choose had you the
opportunity: the strength of the bear, the clarity of the fox, the speed of
the horse or the deadly accuracy of the tiger? Which one of Monkey’s tools
(pilfered, of course) would you most like to possess: cloud-walking shoes,
wishing rod, chain-mail vest of gold, or the invisibility cap. Why?
- Compare The Sign of the Qin to other stories
based on mythology. How is it similar, to say, The Greek Myths? What elements
and symbols do you think are derived from legend and mythology? What makes
these stories live for centuries?
- Predict what will happen to the outlaws in Book II. What
evidence do you have to support your hypothesis?
Projects:
Choose any two major characters and compare and contrast
them in a Venn diagram. Use the chart as a study guide for quizzes.
Create a character chart and fill in the following
information as you read along with the novel: character’s names, status
(immortal, peasant, etc.), magical powers (or items), goal(s), obstacles, and
outcome.
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