The Bone Clocks

The Bone Clocks is both historical and speculative fiction. Which aspects of these two genres does Mitchell follow? Which does he subvert and how?

What is the function of Soleil Moore? Analyze Soleil’s motivations and discuss what her character represents in relation to Crispin’s artistic endeavors.

The Bone Clocks sets up a supernatural battle of good versus evil in the Horologists and the Anchorites. Does this simplistic schema hold up, or does either group transcend the boundaries of its category? Why or why not?

The Bone Clocks features five distinct narrators. Discuss how Mitchell creates distinct narrator voices. What rhetorical devices and methods of characterization does he use and how?

The novel ends with Holly on the shores of Sheep’s Head and her grandchildren in Iceland. Is this ending happy? Why or why not?

The Bone Clocks has been described chiefly as a literary fantasy novel, but also as a slipstream novel. How does Mitchell balance the mode of realism with the demands of fantastical worldbuilding?

Does Hugo or Crispin redeem his crimes? Why or why not?

Consider fate in the novel. How do character approach the choices they are faced with, and how does their understanding of concepts like the Script or luck inform their decisions?