The Atlas Complex

Each of the novel’s first eight parts is named after a different philosophy. However, the ninth part is named “Life.” What might be the purpose for this difference in the naming convention, and how does it tie into the overall story?

In this novel, Blake writes several chapters from the perspective of characters who previously were only side characters. This includes the Ezra Six and Atlas himself, with the latter explaining the origins of his motives. Why might she have chosen to write from their points of view? What does this decision add to the narrative?

How do Libby’s actions throughout the novel contribute to the character arc built for her throughout the trilogy? How does her character deepen the novel’s exploration of The Duality of Humanity?

Blake uses many examples of unconventional structure in the writing of this novel, such as in the recounting of the experiment and Atlas’s chapters. How do her unconventional techniques affect the reader’s understanding of these events?

How does the novel approach the subject of social inequalities, especially in regard to the use of magic to fix or change them?

The final line of the book says, “Put the book away, Miss Rhodes. You won’t find what you’re looking for in there” (474). What does this mean for both Libby’s character and the novel as a whole?

Throughout the novel, several characters are told that they are acting like Atlas, especially Libby and Parisa. How do their actions align with Atlas’s? Why are these observations important?

Is the conclusion of the book more cynical or hopeful about the nature and future of humanity?