The Ministry for the Future

Robinson uses a plot twist—the revelation that Badim is involved in the founding of the Children of Kali. How does this revelation shape your perspective on who he is as a character and the events of the novel?

Frank struggles to find an adequate response to the suffering he witnesses and experiences. What approaches does he take to responding to suffering? Are some approaches more successful than others, and if so, why?

Consider Robinson’s use of multiple points of view. What does he gain in using points of view and narrators beyond those of Mary, Badim, and Frank?

A recurring image in the novel is of the statue of Ganymede and the eagle. How does the meaning of the statue evolve over the course of the novel? How does this evolution reflect larger themes of the novel?

The phrases “It’s only fate” and “There is no such thing as fate” appear throughout the novel. Track their appearance, then discuss how the idea of fate reinforces one or more of the important themes of the novel.

Robinson includes multiple chapters from the perspective of narrators who are forced to become refugees from their home countries. Discuss how these voices contribute to Robinson’s critique of global capitalism and the human impact of climate change.

Robinson writes that “[w]ords are gossamer in a world of granite” (352). Review the context in which this sentence occurs, then discuss what this statement says about the tension between words and actions in the novel. Which characters embrace words and the rule of law to address climate change? What are the outcomes of those choices?

Research the current parts per million of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere at present and contemporary extreme weather events, then compare your research to Robinson’s representations of the same in the world of the novel. How realistic is Robinson’s portrayal of a world on the brink?