Characters
Quotes
Scythedom
Plot Events
Tonists and Thunderhead
100

This character becomes Scythe Curie’s apprentice after Faraday’s “death.”

Who is Citra Terranova?

100

“The greatest achievement of the human race was not conquering death. It was ending government.”

Who is Scythe Curie?

100

What gathering do MidMerica scythes attend to vote on issues and test apprentices?

What is conclave?

100

Why did Scythe Faraday visit Citra’s apartment?

What is to dine with her family before gleaning the neighbor?

100

 What is the Thunderhead?

 What is the AI that manages society?

200

This scythe wears lavish blue robes covered in diamonds and enjoys mass gleanings.

Who is Scythe Goddard?

200

“Goddard isn’t a scythe. He’s a killer.”

Who is Rowan Damisch?

200

What color robes does Scythe Faraday wear?

What is ivory?

200

Why does Rowan purposely fail his first conclave test?

What is that he failed on purpose for Citra?

200

What objects do Tonists carry as symbols of their faith?

What are tuning forks?

300

This character becomes a professional party guest and enjoys “splatting.”

Who is Tyger Salazar?

300

 “You may think gleaning is an acquired taste, but it's not. The thrill of the hunt and the joy of the kill simmers in all of us. Bring it to the surface and then you'll be the kind of scythe this world needs."

Who is Scythe Goddard?
300

What grants a person one year of immunity from gleaning?

What is kissing a scythe’s ring?

300

Why did Faraday fake his own self-gleaning?

What is to free Rowan and Citra from the apprenticeship competition?

300

Why are the Tonists important to the novel?

What is that they challenge the philosophies of the Scythedom and Thunderhead?

400

This scythe secretly retires and hides in Amazonia.

Who is Scythe Faraday?

400

“With each gleaning I commit… I mourn for the boy I once was…”

Who is Scythe Faraday?

400

According to Faraday, what is the paradox of being a scythe?

What is that only those who do not want to be scythes should become scythes?

400

How does Rowan prevent Goddard and the others from being revived?

What is by burning them?

400

Why is Scythe Volta crying after the Tonist gleaning?

What is because he gleaned a classroom of children?

500

An Amazonian scythe who aids Citra on the train between Chileargentina and Amazonia.

Who is Possuelo?

500

“Scythe Goddard is the future… I don’t want to be part of the past.”

Who is Scythe Volta?
500

What punishment did Faraday and Curie receive from the Global Conclave?

What is seven deaths each and no contact for seventy years?

500

Who must Rowan render “deadish” during his final apprentice test?

Who is his mother?

500

What role do Tonist beliefs play in the novel’s themes?

What is exploring alternative beliefs about humanity, mortality, and meaning in a world without death?