The Stone Gods by Jeanette Winterson

Introduction
In this dazzling new novel, humankind has rendered its planet unlivable and is beginning to
colonize a new, pristine planet. Our hero, Billie Crusoe, a former activist turned government
scientist, is offered a place on the next mission to Planet Blueher boss convinces her that it is
safer for her in space than in the middle of a brewing political scandal at home. Billie is joined
on the expedition by Captain Handsome, a space privateer; Pink McMurphy, a contest winner
whose prize is to join the expedition team; and Spike, a beautiful female Robo sapiens. Together
they will colonize Planet Blue, using a gravity charge to cause an asteroid to collide with the
planet and wipe out the dinosaurs that currently make it uninhabitable for human life. Only, the
explosion goes very, very wrong . . .
Discussion Points
1. The view of the universe as neither random nor determined, but only full of potentialities
awaiting intervention, appears throughout the novel. The author writes, Love is an
intervention. In what ways does love intervene in the events of The Stone Gods?
2. The novel is a story told in four parts that are wildly different and yet very similar. How does
the authors choice of structure reinforce or detract from your reading experience? Compare and
contrast the plot line, characters, and themes of each of the sections.
3. Life in the Central Power is supported by a distinct hierarchy of robotic life forms: Theres
Kitchenhand for the chores, Flying Feet to run errands or play football with the kids . . . We have
TourBots, for hire when you visit a new place and need someone to show you round. We have
bottom of the range LoBots, who have no feet because they spend all their time on their knees
cleaning up (p. 14). How does this robotic hierarchy relate to the human social structures in the
novel? Why do you think such hierarchies persist?
4. Spike tells Billie, on page 29, Humans share ninety-seven per cent of their genetic material
with apes, but they feel no kinship. She suggests that humans will feel kinship with robots in
time, as the differences between us and them decrease. How does the characters inability to
think of Spike as a person relate to Spikes observation about apes? According to the novel, what
are some of the broader implications of an inability to feel kinship with nonhuman life forms,
even those significantly similar to us in genetic makeup?
5. One of the many questions this novel asks is What does it mean to be human? On the
expedition to Planet Blue, Pink McMurphy says it has to do with blood. Billie argues that it has
to do with emotion and the ability to feel. Spike suggests that it is a matter of consciousness.
Make a case for each of these possible answers, and discuss which one makes the most sense to
you and why. Use examples from the novel to support your opinion.
6. On page 169, Billie says, Perhaps I have to say that the landing-place I am really looking for
isnt a place at all: its a person, its you. To whom is she talking? What does this statement
mean?
7. The author has introduced a lot of subplots and details relating to issues of sex and gender.
Identify and discuss a few of them. For example, on Planet Blue, Pink and Billie are completely
at odds in their opinions of Fixing, Genetic Reversal, and other perversions. Handsome and
Billie argue about the reasons men and women can or cannot be successful as world leaders.
How else do issues of gender play out in the novel?
8. In Wreck City, Billie muses, The brain doesnt have separate regions for past and future; only
the present is differentiated by the brain. We split time into three parts. The brain, it seems, splits
it twice onlynow, and not-now (p. 204). Assuming this is true, what are the repercussions of
the brains inability to process time linearly, as we experience it? Does this give you a different
perspective on the events of the book? Why or why not?
9. The title, The Stone Gods, is derived from the Easter Island section of the novel. How does
this section relate to the others, considering it stands out as the only nonfuturistic portion? Why
do you think the author chose this title?
10. The sections Planet Blue, Post-3 War, and Wreck City all describe futuristic worlds
(in a repeating story, its unclear what is truly past or future). Did you find these worlds
believable based on our own worlds current trajectory? Why or why not?
11. The Stone Gods is the story of a story that repeats itself throughout human history and,
according to the author, will continue to repeat itself forever. What is the significance of this? Do
you think the story repeats itself because, as the author writes, everything is imprinted for ever
with what it once was? Or because we never learn, or simply cant change human nature? What
would you say in response to Billies question on page 205: Love is an intervention. Why do we
not choose it?
12. Why do you think the author chose to use names like Crusoe, Friday, and James Cook? How
do these fictional and historical figures relate to the characters in The Stone Gods?
13. Would you ultimately categorize this book as hopeful or dystopic? Explain your opinion
using examples from the novel.