Star of Gypsies draws heavily on the history and lore of the gypsies, the people called the "Rom" in the novel. To prepare for a discussion of the novel, readers should do a little background research on the history of the gypsies and their troubles down through the ages, including their suffering during World War II.

(Although it is not widely known, gypsies suffered as severely as Jews in the holocaust.) Moreover, some member of a discussion group might undertake the special task of researching the Romany language, which has been the tongue of the gypsies for centuries.

Readers might also benefit from efforts to describe the political structure of the future world Silverberg has imagined.

They might try to analyze the governmental structures, the system of justice, and the concern for individual rights in this period. If these are understood better an analysis of Yakoub's...