Who is Jack Watson? What role does he play in the destruction of BioGen? What is Watson's motivation in ruining this company? How does the destruction of the company affect him personally? Is Watson's campaign against BioGen personal or does it have more to do with the public good?

Discuss irony. How many instances of irony can you find in the plot? How is Watson's illness at the end of the novel ironic? Could Watson have been saved if he had acted differently toward BioGen? How does his illness underscore some of the major themes of the novel?

Discuss the talking orangutan in Sumatra. What is significant about the orangutan's speech abilities? Why do people not believe the press reports about the orangutan? Why does the photographer drug the orangutan and take it away from the preserve? How does the orangutan die? What is...