1. Compare the ending of the original short story "Nightfall" to the moment the stars appear in the novel. Which captures the moment better? What are the different implications of how the moment is presented in the two works?

2. The point of view shifts a number of times in Nightfall. What effect does this have on the pacing of the narrative? How might it affect a reader's interest in the characters? Who is the main character? Is there a main character?

3. What is the most important idea presented in Nightfall? What makes the idea important? How does it affect your experience of the novel? Does it have application to real life?

4. In the twentieth century, novels that focus on characterization have been held in highest esteem by literary critics. Novels that focus on ideas have been generally regarded as inferior fiction...