Several stories feature characters from the Elliott family—a distributed family of monsters. Is it critically permissible to conclude that these characters are the same characters in each of the short stories? To wit, is Einar Elliott the self-same character in the stories "Homecoming" and "Uncle Einar," or should each story be considered an atomic piece of fiction with distinct characters? Discuss.

In "The October Game," to what game does the title refer? The story's narrative is ambiguous—it is possible that the father murdered and dismembered the daughter; but it is equally possible, and perhaps more plausible, that the mother only imagines this to be the case. Which interpretation do you favor? Which interpretation makes the story more interesting?

"Marionettes, Inc." ends ambiguously—Mrs. Braling awakens to find "someone" (p. 165) kissing her hand and speaking to her; she appears to...