Throughout Vicious, Schwab subverts the definitions of hero and villain. Is there a hero of the novel? If so, who and why? Is there a villain? If so, who and why? If there isn’t a definitive hero or villain, why do you think this? Support your argument with evidence from the text.

Do you think EOs are “alive?” What about the people brought back by Sydney’s gift? What characteristic best defines “life” in the novel? Support your argument with evidence from the text.

Schwab has stated that Victor’s character was originally named “Vicious.” Why do you think Schwab changed the name, and why is the novel still titled Vicious? Cite the novel’s explorations of words and their meanings to support your argument.