Scientific Inquiry and Discovery

1. What constitutes the ideal scientific method for engaging with an animal newly brought to light? Why is adhering to this method crucial? What potential missteps does it avert? What beneficial outcomes does it achieve?
2. Illustrate your vision of the hurkle kitten.

Creativity and Imagination

3. Spin a tale that unfolds on the peculiar world of Lirht. You might choose to detail the adventures of Hvov, narrate the escapades of another hurkle kitten, or explore the chaos that ensues when an earthly feline finds itself on Lirht.

Science Fiction Elements

4. The concept of a matter transportation device, featured in "The Hurkle Is a Happy Beast," is a beloved trope in science fiction lore. In what other stories has this idea found a home? How does it propel narratives in the realm of science fiction?

Imagining a World Without Humans

5. Which other authors have crafted narratives envisioning a world where Earth thrives absent of humans? What shared motivations do they have with those found in "The Hurkle Is a Happy Beast"?

Education and Innovation

6. In "The Hurkle Is a Happy Beast," the notion of children tethered to their desks during class appears unfavorable. What alternative approaches exist? What have the scholars of educational theory proposed?

Beyond the Written Word

7. Jane Yolen observes, "Theodore Sturgeon is an author who has always written stories that speak beyond their actual words" (Zoo 2000, 1973, p. 23). What does she intend by this remark? In what ways does "The Hurkle Is a Happy Beast" reflect her insight?