1. In what ways does Christopher utilize the character Ozymandias to convey essential information to the reader? Examine Percy Bysshe Shelley's poem "Ozymandias" and discuss why the name is fitting for this character. Can you spot any other literary references in the conversations between Ozymandias and Will? How do these allusions enhance the depth of the novel?

2. Some reviewers have argued that the original ideas in The White Mountains—such as humans being Capped and living in a quasi-medieval society under the control of the Masters—left little room for surprises in the trilogy's second book. Read The City of Gold and Lead. How does this book contribute to the trilogy in terms of plot development? What about character growth?

3. Christopher has credited H. G. Wells's novel The War of the Worlds as an inspiration for the concept of "Tripods." Read Wells's story and compare it to Christopher's trilogy. Do the alien races share any similarities in their goals on Earth? What about their eventual outcomes? How does humanity's reaction differ across these stories?

4. Do you believe that Christopher's Tripods Trilogy presents an overly simplified political scenario? What, if anything, would you suggest should be altered if the books were to be rewritten for a more mature audience?

5. Halfway through the novel, Will and his friends explore an abandoned and decaying Paris. Think of a town or city you know well and imagine what it might look like in a future similar to that of The White Mountains. Write a brief description of your exploration of this place. What do you discover? How do you interpret the sights you encounter?