Stephanie Simon-Dack, professor of psychological science, for suggesting the rTPJ back in 2012 or 2013 when I came up with the first story that led to this novel and was trying to figure out where the implant needed to go. Ben Kinney for beta reading with brain stuff in mind. Laura McElwain Colquhoun for answering my questions about the inner workings of a congressional district office. David Vincelli for answering computer-related questions (within the book! I did not ask my brother-in-law for IT help). Karen for helping me with the military stuff. Mary Wontrop at Epilepsy Foundation Maryland, and everyone I had the good fortune to get to know at EFMD and AN/EFCR. Seizure first aid is simple to learn and can save lives. If you’re interested in more information or getting certified, go to epilepsy.com.
Kellan Szpara for being my best writer buddy. Karen Osborne for the terrific pictures and occasional company back when we were still allowed to write in the company of others. Randee Dawn and Judith Tumin and everyone else who let me crash at their homes while writing. The Red Canoe for letting me work in the corner all day back when it was safe to do such things. My occasional video chat coworking buddies. My Goucher students from this very bizarre spring, and everyone at the Kratz Center for Creative Writing. The Ivy, Bird in Hand, Atomic Books, and Greedy Reads for making Baltimore such a great place to be a writer, as well as all the other booksellers and festivals that hosted me, virtually or in person, and do the same for their cities. The Baltimore SFF community and the larger SFF community all around the world. The readers and reviewers and podcasters. All of the editors who teach me how to be a better writer with their comments and questions.
I read Jeanne Lenzer’s The Danger Within Us after I’d finished my second draft, and it helped tremendously with David’s journey. If this work of fiction made you interested in more information on the real-life gray areas and moral ambiguities in which some medical devices exist, I suggest checking out that eye-opening work of nonfiction.
And finally, everyone on my morning calls, which have gotten me to my computer to start work even on days when work seemed impossible in this year of weirdness. Thank you.
READERS GUIDE
WE ARE SATELLITES
SARAH PINSKER
Discussion Questions
We Are Satellites features four people: one who wanted a Pilot, one who felt he needed a Pilot, one who couldn’t have one, and one who didn’t want one. Would you want a Pilot?
Which character did you relate to the most, and what was it about them that you connected with?
How would you feel if everyone around you was getting an enhancement that you couldn’t get?
The novel looks at how Pilots affect education, sports, politics, the military, the workplace . . . What other facets of life can you see it affecting?
David’s point of view is conveyed in a distinct and unusual way. How did his “noise” affect your reading experience?
What would you have done in David’s position, with people not believing you when you explained what was going on in your head?
Sophie’s group used a number of tactics to accomplish their goals, some more successful than others. What worked, and what tactics were less effective?
What is Sophie looking for that puts her at odds with her parents? Does she achieve her goals?
How did the characters and their voices change throughout the book?
What did you think about the ways people in this family solved problems?
Has the novel given you anything to think about with regard to medical devices?
Are there any distinct images you came away with?
What is the metaphor of the satellites?
Inspiration for We Are Satellites
Ten years ago I was driving home from work and stopped at a red light. Two schools sat opposite each other on that block, a public high school and a private Catholic boys’ school. The private school’s track team was out and running that evening, and they took the red light as an opportunity to cross in the middle of the street, passing in front of and behind my car, some with long strides and some working hard to keep up. In the middle of the pack, one boy tripped. Another reached out and caught him, seemingly without having looked over.
That image stayed with me, and the fact of those two schools opposite each other, and I guess those are the reasons this entire novel exists. That was right around the time I started writing fiction again after years in music, and I was starting to recognize the way images could sometimes adhere to other images in such a way that they inspired stories.
I was working for a multiprogram nonprofit at the time that included the Epilepsy Foundation of the Chesapeake Region (which later separated to become Epilepsy Foundation Maryland). As part of my position, I answered information and referral calls, and learned everything I could about epilepsy. I spent a lot of time listening as people told me their stories, on the phone and in support groups.
I also attended epileptologist symposia, with the goal of translating doctor-speak and figuring out which of the medical professionals had good topics to bring to our constituents. One of the doctors was talking about potential new therapeutic devices, and it sparked an idea for the brain implant in the book. I immediately recognized the irony in the fact that the thing I was thinking about would be one of those medical devices that was developed to help people with one condition, and that ended up being unhelpful for that condition and refused to the people who had it. With that, two siblings came to mind, and the agonizing decisions their family would have to make. I consulted a friend about
