Firefight

Why hasn’t Dawnslight succumbed to corruption, despite using his powers on such a massive scale? What does this suggest about David’s theory on the nature of the Epics’ weaknesses?

Compare and contrast Steelheart with Regalia. How do their respective ruling styles and backgrounds contribute to their ethical stances and underlying motives?

Overcoming personal fears proves to be the solution to neutralizing the corruptive influence of Epic powers. What messages does Sanderson deliver about the power of fear, and how do the actions of both Prof and Megan contribute to this philosophical subtext?

Compare and contrast the responses of Babilar’s and Newcago’s people to Epic control. What are the pros and cons of each outlook? Why does David struggle to understand how Babilar’s people feel about Epic control?

Why does Regalia believe that she has the right to rule? In your response, be sure to discuss the intersection of freedom and a sense of safety. Is one of these more important than the other? Should one be given up in the quest for the other? Why or why not?

Firefight explores the old adage that absolute power corrupts absolutely. Using the attitudes of the various Epics in the novel, craft an argument in support or denial of this adage. Is the corruption that Epics experience an inevitable result of wielding such power? Why or why not? Support your answer with evidence from the text.

When Prof uses his powers, they corrupt him, but when he loans his powers to others, they do not. What deeper philosophy does Sanderson suggest through these world-building dynamics? What does this distinction imply about the nature of fear?

High Epics are defined as Epics who are impervious to death by traditional means and can only be killed once their specific weakness has neutralized them. Using the Epic lore presented in Firefight, extrapolate potential reasons for the existence of High Epics. Why aren’t all Epics gifted with the ability to thwart death so easily?