Is Adina’s alien identity literal or figurative? If literal, what does that mean for the events and conclusion of the novel? If figurative, what implications does that have for the novel’s meaning?

Note the framework of astronomical observations that structure the novel. What do these add to interpretations of Adina’s life experiences?

Adina is linked to the Voyager space probe in the very first pages, and she has a lifelong interest in Carl Sagan. How do the Voyager and Sagan relate to one of the novel’s themes?