Ben Worsley answers “What about Bob? I'm still trying to make...”

Katie asked this question about Severance:

What about Bob? I'm still trying to make sense of his character and his fevered/non-fevered role. I thought there was more when we find out Candace is telling her pre-fever story to Bob as a way to gain trust (maybe that is why she appears so naive?), and the connection to 1,001 Arabian Nights. But I'm a little perplexed by the end. Thoughts?

Ben Worsley I have a peculiar take on the ending that I only partly believe, but I still find interesting to ponder. As we saw in several instances, most pointedl…moreI have a peculiar take on the ending that I only partly believe, but I still find interesting to ponder. As we saw in several instances, most pointedly with Bob and Ashley, a person's past can be a trigger to becoming fevered - "The past is a black hole, cut into the present day like a wound, and if you come too close, you can get sucked in."

As Candace travels to and through Chicago, she feels positively compelled to stay on Milwaukee Avenue. "It is the one thing that feels familiar. Even if it a secondhand familiarity....As if all of the stories Jonathon told me of his years in Chicago...had seeped into my own memories." Maybe Candace's relentless journey without apparent underlying logic or true goal is the onset of Shen Fever.

DUN-TUN-DUN!!!! (Dramatic music)

Or maybe I'm just making stuff up.(less)

flag

View all 8 comments

About Goodreads Q&A

Ask and answer questions about books!

You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.

See Featured Authors Answering Questions

Learn more