Required Reading
Per-book study guides for the 9 WSC 2026 required works — plot, themes, quotes, and an AI tutor.
Novels
Chinua Achebe·1958
Things Fall Apart
Cultural destruction through colonialism — where is 'there' for colonized peoples?
Open guide
Mohsin Hamid·2007
The Reluctant Fundamentalist
Identity and belonging — 'are we there yet?' in assimilation
Open guide
Orson Scott Card·1985
Ender's Game
Ethics of using children as weapons — are we 'there' morally?
Open guide
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry·1943
The Little Prince
Journey itself more important than destination
Open guide
Short stories
Isaac Asimov·1941
Nightfall
Cyclical vs linear progress
Open guide
Isaac Asimov·1956
The Last Question
The ultimate 'are we there yet?' — entropy reversibility
Open guide
Daniel Keyes·1958/1966
Flowers for Algernon
Definition of 'progress' — is higher intelligence always better?
Open guide
Ray Bradbury·1950
There Will Come Soft Rains
Technology continuing without purpose after humanity
Open guide
Gabriel García Márquez·1968
The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World
Transformation through encounter with the 'other'
Open guide