Scythe: Style 1 key example

The novel draws on figures from a wide variety of cultures from the mortal age, making the style widely allusive and referential. The Patrons Historic, the namesakes of the scythes, are the most common version of this type of historical allusion. These names usually have no connection to a given scythe's personality or character, but sometimes show a connection to their national origin.

Another important factor in Shusterman's style is the cohesive worldwide society created by the advancements by the Thunderhead. Shusterman creates a great number of new names for places (MidMerica, Pan-Asia, etc.) and peoples (Caucasoid, Afric, etc.). These names are foreign to the reader yet are recognizable based on current names. These new names are usually presented without comment from the narrator, making them seem more realistic within the novel's universe. 

The novel's style does not rely heavily on figurative language, as most of the action is presented in a matter-of-fact way to increase tension. One major figurative motif is the use of animals in metaphors and similes. These are common, such as comparing Xenocrates to a "net of fish" after he falls in Goddard's pool, or comparing Rowan's mouth to the "blowhole of a whale" after he is beaten by Goddard and his crew. This reflects an important theme in the novel whereby Shusterman questions whether humans are still natural beings after achieving immortality. The narrator compares characters to animals to emphasize that, despite medical advances to prevent death and pain, humans are still part of nature like any other animal, and they still err and struggle.