Miranda makes a big deal about Madison being a (young) dead ringer for Scott's ex-lover, Gracie? Why doesn't Scott notice the resemblance?
Either Scott's in denial or Miranda's overplaying the connection. I'd put my money on the latter.

Given all the heat being put on the Harmony/Hunta story, wouldn't there be many other journalists quizzing people at the Flower Club?
Sure. Miranda never said she was the only reporter to investigate Harmony's workplace. She was just the only one who could connect Scott to Harmony through the dent in his Saturn.

In chastising Miranda, Scott says "Why don't you try debunking this fictional energy crisis?" (p. 416) What is he referring to?
In the first half of 2001, California was being notoriously fleeced by a consortium of energy companies, including Enron. And I guarantee that if our so-called journalists had chased that story the way they chased Gary Condit, Ken Lay would be in jail right now and we'd have a new Vice President.

But I digress.

What happened to Ira?! Where did he go?!
My guess is that he sold the Ishtar and rented a cheap apartment so he could continue his full-time existence in that virtual game of his.

So he's out of Scott's life forever? That's really sad.
You want happy? Go rent Shrek.

Wouldn't Scott try to find Ira and finally stage that intervention?
Actually, he lists that as a to-do item at the very end of the book. So he may not be out of Scott's life after all.

On page 419, Scott dreams of flying east, into the sunrise. Explain.
On some level, Scott's already thinking about leaving L.A. and starting over on the East Coast. Subtle enough for you?

When Scott returns to Club Silence on page 420, he notices an elderly couple standing by the boom box. Why would there be a boom box in a Deaf club?
Shut up. That's why.

Why is the bartender using sign language on Scott?
Because he assumes that Scott, like most of the club's patrons, is fluent in American Sign Lagnuage.

As to what he's saying, I assume it's something along the lines of "We close in fifteen minutes." That, or "Don't ask about the boom box."

Did Jean really finish reading Alonso's novel in 24 hours?
Sure. The book may be 464 pages long, but most of it is snappy dialogue.

What is Jean thinking during Scott's whole spiel on page 423?
I imagine she's not quite sure what to do with the inscrutable Mr. Singer. But I also imagine that Scott's surprising display of remorse and vulnerability is enough to demolish her last few objections about him. Hence the love scene.

Why wouldn't Madison tell Scott about the whole divorce thing?
Scott asks the very same question on page 427, but Jean's answer (a flowery version of "she hates me") isn't entirely accurate. The truth is that Madison swore way back on page 124 that she would never bother Scott with her personal issues again. Even if Scott forgot that particular pledge, Madison didn't.

That, and she really doesn't want Scott knowing that her mom is "available," for all the reasons Jean described.

Okay, let me get this straight. At the end of their heavy petting session, Jean tells Scott that he better leave the car before she fucks him. And he LEAVES?! Wouldn't that be an invitation for any man to STAY?
Uh, yes. But Scott and Jean are both smart, cautious, nervous people. They realize that the relationship needs to be taken slowly and carefully. That said, leaving the car is actually one of the smarter things Scott does that day. (Although he does regret it at the very end of the chapter.)

Godsend: what the hell is Alonso thinking?
It's best not to ask. Just assume that Alonso has a very interesting perspective on sex, religion, and cyberpunk fiction.

What's the thematic significance of Alonso's novel?
Ugh. I'm really not good at explaining these things. Just be assured that the plot to Godsend ties in very tightly to the respective situations of Ira and Miranda (two people who are in desperate need to reinvent themselves), plus the connected situation of Scott and Jean (two people who are struggling to find each other through the changes and complexities of their own lives).

For a more detailed explanation, you'll have to either kidnap my cat or get me stoned. Otherwise, I'm not talking.