[This neighborhood is, according to the brochure, the “New Community” for the “New America.” Based on the Israeli “Masada” model, it is clear just from first glance that this neighborhood was built with one goal in mind. The houses all rest on stilts, so high as to afford each a perfect view over the twenty-foot-high, reinforced concrete wall. Each house is accessed by a retractable staircase and can connect to its neighbor by a similarly retractable walkway. The solar cell roofs, the shielded wells, the gardens, lookout towers, and thick, sliding, steel-reinforced gate have all served to make Troy an instant success with its inhabitants, so much so that its developer has already received seven more orders across the continental United States. Troy’s developer, chief architect, and first mayor is Mary Jo Miller.]
Introduction: male interviewer.
Warnings, GREATER CHONGQINGN THE UNITED FEDERATION OF CHINA: male doctor
LHASA, THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF TIBET: male smuggler
METEORA, GREECE: male soldier
THE AMAZON RAIN FOREST, BRAZIL: male doctor
BRIDGETOWN HARBOR, BARBADOS, WEST INDIES FEDERATION: male teen
TEL AVIV, ISRAEL: male intelligence agent
BETHLEHEM, PALESTINE: male teen
LANGLEY, VIRGINIA, USA: male CIA
VAALAJARVI, FINLAND: male American military adviser
VOSTOK STATION: ANTARCTICA: male snakeoil salesman
AMARILLO, TEXAS, USA: male White House chief of staff.
That is, thirteen sections in, we have the first female main character. (more…)