A Map of Nowhere tells a story of contemporary England that, except for its distinctive fen landscape, takes place in locations resembling anywhere people live, work, and go to school. As the story opens, Nick finds a wallet in his bag after school football practice and opens it to see Joseph Fisher's name. Nick learns when he returns home that the wallet was planted at the instigation of his brother's gang of bikers, who pressure him to return it and "get on good terms" with Joseph. Nick is reluctant to visit someone he hardly knows and considers "boring," but he sets out for a place he thinks only a "maniac" would go.

Joseph resides at Holney Seas End, a village "out on the Marsh." The distance is unspecified except by the long amount of time spent battling the icy wind off the sea, slippery fen footing, and vanishing...