Vinge depicts Sanpedro society as male-dominated. Men make all the decisions and are deferred to by the women. Women wear veils and corsets and are protected by their male kin.

Unprotected women are, for the most part, relegated to begging or prostitution in order to survive. Amanda's father is regarded as exceptionally merciful for allowing her to live in a hovel on his land and glean from his fields. When Amanda sees a group of the mayor's men talking to her father, she wishes to hide because the mayor's men sometimes demand women along with tribute.

Sanpedro society also subscribes to a repressive religion that sharply limits the use of technology. Clearly, this religion grew out of the fear that the same forces that destroyed the North American continent would arise again unless they were held in check. All the benefits of technology were discarded along...