In the case of realistic fiction, the time and place of a story such as The Terrorist must reflect fact rather than stereotypes and inaccuracies. In addition, the setting, however integral or incidental, is a significant element in establishing the mood within which the plot takes place.

The use of present-day London, the capital city of the United Kingdom, as the setting of The Terrorist is most certainly not incidental. The setting is a dynamic component of the novel as well as integral to the development of the plot. The descriptions of the city and its inhabitants are not simply a static theatrical backdrop which can be raised and changed with ease, but rather a dynamic element of the novel whose authentic components aid in creating a perfect nest within which the plot and all its accompanying themes may hatch. The fact that such tourist sights as Big...