University

The novel takes place on the campus of an unnamed university. Many of the characters are directly affiliated with the university. The novel occasionally focuses on satirizing academic culture as insular and unproductive. For example, Philip’s academic specialization is somewhat self-cannibalizing, as he focuses on interactions between academic faculty and departments. Moreover, the novel features multiple instances of academic bumbling and interdepartmental conflict.

Apartment

At the beginning of the novel, Philip and Alice reside in the same apartment. However, as Alice begins to fall in love with Lack, she begins to withdraw from Philip both physically and emotionally. She spends almost no time in the apartment and instead spends as much time as possible in the lab. To Philip’s partial annoyance. Garth and Evan move in to the apartment as Philip’s new roommates.

The Laboratory

At the beginning of the book, Lack emerges in a...