Family

The importance of a social network, or family, is a primary theme of Furious Gulf. Toby is a member of the Family Bishop. Over time, through natural selection, the Bishops have developed certain traits, as have other families. The Bishops are risk-takers. They prefer action, preferably outdoors, to any amount of deliberation. Quath theorizes that the Bishop's seemingly foolhardy exploits actually facilitate their survival. The Bishops are also exceptional scavengers, capable of devising a use for almost anything. Other Families have developed their own traits. The Cards, including Deuces, Jacks and Fivers are fanatically loyal to rulers, even the worst despots. One trait shared among all the families is solidarity. The survival of the Family Bishop is paramount, much more important than the survival of any one individual.

At the time of the mech war, bioengineered humans reestablished colonies on many planets, in an effort to avoid extinction...