Charles Yu

Charles Yu is the narrator and protagonist, although his name is not revealed until well into the novel. Before that, he simply calls himself "I." Charles is an unmarried, lonely young man of about 31 who has low esteem, believing he has let down his family and himself in life. He works as a time machine repairman, which he describes as a job for people who are not leaders, and are of small consequence in his society. His job has isolated him in a time capsule for 10 years, during which he has only seen other humans on occasion, when he goes to help someone who has become stranded in a time machine in an alternate universe. His affection toward his dog and toward the on-board computer and the one at headquarters with which he communicates demonstrates how starved he is for love. Charles spends a great deal of...