New York City, 1968 - 2015

Although the novel travels through decades of time, it remains in the city. The city limits become the geographical boundaries of the novel's world, which is split into boroughs, each with a distinct culture. Queens is known for its diverse immigrant population, for instance. Different boroughs also insinuate different levels of wealth and status. The degree to which Apollo and Patrice experience or fear racism depends on the neighborhood, as well.

The urban setting foils the novel's fantastical elements, but it grounds social issues and dynamics. The city setting helps map the limits of escapism in fantasy for minority characters, as Apollo testified most explicitly at Brian's gravesite in a predominantly white neighborhood and in Little Norway, where police officers assumed he was homeless and threatened him. New York City is also a symbol of America as a whole, enabling a larger cultural criticism.

Bouley Restaurant, Manhattan, 2015