Orbus

Orbus is the planet that Billie and Spike live on in Winterson's "Planet Blue" section. It is inhabited by a futuristic, dystopic community and ruled mostly by the Central Power, which is at war with the Eastern Caliphate. The Central Power is led by the president, but Billie makes clear the idea of government is mostly a sham in her description and Winterson's description of the President's rule—he walks "through the golden arches that are the city gates"—is closer to a dictatorship or monarchy than an elected official (5). Though technology is ubiquitous and has promised to make everyone's lives better, the truth is that everyone on Orbus is perverted, dumb, depressed, or all of the above.

Planet Blue

Planet Blue is the planet that Billie, Spike, Pink McMurphy, Handsome, and the rest of the crew set off to colonize as part of a government initiative from...