A Dystopian Future

This is the primary component of the novel's setting. In literary terms / tradition, the term "dystopian" refers to a state of society that has emerged after political and/or economic and/or moral collapse. This state of socio-cultural being is the main defining context (i.e., setting) for the action; the actions of the characters are all defined by this prevailing set of circumstances.

Toronto

The city of Toronto - the capital of the Canadian province of Ontario - is the primary setting in place for the novel. In real life, the city is large (if not somewhat sprawling), culturally diverse, welcoming, and relatively safe / prosperous. In the novel's dystopian future as described above, the city is dangerous, violent, and essentially a dark shadow of its former self.

The Burn

The Burn is the locale - that is, the part of Toronto - in which much...