Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead
The cities on opposite banks of the river Tyne in the northeast UK where Willie comes from, in “our” world of the year 1998. She lives in Gateshead, in the Chandless estate.

* * *

The Ocean of Time
The place where all space and time meet, an ocean where more or less randomly appearing gates form pathways to different worlds.

Urbs Aeternis
In the center of the Ocean of Time is a great city, which has actually grown around a vast library where the stories of every life that has ever lived are collected. People/creatures from many different worlds live there. Seraphine is originally from Urbs Aeternis.

* * *

Ban La-Ilanam
A Socialist country in Aeron, Erlik and Eva’s world. This People’s Republic is plagued by corruption and a bloated bureaucratic apparatus. The head of state is Chairman Masu.

For some reason “Ban La-Ilanam” is also the name under which the entire world is known among travellers on the Ocean of Time. This world has many similarities to our world. Its time appears to be somewhere on the level of our early 1940’s – however, with no Second World War in sight and an equivalent of the People’s Republic of China that was already established several decades ago.

Ai-Ailaras
The capital of the People’s Republic of Ban La-Ilanam, where Eva has been working as a prostitute. Proud Stalinist buildings rise over the streets, where there are hardly any automobiles, maybe due to fuel shortage.

Sha-Guo
A small seaside town in Ban La-Ilanam with mainly seafood and shipbuilding industry. It has a very nice sandy beach.

* * *

URSA
The Union of Revolutionary Socialist Amities, the country where Aeron and Eva are from originally. The head of state is known as “Uncle Yusupka”.

* * *

Dog Island
A small island where a revolutionary movement is struggling for independence from colonial oppression. Its economy is mainly built on export of copper ore, shellfish and bananas. The population is a mixture of natives, slaves, deported convicts and colonialists.

* * *

New Astoria
A larger, more recognisable piece of land near Dog Island. V`(oo)´V