Click on map to enlargeIn the print version of the book this map is greyscale.
The Decimation in 2162AD and the exhaustion of fossil fuels changed industry and agriculture dramatically. The subsequent Great Famine reduced the population of the world almost by half.
Soon after the cars vanished from Lancaster, everyday life changed. New homes and businesses replaced the superfluous roads, and a new vitality established itself across the city. The ugliness of the street furniture and the road signs gave way to beautiful tree lined boulevards. No more tarmac and no more yellow lines. Just more people, more social interaction, and a greater sense of community. The old charm of the city of Lancaster returned.
With no television nor internet, the libraries and the cafés became a fundamental part of life. The Cricket Club, the Pétanque Club, and the Archery Club all have thriving memberships and attract young and old alike. Book clubs, amateur dramatic societies, sewing bees, and table top games have become popular. Everything is good natured. Even the Scrabble Club!
People earnestly engage in all sorts of leisure pursuits, because that’s what helps them connect.
The giant corporations all disappeared, because their distribution networks had relied on fleets of trucks and regional depots. Now, a symbiotic relationship between small shops, local traders and farmers is at the core of the economy. There’s just enough commerce around them, with banks, stables, couriers and artisans all contributing to a widespread decent standard of living and complete peace of mind.
In 2450AD life revolves around three main sectors, the Market Square, the Commercial Docks, and the Garrison. In the novel, the principal places of activity include Broadland Park High School, the Noble Coliseum, and the Innovation Lab located within the Garrison. The popular places for people to meet up are the Find Thyme Café (sensible, everyday fare) and Magnus Opus (an upmarket restaurant).
Click on map to enlargeIn the print version of the book this map is greyscale.