"Small Deaths" takes place in the imaginary city of Newford, where the everyday world and the supernatural coexist, even mix. In Newford, anything can happen: Comic books can come to life, animals can be part human, and abstractions such as "small deaths" can take human form. The setting allows de Lint to examine tough personal and social issues in tightly wound narratives that use symbolism heavily to convey complex ideas simply. De Lint says that he has discovered that some of his readers are sure that Newford is in Canada, while others are sure it is in America. He declines to say which nation it is in, although, he says, its legal system is American.

The radio station where Zoe works is likely to have a familiar feel to young audiences because television often sets stories in such places. The homes of the characters are bright and airy...