The story told in "Tangents" takes place in rural or suburban California, probably in the early 1950s. The local community is largely indifferent to the presence of Korean-born Pal Tremont and unaware of Lauren Davies and Peter Tuthy, who live in a isolated house beside grassy fields. These unfrequented fields offer Pal a place to go to be by himself as he has given up on fitting in with his California community.

Lauren and Peter do not have a happy life. Peter slaves to make a meager living through free-lance research, earning a small fraction of what someone of his ability should be paid.

Lauren—neither a sister nor a lover but such a close friend that she could be Peter's sister—struggles to hold Peter together and maintain their household. Pal is a welcome visitor to the house because he provides Peter with new ideas...