The Valley

The vast majority of the action in the novel takes place in the Valley, a very large area that is bordered by a huge desert, open plains, and numerous canyons. Because Chet and Bernie are able to drive to Las Vegas in just a few hours – as well as to a place in the desert that is located near the New Mexico border in roughly the same amount of time – it is obvious that the Valley is located somewhere in the Western United States, although no specific State is ever mentioned and the Valley has no recognizable cities or towns in it. It does, however, have its own major newspaper – the Valley Tribune where Suzie Sanchez works – as well as the Valley Police Department, which has both a Missing Persons and a Metro division. There are a number of smaller towns in the Valley including Coronado, a...