Rural China

Rural China is the overarching setting for both of the novellas. In "The Years, Months, Days" the setting is China in the 1950's during the Great Leap Forward. This was when the government at the time was trying to industrialize much of China, which caused a giant famine to descend on the land. It is during this time "The Years, Months, Days" takes place. The Elder is seen in this novella trying to survive the famine and provide for those in the future.

Rural China is also the setting in "Marrow" but the time period is not as defined as in "The Years, Months, Days." The story could be set in almost any time period during China's history or even an apocalyptic future where the world is divided into "wholers" and "cripples." It is left up to the reader to decide the time period that they place...