The Fishing Boat Calypso

Most of the plot line of the "Before" story takes place on the decrepit fishing boat Calypso. The passengers are loaded onto the fishing vessel a short distance off the Egyptian coast to avoid detection by the authorities. The Calypso is in poor condition, the floorboards are rotting, the sails torn and useless. Even the compass that is supposed to guide them is broken. Some passengers could afford a ticket above deck, but many more are confined below deck without ventilation or water for days on the tumultuous sea.

The Hotel Xenios

The Hotel Xenios is the main featured tourist destination on the island. It is a large, modern building that houses wealthy tourists, and has a loud and lively nightlife that can be heard across the island. Much of the novel centers around the Hotel Xenios, and it acts as an interface between tourists...