In the alternate present[6] the novel portrays, the United States has taken over all of North and South America (except for Cuba) and dominates South Africa, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Iceland, India, Japan, various Pacific island countries, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Myanmar, Indonesia, and (most recently) Australia and New Zealand. Russia is said to be affiliated with the US but not fully absorbed, and whether or not Russia actually belongs to the United States is not explained. With so much land in a single market, international trade has become unnecessary, and thus the United States cuts itself off from countries that it has not yet taken over.