The story is somewhat reminiscient of the frontier tales of early U.S. literature, with Kenton as an archtypal scout hero with his faithful sidekick. However, Harry Turtledove reveals a fair amount about this world and how it works. In the opening "excerpt" from The Story of the Federated Commonwealths, the reader learns that England had adopted the "divine right of kings" approach to rule. This suggests that the conflict between the Roundheads and the Cavaliers never happened. Within the story itself, the reader learns that sims have been bred in captivity, that they can understand human speech, and that they can communicate through sign-language. The reader also learns that sims can be loyal companions if they are treated with respect, a fact which probably saves Kenton's life.