Born in one of the larger fishing villages of the Mississippian Gulf Coast, Saul had the fortune of being born into one of the better families of the town. His father owned his own boat, gone for days at a time in pursuit of larger and larger catches of mutated fish. His mother was a former caravan driver who fell in love with Saul's father and stayed while the rest of her caravan left without her. Saul spent most of his early childhood being educated by his parents, who were able to teach him basic writing and how to read.