An unnamed verisimilitude inspector working at a failing Civil War-era theme park. Desperate to keep his job and provide for his family in a troubled economy, he struggles with his boss's extreme decisions to protect the park from local gangs. His internal moral compass frequently conflicts with his need for financial security.

A self-made man and the owner of the CivilWarLand theme park. Driven entirely by profit margins, he authorizes extreme measures to cut costs and combat gang presence, repeatedly putting his business ahead of basic morality.

An ex-soldier hired as a security guard for the failing theme park. He takes his role incredibly seriously, utilizing lethal force and intimidation to eliminate gang members and enforce the park's rules.

An unnamed boy who grows up in an eroding, racially tense urban neighborhood. Unlike his increasingly prejudiced peers, he retains a strong sense of empathy and eventually steps into a caregiving role for a vulnerable neighbor.

A prejudiced police officer and scam artist who single-handedly cares for his disabled daughter after his wife leaves. He harbors violent tendencies that escalate the racial tension in his neighborhood.

Split Lip's physically and developmentally disabled daughter, referred to cruelly as "Boneless" by neighborhood children. She is innocent and highly dependent on those around her for basic survival and comfort.

An unnamed theme park employee in charge of the wavemaker controls. Emasculated by his dead-end job, he attempts to assert himself but makes a severe error, leaving him consumed by profound guilt.

The Wavemaker Protagonist's partner who works as a mermaid performer at the park. Dissatisfied with her partner's lack of ambition and competence, she begins seeking fulfillment through geology classes and a connection with her boss.

The Subquadrant Manager at the theme park. A detail-oriented, successful rule-follower who represents the corporate ideal, he undermines the protagonist both professionally and personally.

A morbidly obese, 400-pound employee at Humane Raccoon Alternatives. Mocked and alienated by his coworkers, he attempts to maintain a positive attitude and be a force for good while enduring his boss's extreme cruelty.

The ruthless CEO of Humane Raccoon Alternatives. A hostile businessman who prioritizes profit above all else, he terrorizes his employees and forces grueling demands on his staff. He embodies unchecked greed and uses physical intimidation to maintain rigid control over his office.

A struggling single mother working at the raccoon company. Desperate for financial stability, she accepts Jeffrey's kindness but remains inexplicably drawn to their highly abusive boss.

An unnamed man consumed by guilt over a bitter argument he had with his wife shortly before her death. He runs a failing holography franchise and volunteers his time to help an elderly woman in a struggling neighborhood.

An elderly, increasingly senile widow living alone in a ghetto. She relies on the protagonist's visits and holograph modules for comfort, willingly sacrificing pieces of her past to maintain her present care.

A 92-year-old woman working at a bizarre interactive museum. Having survived a lifetime of severe trauma and an abusive marriage, she quietly resents her condescending supervisor. She looks for small, destructive ways to rebel against the institution that treats her so poorly.

The Cleaning Coordinator at the interactive museum. He treats his elderly employees with profound disrespect, comparing Mary to a "human vegetable" while obsessing over the museum's profit and property.

An unnamed man born with claws instead of toes, marking him as a Flawed. Forced to work at a medieval theme park for the wealthy after being abandoned by his parents, he decides to escape his grueling conditions. He begins a perilous journey across a ruined America to locate his sister.

The protagonist's sister, whose only physical mutation is a small vestigial tail. Pragmatic and beautiful, she works as a performer at BountyLand and looks for opportunities to secure a comfortable life away from the theme park.

The frustrated wife of the CivilWarLand protagonist. Weary of her husband's low income and their declining standard of living, she grows increasingly distant and angry. She prioritizes the immediate safety and comfort of her children over her failing marriage.

One of the protagonist's two sons. He trick-or-treats at the park dressed as an accountant, reflecting the practical, unromantic reality of their economic situation.

The protagonist's other son. He goes trick-or-treating at the theme park dressed as a rancher, completely unaware of the violent corporate decisions occurring around him.

An employee at the theme park who helps the protagonist select staff members for termination in exchange for lunch. She runs routine background checks on new hires.

A struggling actor and impoverished father of six working at the park. He agrees to fire live rounds at intruders for extra pay but ends up suffering horrific violence at the hands of a gang.

The ghost of a 19th-century homesteader whose land the theme park now occupies. He wanders the park unaware of the passage of time, reliving the horrific violence of his past.

A formerly virtuous altar boy whose life is derailed when he witnesses a traumatic event involving Split Lip. Consumed by grief, he turns to alcohol and vows to exact revenge.

The protagonist's brother. Reacting to the racial tension and violence in his neighborhood, he joins a hate group, enlists in the military, and fully embraces sadism.

The protagonist's father who works at a stockyard and struggles to maintain his family's standing. He forces his son to become Isabelle's caregiver out of loyalty to Split Lip.

The protagonist's mother who suffers a violent assault while walking home. This traumatic event directly triggers her son Leo's radicalization into a hate group.

A sweet child who loses his life at the theme park. He appears in the protagonist's bedroom at night, expressing anger over the future he was denied.

The grieving father of the boy killed at the theme park. He struggles to cope with the loss of his son and directs his intense grief toward the man responsible.

Jeffrey's coworker who carries out the physical execution of the trapped animals. He routinely joins their boss in mocking Jeffrey's physical appearance and lacks any moral qualms about the brutal reality of his job.

The principal of the Lyndon Baines Johnson School for Precocious Youth. She is highly impressed by the real memories the protagonist provides and aggressively funds his increasingly questionable venture.

The protagonist's deceased wife who died in a drunk driving accident. Her final interaction with her husband was a bitter argument, which leaves him permanently scarred by guilt.

Mary's deceased husband, a violent man who did odd jobs for gangsters. He was highly abusive to Mary and murdered the only man who ever treated her well.

A wealthy "Normal" who made his fortune in antiseptic swabs. Despite rumors of his cruelty, he buys Connie's freedom, takes her to his estate in New Mexico, and ultimately provides her with a family.

The daughter of a former toxicologist who initially pursues the protagonist. When she discovers he is a Flawed, her attraction turns to immediate prejudice and she falsely accuses him of a crime.

A wealthy "Normal" who fakes a physical mutation to lead a rebel movement fighting for the rights of the enslaved Flaweds. She urges the protagonist to join their cause.

A physician at BountyLand who oversees the Flaweds. He eventually helps the protagonist by removing his tracking bracelet, allowing him to escape.

The protagonist's father who desperately tries to keep his family safe during the collapse of society. He ultimately makes the agonizing decision to abandon his children at a theme park to ensure their survival.