Lee is a gay heroin user, low-level dealer, and the narrator of the novel. He travels from New York through Mexico and into the strange hallucination-like regions of Freeland and Interzone to escape law enforcement. His severe drug dependency distorts his perception of time and space, reducing his emotional capacity while fueling his documentation of the bizarre events around him.

Benway is a sadistic, highly unorthodox doctor operating in Freeland and Interzone. He acts as an agent of social control, utilizing excessive bureaucracy, psychological torture, and bizarre medical procedures to break down human individuality. He views surgery and science as forms of perverse artistic expression rather than methods of healing.

The leader of an Arab nationalist party in Interzone. He claims to advocate for the ordinary citizens against colonial forces, yet he enjoys expensive luxury items and views the local population with hypocrisy and disdain. He orchestrates political unrest through manipulation rather than genuine grassroots support.

A wealthy international playboy and notorious merchant of sex who funds an organization called Islam Inc. in Interzone. He stages elaborate, often destructive practical jokes that disrupt social conventions, such as releasing aphrodisiac insects at the opera or bringing a baboon into a formal setting.

Known as the Lobotomy Kid, Schafer is a doctor who performs radical neurological experiments. He believes the human brain is obsolete and advocates for reducing the nervous system to a compact spinal column, resulting in grotesque physical transformations for his subjects.

A citizen required to undergo an invasive psychological examination by Dr. Benway. His session involves humiliating tests supposedly designed to determine his sexual orientation but actually intended to make him feel ashamed and subjugated by the state.

A drug dealer inhabiting a foul-smelling, dilapidated apartment filled with moldy objects. He exchanges heroin not for money but for the time of his buyers, explicitly acknowledging the degenerative and life-shortening nature of the addiction he facilitates.

A young drug user suffering from severe addiction symptoms, including formication (the sensation of insects crawling under the skin). He willingly sacrifices his lifespan and health in exchange for his next dose.

A drug dealer who later appears relocated to New York. His severe addiction issues have caused him to transform physically into a vulnerable, mutated state, leaving him terrified of ordinary citizens.

An agent who tracks Lee through New York. He possesses a bizarre physical mutation, featuring a round disk lined with sensitive black hairs instead of a human mouth.

A narcotics agent who poses as a drug addict to identify and arrest dealers. His intense commitment to the undercover role causes him to assimilate into the addiction lifestyle physically and mentally.

A bureaucrat who controls the legal affidavits required for Interzone residents. He forces petitioners like Lee to listen to and agree with his hateful, racist anecdotes before he processes their paperwork.

A famous pornographer who creates television and film content. He demands extreme authenticity from his performers and becomes enraged by fake expressions of pleasure.

An actor in Slashtubitch's productions who assumes a dominant role. He participates in elaborate, simulated scenes of violence and execution alongside his co-stars.

An actress who engages in intense, macabre sexual acts on screen. Her performances blur the line between physical pleasure, violence, and grotesque consumption.

A youth who takes a submissive position in Slashtubitch's cinematic productions, participating in choreographed sequences that mimic brutal executions.

A police officer tasked with apprehending Lee for heroin possession and securing his written notebooks. He severely underestimates Lee's desperation.

A law enforcement officer participating in the raid on Lee's residence. He attempts to confiscate Lee's manuscripts during the drug bust.

A young drug user who recently achieved two months of sobriety while diving in Corsica. He quickly relapses upon arriving at Lee's residence.

A woman serving as a medical test subject for Dr. Benway, who uses her to evaluate extreme nutritional deprivations.

A companion of Lee who suffers from aggression. His erratic behavior draws law enforcement attention and results in the group's incarceration.

A dangerous figure who executes a series of hate crimes against gay men in a public park. He faces incarceration and absolute sensory deprivation.

A patient diagnosed with tuberculosis. He desperately seeks modern chemical therapy but finds himself relegated to an institution offering only outdated treatments.

A physician who evaluates Joselito and sends him to a sanitorium, failing to provide the advanced medical interventions his patient desires.

A restaurateur who initially serves excellent cuisine. He possesses a volatile temper that erupts violently when A.J. requests a low-class condiment.

The insane brother of Robert who takes over restaurant operations. Under his management, the establishment serves completely inedible, grotesque items to an oblivious clientele.

An Interzone resident known by many pseudonyms who owns a hospital and a red rumpus room. He hosts chaotic events involving extreme physical acts and grotesque spectacles.