Book One (Awake to Emptiness) occurs over a vast territory and since in Robinson's reimagined world, many countries are given unfamilar names and some countries he refered to are not actual geographical places, but rather places in Hindu mythology, it can be difficult to get an understanding of where the book is taking place. The Book begins in Central Asia where the Mongol empire was located and the Mongol army started out. The Mongol army then travels west to Europe to carryout Temur the Lame's ambitious conquest. When they arrive in Europe they find everyone has perished due to plague. The Mongol army turns and goes back to Central Asia to tell Temur about their diappointing conquest. When Bold fled from the Mongol empire in Central Asia after Temur was struck by lightning, he goes west toward Europe. In Europe Bold is taken captive by a group of Muslims and they travel east to Africa looking to sell Bold and there other captives. Bold is sold to the Chinese and they depart from Africa back to China. The remainder of the book takes place in the Chinese cities of Nanjing and Beijing.