Greed fuels opposing forces in the novel. Those inclined to greed—and the top one percent of the wealthiest people—can never accumulate enough to satisfy their appetite for more. At the same time, this desire for profits is a great source of human misery for those who cannot access the profit-making system. Greed is what leads to the sabotage on the Met Tower, to the speculation that caused the oft-mentioned housing crash of 2008, and the creation of algorithms and services that help traders manipulate the markets. It is embodied in characters like Galina Esteban, a power-hungry politician, and Hector Ramirez, an amoral investor. Franklin is also initially defined by his greed but is ultimately rewarded for his desire to pursue ventures that benefit society, rather than simply increasing his own wealth. 

Devastating climate change has created the underwater New York setting of the novel. Taking place in the years 2140-2143, the novel is a warning to readers of what might happen if people do not act to reverse human overuse of the earth’s natural resources and their refusal to curb use of fossil fuels. In the novel, one climatological disaster leads to another in a domino cascade: the melting ice caps cause the First and Second Pulse, both of which produce irreversible flooding.