Setting and timeline¶
Last updated through GM11 ch 40 (book incomplete).
Place and period¶
The story is set in the fictional town of West Monroe, Harding County, Southern Ohio, beginning May 1981. Mike Loucks becomes an EM Attending at Rutherford Regional Medical Center (June 1, 1992) after Moore Memorial fails to hire him as Attending. Family home moves to a new build near Washington Court House (Fayette County) June 23, 1992.
GM10: Residency II; Charlotte; EM Chief Resident; ends Jun 1991. GM11 (through ch 40 only): Feb 2, 1992 – ~May 30, 1993 — Rutherford Attending; Noémie born Sep 4, 1992; Clarissa AI son Aleksandr born May 21, 1993; Bishop AI discipline then restoration. Manuscript continues past ch 40 (ch 41 stub exists). Dates: Calendar.md. Education: Education.md. Clergy: Clergy.md. Band: Code_Blue.md. Hospitals: Hospitals/.
Preface notes (GM1 Chapter 00)¶
- Period context: Reagan, stagflation, Evangelical influence, pre-PC attitudes.
- «Sexual baseball» terminology: 1st base making out/necking; 2nd petting; 3rd base oral sex; home run intercourse.
- Linguistic quirks: «mango» for bell pepper; «speed» for amphetamines.
- Orthodox faith and practices (calendar and canon differences).
- ACLU history; economics and debt realities.
- Media/technology: no internet; limited local records.
- Age of consent: 16 in Ohio.
Series chronology (books)¶
| Book | Span (approx.) |
|---|---|
| GM1 | Freshman year at Taft (May 1981 – May 1982) |
| GM2 | Sophomore year (May 1982 – May 1983); Subdeacon May 7, 1983 |
| GM3 | Junior year (May 1983 – May 1984); ends ch 82 |
| GM4 | Senior year (May 1984 – May 26, 1985); wedding; Code Blue; summa |
| GM5 | Medical School I (May 1985 – Jan 1986); deacon; M1; ends ch 68 |
| GM6 | Medical School II (Jan 1986 – Aug 26, 1987); M2; MLE; surgery/OB; Rachel born; ends ch 67 |
| GM7 | Medical School III (Aug 26, 1987 – early Apr 1988); Elizaveta dies; laicized; clerkships; ends ch 95 |
| GM8 | Medical School IV (Apr 1, 1988 – May 25, 1989); Kris; Match; MD; ends ch 90 |
| GM9 | Residency I (May 25, 1989 – Feb 19, 1990); PGY1; Kris pregnant; ends ch 76 cliffhanger |
| GM10 | Residency II (Feb 20, 1990 – ~Jun 22, 1991); Charlotte; EM Chief Resident; ends ch 72 |
| GM11 | Doctor Mike (incomplete through ch 40: Feb 1992 – May 1993; Rutherford Attending; Noémie; Aleksandr) |