1. Season: summer.

2. Oedipa Maas is married.

3. She attends Tupperware parties.

4. She’s friends with people who make Swiss fondues.

5. She has a home.

6. She has been named executrix of Pierce Inverarity’s estate.

7. Pierce is a California real estate mogul.

8. He lost 2 million dollars once.

9. To him, that was no big deal.

10. Oedipa has a lot to sort out.