• The moments that reveal the C stories in the novel are often the most metafictional; highlights the novels connection to the real world
    • This comes in the form of the “science fictional” zones of Universe 31; Asians wish to immigrate into these zones in order to advance in society
  • Charles’ father
    • Charles’ father is unable to advance professionally, marker of the “bamboo ceiling”
    • Mother saying “it’s not fair” can either be referencing a specific event of discrimination or a general feeling of discontent
    • Neither of these quotes explitictly state that they are Asian-American, but they imply it
  • Park Scene
    • Creates a dichotomy of “us” (Asian-Americans) vs. “them” (successful, presumably white scientists), shows that Asians are not allowed into that fantastical world
      • Charles’ father vs. the director is very indicative of this, but doesn’t explicitly state the race of the father and the director
    • Charles’ father is upset that his career in STEM doesn’t guarantee him happiness
      • STEM is thought of as objective, absolute, and a field where your merits are the only thing required to get ahead
      • Fact that Charles’ father cannot advance frustrates him because it goes against the idea of STEM
    • The director is able to get ahead in the world because he understands how the world (or society as a whole) works while Charles’ father is a newcomer who does not
      • Kindness of director connects with Charles as noblesse oblige, or the responsibility of the wealthy to act kindly towards the poor
    • Reveals C story of Asian-Americans, how Asian-Americans can be seen at an invisible level
  • Techno-Orientalism
    • Stemmed from the idea that Asians were technologically advanced and could succeed in a postwar world, especially the Japanese
      • “The future is now Japanese too… Japan is the future”
      • Japan panic, idea that the Japanese would take over, akin to the yellow peril