wˌɛn ðə fˈɜːst nˈɑːvəl bɪɡˈɪnz hiː ɪz ɐ twˈɛntijˈɪɹˈoʊld fɹˈaɪ kˈʊk, wɪð ɐ pɚtˈɪkjʊlɚ pɹəfˈɪʃənsi fɔːɹ pˈæŋkeɪks, lˈɪvɪŋ ɪnðə fˈɪkʃənəl kˌælɪfˈoːɹniə tˈaʊn ʌv pˈiːkoʊ mˈʌndoʊ.
When the first novel begins he is a 20-year-old fry cook, with a particular proficiency for pancakes, living in the fictional California town of Pico Mundo.