Notes

* TheGuardsMustBeCrazy:
** ...and lazy, as invoked by Gordon as he easily approaches Oakridge and bypasses its guards right until he reaches the main gate.
** Subverted later on, when [[spoiler: he is captured by the Holnists for the second time. He manages to climb on [[UnwillingSuspension a beam his hands were tied to]]]], but first thing Colonel Bezoar does is [[DangerouslyGenreSavvy look in that direction]] the moment he realises Gordon is missing.
* HonorAmongThieves:
** As one of the general rules, Holnists do not take retribution for slayed comrades - by their philosophy, if you managed to kill one of them, you are a WorthyOpponent.
** People tend to share their loot if they find it together... sometimes. Otherwise they might [[NoHonorAmongThieves as well kill you for it]].
* TheHorde: Both the Holnists and the [[EvilLuddite Anti-Tech Mob]]. At least the latter are a thing of the past.
* IWantMyJetPack: In book's timeline, humanity managed to build computers capable of reaching level of true AI, introduced ''two'' generations of cyborgs and was able to deploy military-grade laser weapon systems. All by mid 90's.
* InstantAIJustAddWater: Averted. The pre-war [=AI=] computers were a step between real [=AI=] and standard mega-computer, build on specially designed processors and components. Only if running sufficiently long, they could reach true sentience going beyond ability to answer questions and solving equations on their own. [[spoiler: Which makes Cyclops death even more shattering]].
* InverseLawOfUtilityAndLethality: Gordon is a former sophomore of some sociology-themed major who was attending acting group in spare time back then... which helps him all the time in the postwar world.
* {{Irony}}: After impressing inhabitants of Pine View, Gordon is hoping to stay there for a while or even settle with them - something he really wants to do. Instead, they decide to encourage him to further journey, so his grand plan is destroyed. The whole situations keeps on repeating itself each time he reaches new place suitable for settling down in his postal attire - the only one he owns. He keeps thinking about this even when the lie about the Restored United States snowballs into near-reality level.