On the surface, the narrative focuses solely on Locke. He lacks a surname; if someone asks, "Locke what?" he answers, "Just Locke." His origins predate the "Cosmic Year" calendar employed in the series. While rumors persist that the author has a specific backstory in mind for Locke, his past remains a mystery to both the readers and the other characters. Every story centers either directly on Locke or on events closely tied to him. The main plot follows Locke's engagement in conflicts against various forms of evil, whether human or quasi-supernatural. Often, Locke gets pulled into surrounding events. He either stumbles upon a situation he cannot ignore, or another character begs him to join their cause. At times, he agrees and joins them; at other times, he ends up opposing them. As the narrative gradually unfolds for the reader (and there is a great deal of it), he realizes it serves as a chronology of future human history. Locke acts as the lens through which we observe humanity as it evolves, travels, discovers, explores, colonizes, conquers, fights, and destroys. He is the observer of humanity. He also represents the will to do what is right.