Climate
The book is a dystopian science fiction novel that seems to imply how our future on Earth will look. The world has been destroyed by extreme changes in temperature and reduced water supply. Wars over water supply are a norm and heavily armed battles are witnesses almost daily. People go to extremes to survive but most either die or are left as climate refugees.
Corruption of businesses
The book touches about the corruption of big global businesses. Velasquez works as a “water knife"- his job is to destroy the water supply of other competitors, so as to ensure the wealthy stay wealthy. He does this job without any hesitation, despite the fact that he witnesses people dying from dehydration.
Loyalty
This is a secondary theme in the book. Velasquez is so loyal to his employer, Catherine Case, that he repeatedly risks his life being her “water-knife” assassin. However, he soon realizes that she has no loyalty in return and only acts in self-interest. Indeed, when he meets Lucy and later, Maria, on his journeys, he keeps them at arm’s length initially. However, he realizes that despite being very removed from the type of life he lives, they are far better people and far more loyal to hm than Case ever was.
