Reviews in major German newspapers complimented Zeh's focus points and narrative structure, and compared the book to works by authors such as Ray Bradbury and Friedrich Dürrenmatt.

Because of his complex thoughts he can't find any other person to talk to and therefore invented the "Ideal Beloved", who he passes on to Mia just before his death.

He is silently opposed to the METHOD, since he was denied a relationship with the love of his life due to government policy.

A crown witness in the trial, he claims that Mia and Moritz founded their own rebellion group.

She mediates in the disputes between Bell and Rosentreter; through her decisions she changes the outcome of the trial in Mia's benefit, but loses her job and is transferred to another provincial jurisdiction.

He tries to end the trial as fast as possible to avoid any claims that he opposes the METHOD.