The Broken Earth Trilogy takes place on an earth-like planet where the landmasses have all combined to form one supercontinent known as the Stillness. The name is ironic because the Stillness experiences high levels of geological activity, including frequent, serious earthquakes. The Stillness also experiences regular, large-scale climate catastrophes known as the Fifth Season (or just Seasons). These Seasons last anywhere from years to centuries and often threaten to destroy the prevailing civilization. When the first novel begins, the current civilization has survived much longer than any previous ones on record. This is largely thanks to its exploitation of orogenes, people who have the ability to control and manipulate kinetic energy. What sets orogenes apart from non-orogenic humans—colloquially called stills—is an enlarged organ at the base of the cerebellum called a sessapinae. Untrained orogenes are perceived as a threat to society because when they use their abilities instinctually, they can cause great harm and damage. To combat this, orogenes are gathered up by Guardians—a group of powerful individuals dedicated to controlling orogenes and eliminating them when necessary—and taken to the Fulcrum, where they are trained to use their abilities to negate seismic activity to protect the property and lives of civilians.