Venus, the planet on which the story takes place, is the second planet from the sun.
Image Attributions:Venus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/tonynetone/8131217051/) - tonynetone - License: Attribution (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)Nice rain outfit (Linden?) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/knowuh/6287940616/) - the paessels - License: Attribution (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)Happy Ada (self portrait) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/knowuh/6287940652/) - the paessels - License: Attribution (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)Guthrie's drawing of the fire (https://www.flickr.com/photos/grantbarrett/4382937431/) - Grant Barrett - License: Attribution (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
The planet experiences constant rain. There are tidal waves, hurricane-force winds, thunder and lightning at all times, with the exception of two hours every seven years.
The population lives in underground rooms, connected by tunnels. The only sunlight the people get is from sunlamps.