In Thomas Pynchon's "The Crying of Lot 49," San Narciso represents a concept more than a conventional city. Positioned south of Los Angeles, it embodies a collection of ideas rather than a singular, recognizable urban area. This location is characterized by its census tracts and specialized bond-issue districts, highlighting the fragmented nature of urban development in California.

The narrative emphasizes how San Narciso is structured around shopping centers and interconnected access roads leading to its own freeway, illustrating the often commercial and decentralized essence of modern cities. Instead of a cohesive community, it reflects a complex web of various functionalities that together form the identity of a place.