Alan is the second most important character in the story (the deuteragonist), and he, a double DGD like Lynn and eventually her fiancé, is more cynical than even Lynn. He entertains the idea that all DGDs should be sterilized to prevent the further spread of the illness, and he voluntarily gets sterilized when he comes of age. Like other DGDs, he is driven for reasons he doesn’t quite understand, but he also seems convinced that he can’t do any good. He talks openly about planning to take his own life when he starts to drift. Though Alan isn’t a completely static character, his views change only a little as the story unfolds, and his character arc is not as steep as Lynn’s. This is in part because of his understanding of his options.

Before learning his mother is still alive, visiting her at Dilg, and learning about the novel way uncontrolled DGDs are treated there, he feels that his only options are to end up in the more typical institutions where DGDs are treated poorly or to take his own life before the disease advances too far. At Dilg, he learns that he could end up in a retreat where he would receive better care but be seemingly mindlessly focused on one activity while largely unaware of the people around him.