Note: Throughout the novel, the author relays the thoughts of people and animals, referred to as their “Noise,” in bold type.

The Noise, or the thoughts of the men and animals, are constantly around the narrator, Todd Hewitt. The Noise is said to be a result of an alien race, the Spackle, whose “Noise germ” infected everyone, killing all of the women in New World and leaving the men with this telekinetic ability. The only thing left of the aliens is their ruins, the purpose for which everyone has forgotten.

Todd Hewitt takes his dog Manchee to pick apples in the swamp, as it’s the only place he can escape the Noise of the other men. Todd can hear the dog’s thoughts, which are mainly of defecating, eating, and the animals he sees. Todd will be 13 in 30 days, meaning he will officially be a man by his society’s standards. Todd doesn’t remember a world without Noise. He is the youngest person in Prentisstown, and the men in town ignore him for the most part.

The town preacher, Aaron, appears and punches Todd. Todd hears Aaron’s Noise and sees it in images.