'Fine little machines'

The stories of Wells Tower are sad, strange, funny and wholly human-and a hit with critics. Do they foretell the popular return of the short story, those fine little machines?

By Kane Webb

Wells Tower had this great idea for a story. He'd go to Florida, land a job at a carnival, submerse himself in the carnival culture, and write a piece that would dispel all those stereotypes about carnies and the creepy lives they live. It'd be positively George-Plimptonesque.

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