63 pages 2 hours read

Katherine Dunn

Geek Love

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1989

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Book 3, Chapters 20-22

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Book 3: “Spiral Mirror”

Book 3, Chapter 20 Summary: “The Fix Unfixed”

Oly describes a day at the carnival. Dr. Phyllis complains to Arty about the number of Admitted surgeries she is called on to perform. Horst and Sanderson argue over who should get the amputated limbs. Oly watches Lil sew costumes in the family trailer.

Suddenly, Oly hears Elly yelling and Iphy begging someone to leave them alone. The Bag Man is trying to follow them around, despite their protests. Lil says that somehow the Bag Man seems familiar. Oly says nothing, as Arty made her swear to tell no one that the Bag Man is Vern Bogner. Oly is not jealous of the Bag Man, though he worships Arty and has taken over some of Oly’s caretaker duties, since she is still Arty’s confidante and handles his personal needs. Arty tries to get information on the twins from Oly, but she will not tell him about their sexual exploits, so Arty instructs the Bag Man to be their bodyguard. Elly, in particular, is angry and afraid.

Tomaini, the twins’ piano instructor and pimp, convinces them to take on a “client” who is willing to pay $10,000.