Geek Love

Geek Love is a 1989 dystopian novel by Katherine Dunn. The novel is structured as a memoir written by Olympia “Oly” Binewski, an albino hunchback dwarf, as she chronicles the bizarre story of her family of carnival freaks. Her parents, Aloysius “Al” and Lillian “Lil, Lily, or Crystal Lil” Binewski, had sought to prop up their faltering traveling carnival by breeding their own children into freaks through the prenatal use of illicit drugs, poison, and radiation. The family believes that “norms,” or normal people, are inferior to those who are unique and they are therefore scornful of the “norms” who patronize the carnival. Through Oly and her siblings (Arturo, born with flippers instead of arms and legs; conjoined twins Electra “Elly” and Iphigenia “Iphy”; and Fortunato, nicknamed Chick, who has telekinetic powers), the novel explores The Importance of Family, Contrasting Perceptions of Freakishness and Normalcy, The God Complex and Free Will, and Love.

Content Warning: The source text and this guide include depictions of incest, body horror, abuse, ableism, suicide, and assault. 

Plot Summary

The story sections alternate between Oly’s memories of her family life and her description of the present day, when she is 38 years old and living in Portland.