Summary

Chapter 1 opens on the outskirts of the town of Night Vale, an isolated and bizarre desert community surrounded on the horizon by mountains, which its citizens may or may not believe in. Out on the edge of town resides Larry Leroy, a man who lives by himself in a small house. Larry occupies his time by creating miniature dioramas of various historical figures. While Larry’s family never cared much for history, claiming it did not exist because it was no longer happening, Larry himself takes joy in enshrining historical figures in fantastical if not wholly inaccurate ways, such as his W.E.B. Dubois with the laser cannon arm, or his Elizabeth Bennet with her blood soaked sword. Larry believes that his historical dioramas, along with his other artistic and academic endeavors, such as his self-recorded polka collection, will one day...