These stories are more like vingettes than stories- like they don’t follow a typical plot structure- they set a vibe- which is kind of disturbing but ultimately constantly lurking in the world. 

Themes of sexual dysfunction/ deviance/dominance are present in A/S/L, Marion, Los Angeles, and The Nanny. Which makes sense considering the title of the book. Cline leaves a lot unsaid in these stories, paints a picture with all the circumstances and details surrounding “the thing” without ever naming it. Although it’s more present in some stories than others. - these are all written from women's pov.

In contrast, What Can You Do With a General, Menlo Park, Northeast Regional, Mack the Knife, and Son of Friedman explore more loss or lack of masculinity/ feelings of inadequacy and are written from men’s pov. 

Arcadia was an interesting outlier as a man was both witness to and a victim of sexual abuse by another man. 

Themes of agency?