The short story "The Big H Tells All" is an account of how a man named Edgar rises to small town fame by becoming the host of a local talk show. This show is the most popular thing on television to the townsfolk, and the demanding viewing audience can be rather ruthless at times. The other characters in the story consist of the local talk show guests: a nine-year-old girl named Karla with a puppet act, a fire fighter/humorist named Danny, and the Ritters, a couple known around town for their weekend spent at a sex clinic. Other characters are only mentioned and are not all that important to the plot, except for the references to the past host of the show, Mrs. Donna Reeves. Though only referred to, she plays a larger part than the others, although that fact is not apparent until the last paragraph. Also on the show are community events, public service announcements, local talent, and the like. The setting is placed in the television studio itself, and all of the action takes place here as well.
             The tale is told from Edgar's point of view: how he became the host, how he feels about the guests, and how he plans to ensure the keeping of his job. The symbolism and imagery that Edgar perceives around him molds him into the kind of host he feels that he needs to be, and effects how he plans to keep his coveted position.
             The opening paragraph of "The Big H Tells All" immediately reveals the slow-paced monotony of the small-town atmosphere. Every weekday at four o'clock, Edgar hosts a television show as the rest of the town "winds down." Even though it is only four, signs reading "Sorry, we're closed" can be seen in the shops on mainstreet, and the local cement factory parking lot is empty. Due to these facts, Edgar's show is quite popular, as the townspeople have recently arrived home and are winding down from a days work by watching television. The show is in fact...