Local Souls brings to life the vibrant and flawed humanity of Falls, North Carolina, through three poignant novellas. With humor and pathos, Gurganus explores the dichotomies of the modern South—its embrace of technology and progressive sexuality juxtaposed with the enduring quirks of small-town life. Each story unfolds the profound ties of love and the absurd complications they engender. In 'Fear Not,' a woman's search for the child she once relinquished leads to unforeseen connections. 'Saints Have Mothers' sees a mother's newfound fame sour when her valedictorian daughter vanishes in Africa. And 'Decoy' recounts the upheaval in two men's lives when personal desires collide with natural disaster. Collectively, these tales affirm the timeless conflicts of intimacy and individuality within the microcosm of a community that reflects the transformation of the New South.