Skip to content

Site Navigation

Popular Latest Newsletters
Sections
Ideas
Politics
Economy
Global
National Security
Washington Week
Features
Technology
AI Watchdog
Science
Planet
Health
Philosophy
Education
Culture
Comedy
Family
Books
Fiction
Photography
Events
Explore The Atlantic Archive
Play The Atlantic Games
Listen to Podcasts and Articles
The Print Edition
Latest Issue Past Issues
Give a Gift
Search The Atlantic
Quick Links
Audio
Crossword Puzzle
Magazine Archive
Your Subscription
Popular
Latest
Newsletters

Sign In
Subscribe

May 1999 Issue

Francis Fukuyama, “The Great Disruption”; Charles Portis, “Combinations of Jacksons”; Francis Davis, “Napoleon in Rags”; Mary Gordon, “The Deacon”; and much more. View Magazine

Flouting the Convention
William Aron, William Burke, and Milton Freeman
Woodcock
Erica Funkhouser
Combinations of Jacksons
Charles Portis
Six Days
Jesse Wegman
The Clinical-Trials Bottleneck
Francine Russo
Napoleon in Rags
Francis Davis

Deus Ex Machina

Deus Ex Machina -- by Guy Billout

Florence

The Atlantic Monthly; May 1999; Deus Ex Machina; Volume 283, No. 5; page 107.

Popular Links

About
- Our History
- Careers
Contact
Podcasts
Subscription
Follow

Our History
Careers

Help Center
Contact Us
Atlantic Brand Partners
Press
Reprints & Permissions

Radio Atlantic
The David Frum Show
Galaxy Brain
Autocracy in America
How to Age Up

Purchase
Give a Gift
Manage Subscription
Group Subscriptions
Atlantic Editions
Newsletters

Site Information

Privacy Policy
Your Privacy Choices
Advertising Guidelines
Terms & Conditions
Terms of Sale
Responsible Disclosure
Site Map

TheAtlantic.com © 2026 The Atlantic Monthly Group. All Rights Reserved.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply