Whoopee! I'm off!
Whee, what a book. The greatest crazy accumulation of words it has ever been my good (or bad) fortune to read. Of all the ununderstandable things I have ever read, this takes the cake. The author is either a genius or a fool, I can't say.
The story is semi-ridiculous, and if taken seriously is liable to upset the mind of the reader. Credence must not be allowed to enter the thoughts while reading. You may start on a train of thought that will get you nowhere.
Several interesting character studies are contained in this work.
The Circus of Dr. Lao comes to the town of Abalone, Arizona. The Circus is an accumulation of the wild dreams and myths of mankind. Dr. Lao, withered old Chinaman; Apolonius of Tyrana, wizard of a Christ-like appearance; a mermaid, living and nude; a Sphinx, bi-sexual and talkative; a live Medusa, who actually does turn people into stone; a Sea Serpent with a tale to tell; a Greek Satyr, who upsets a prim young school-mistress; a unicorn; a hound of the hedges, a vegetable concoction; and something which is either a bear or a man, no agreement is reached.
The characters of the visitors to the circus are as crazy a menagerie as the circus itself.
I've never read anything like this before. I can't make up my mind: either it is a masterpiece of the foolishness and inconsequence of mankind; or its the worst accumulation of senseless drivel ever published.
I can't give the book a rating because I can't make up my mind what it deserves.
Hooray! Whoopee-
[Editor's Note: Well, the boys have taken him away. I hope he gets a nice comfy padded cell. Join us after reading the book.] - Chr.