Joe

Absolutely demented gothic sf of the highest order. Layers twist upon twist only for the floor to drop out at the last second. An ending that assures you, through gritted teeth, "don't worry, it was all a trick," while gesturing towards an even greater horror than the totally harrowing narrative you just experienced. Shudder to think what Tumblr would have done with Claudio had this come out in the 2010s.

"I have blown a hole in time with a firecracker. Let others step through. Into what bigger and bigger firecrackers? Better weapons lead to better and better weapons, until the earth is a grenade with the fuse burning."

In the "Atrophied Preface" that serves as an epilogue, Burroughs (stepping outside of presenting himself as his alter ego, William Lee) claims not to be an entertainer. This showcases that he's a fucking liar because he just spent this book doing vaudeville routines! Genuinely hysterical, horrifying, and obscene, a delirious hard boiled sci-fi haze.

Reading this after Babel-17 feels like seeing Delany go Super Saiyan. So much stranger, denser, and freer. Extremely moving.

Read the novelette. Really cool stuff!