The first chapter of this book actually tells you the entire story.
It only makes sense, however, after you actually read the book.

The story of Rant is told by conglomerated tidbits of stories told by friends, enemies and neighbors. Rant is probably one of the strangest characters ever. He has odd talents associated with scent and taste (which are rather disturbing), as well as odd addictions (which, again, are rather disturbing). He scares me.

The subject of the book is truly creative. It keeps you contemplating for a while.

Also consider that someday, when you’re dead and rotted, kids with their baby teeth will sit in their time-geography class and laugh about how stupid you were.

This “novel” is written in the style of an oral history: it consists solely of, what we are told are, direct quotes from people associated with one Buster L. Casey. Because of this we must assemble the narrative of the book in our minds as we are only told revolving fractions of events that friends, acquaintances, and so called experts fill in.

The device of an oral history works very well here because it allows a method where theatrhoe cannot be expected to fill in all the details or make the story consistent; it can remain partially shrouded in the mystery of people’s memories, of the past, and of the future.