“I’d like to nominate this for great first lines of all time: “I never should have married a woman named Decapitron.” Truer words are rarely spoken.
Maybe my favorite Mellick. Which is saying something. I haven’t read ALL of him, although I’ve considered it as a reading project. But I’ve read and enjoyed a good portion.
It’s the right length, for one. Maybe a 2-hour read, which is perfect for a dip into the bizarro world. It’s got those elements of heart that Mellick does occasionally, and man is he good at them. The “it just works” factor probably has to do with its reinterpretation of Christmas mythology, which is weird and fun.
If you’re looking for a gateway bizarro book, this is a great one. It might not be THE prototypical bizarro book, but I think it’s one that eases readers into the sense of things. “