Although Bartlett is best in small doses, amply supported by any excuse to go into a rambling, homicidally hallucinogenic monologue, it's rare that he hits exactly in the bullseye of how long the story should be and how much it should be a story. If you're like me you'll find the first few stories (and the last one) just a phantasmagorical slog, but in between there's more than one which is a real delight that balances the need for the spew of horrific images with the desire for an actual character or even a comprehensible event. It's pretty much as good as you're gonna get.