Not the best Robbins novel, but it does have its charm. The story begins in Asia with the Tanuki God, who has a penchant for saki, sex with human females, and apparently enormous testicles. Then the plot morphs into a tale of three Vietnam MIAs who have made their home in Laos, a young woman with a chrysanthemum seed embedded in the roof of her mouth who may or may not be a Tanuki/human, and a cast of other odd characters. Of course, there is the usual Robbins disparaging comments on religion, government, the military, and big business along with Robbins' expertly crafted similes and metaphors: "The afternoon passed more slowly than a walnut-sized kidney stone." Fun but not the caliber of Still Life with Woodpecker or Jitterbug Perfume.
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