A guard who literally sends offenders to hell; a mythical, lost film from the years when the blood of the Indian genocide was still fresh; a curious competition of genealogy; a sudden and frenzied trend for outdoor bathtubs; and a pair of elderly ladies who discover a western version of Aladdin's magical lamp.

Against the backdrop of Wyoming once again, and with its beloved and mournful characters, the great American author once again plumbs the abyss of the human soul and despair, but this time with a comic gaze, which makes it even sharper and wilder.