The book is often very funny (it has been turned into a movie, Crazy as Hell, which I haven’t seen). Satan is the first person narrator, involved in ways that become clearer—or at least more ludicrous—as the plot evolves. Since Leven has been a practicing neuropsychiatrist, the novel betrays an intimate knowledge of mental illnesses, mental hospitals, and psychiatric treatments. It’s one of several books in the set that feature visits to Plato’s Retreat (the other two are Gael Greene’s Doctor Love and Cindy Nemser’s Eve’s Delight). Here, the place is referred to as Dante’s Inferno (Satan will eventually elaborate on why Dante’s description of hell is entirely inaccurate). Hapless psychotherapist Dr. Sy Kassler, who over the course of the novel goes through all sorts of bad shit (divorce from wife, loss of access to his children, loss of job, house burned down) will eventually come to treat Satan, who’s embodied in a computer that sports nobs that Lupa, falling in love with Satan, will eventually make use of. In the sex retreat, Kassler quickly loses sight of Lupa, who is a lot more comfortable with the setting and has let herself get lost in the crowd. Kassler finds a door with a flashing welcome sign above it, and behind it a beautiful girl (today’s authors would more likely call her a young woman). They talk and agree they don’t like the place, connect instantly, agree they are hopeless romantics. ‘Then he took the girl into his arms and kissed her tenderly on the lips. It was the kiss that Kassler had fantasized he’d have some day—joyful and sublime.’ They both want to get together, meet again, tomorrow, at the same place; the girl says she is superstitious that she might otherwise lose his address. Skip forward. ‘“This is crazy,” the girl finally laughed. “We don’t know each other at all. We are a couple of strangers in the bottom of a very perverse place. It’s crazy.” “Insane,” Kassler agreed. (…) “Hey,” the girl called to Kassler. “You’re not crazy or mean or married or going to break my heart or anything, are you?” “No , I am not,” Kassler answered softly.’ He’s in love. After leaving the room, Kassler is told by staff contact Charon, “You can drop the smile. She’s an advertisement.” Kassler doesn’t want to believe it, and Charon explains. “Very pretty girl. And super bright. Rumor has it she hasn’t had to perform a single sexual act to keep the men returning in the two years she’s been here.” The plot is too insane to describe here in a one-paragraph vignette; it is intricate, but very effective.