THE ANSWER

by Jeremy Larner ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 4, 1968

Three days of involvement with LSD, the ""Answer Drug,"" add up to a mini-Bildungsroman by a young radical who has always tried to get at the extra-political root of things. Alex Randall is an Ivy Leaguer from Kansas City with a hyper-verbal, anti-establishmentarian sensibility. His roommate gets mixed up with drugs and drug cultists; Alex goes to the latter in search of an antidote one night. He stays to argue, observe, and ogle the pneumatic, schizoid girls who comprise the majority of Dr. Tyrtan's followers. After a spectacular trip, Alex emerges subtly sadder, wiser, and disabused of any notion that pain and ego are unreal. The novel's extrinsic interest lies in the devastating portrait of Timothy Leafy, self-confessed mediocrity and manic pseudo-healer. Intrinsic interest is pulled along by the writing. Larner's quick perceptions and ornate irony don't always merge, but some of the dialogue is excellent, and plausibility is high, As a short story, it might have been exquisite. Over a longer run it fails to orchestrate the fantastic and critical streaks. Worth reading, though. . . and burial in a cornerstone.

Pub Date: March 4, 1968

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Macmillan

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1968

Categories: FICTION