—Sometimes, reflects the refined aesthetics of a practiced wordsmith and at others veers into disrespectful derision and jest.

Lawrence Lin, a person perpetually “out of sync” with the times, often views the world from the highly introspective and emotionally charged perspective of a “tail man”. Whereas most think of “the past” as their childhood, Lin’s past touches on the fabric of long-lost Chinese dynasties. Whereas most think of “the future” as retirement and old age, Lin imagines his future involving a battle to the death against an alien race set on conquering the solar system. The narrative of this book sometimes reflects the refined aesthetics of a practiced wordsmith and at others veers into disrespectful derision and jest, creating a work that, while mature, is still fresh and full of life. After all is said and done, Lin, the abiding “tail man,” still seems blithely carefree. But who is to say how many layers of depth remain for the curious reader to explore and experience?