The story in one page
When Homer Nicholas marries Joy, the last thing he expects is for his uncle, a scientist, to disintegrate the local criminal element during the festivities. As mobsters like Cement Mixer Zinsky literally pop into thin air, Homer and his wife try to navigate the carnage while Uncle Peter diligently checks his research notes. With the mob gone and the police baffled, the newlyweds prepare for a honeymoon, leaving Peter to head for Tibet to further refine his lethal serum with his assistant, Cora, while Joy departs to help an associate retrieve some misplaced bells.
Who's who
- Homer Nicholas
The baffled nephew trying to justify his uncle's lethal science.
- Uncle Peter
A scientist who solves urban crime through mass molecular disintegration.
- Joy Nicholas
Homer's bride who prefers tracking lost bells to domestic life.
- Bag Ears Mulligan
A wedding guest who is constantly searching for missing bells.
- Cora
Peter's blonde assistant who helps track the disintegration statistics.
What it's really about
- Scientific Detachment
- Efficiency is preferred over human life.
- Unsolicited Solutions
- Criminal cleansing creates new domestic inconveniences.
Why it's memorable
- A mobster turning into a pile of dust during a wedding.
- An uncle keeping a meticulous logbook of his human vaporizations.
The ending, explained
Spoilers — show the ending
Homer writes his confession to the police chief before setting off to locate his wandering bride. He intends to find Joy, who is currently busy assisting a friend with a bell-related crisis.
For your book club
- Why does science always make the wedding catering so difficult?
- Is a missing bell more important than a marriage?