Anthony Maloney finds his life irrevocably altered when a collection of Victorian artifacts he dreams into existence begins to manifest in reality. Anthony Maloney, a young historian, discovers that his subconscious has produced a physical, sprawling exhibit of Victorian items in a California parking lot. As the collection gains international fame and attracts tourists, Anthony struggles to maintain his sanity while the boundary between his dream state and the waking world dissolves. The narrative follows his descent into obsession as he attempts to control the manifestations that threaten his personal autonomy and psychological stability.

Discussion often centers on the novel's ability to ground a bizarre, surreal premise in a believable psychological reality. Readers frequently highlight the clinical precision with which Moore depicts Anthony's unraveling, noting that the book functions as a study of obsession rather than a traditional fantasy. Critics often point to the author's restraint, observing that the lack of overt explanation for the phenomenon forces the reader to focus on the protagonist's internal state. Many reviewers appreciate the balance between the absurdity of the situation and the grounded, often bleak, consequences for the characters involved. The work is widely regarded as a significant entry in Moore's bibliography for its unique blend of realism and speculative elements.