Annals of Klepsis — R.A. Lafferty

Plots and intrigues and romances abound.
Smoke pictures, ghosts, and treasure chests to be found.
Magnifying monocles and hallucinogenic grapes--
the unvoiced dreams of the dregs of space.

Long John Tony Tyrone, the peg-legged historian, journeys there . . .
And marries a Princess with rainbow hair.

But the Ghost of Christopher Brannagan will not rest
Until mathematician Aloysius has put to the test
His theory concerning the Doomsday Equation
Which might save the planet from total devastation.
Or might not.