Carl the Mistake has just learned two facts.

Hell is real, but it is called Nevernot.

And it is run by the mysterious Ministry of Dark Deeds.

The last thing Carl remembers is getting clocked in the face with a magical toaster before falling from the celestial steps of Elysium, Inc. Now he's stuck in the hellish Nevernot where demons drink pig urine and everyone possesses spectacularly disturbing surnames.

For instance, consider the beheaded demon Malizia Lustyslime, who recently tried to tempt Carl from his quest during a surprise visit to the Infinite Beach. She's intent on taking Carl to see his former best friend Chip suffer through the Anchoring Feast, the ultimate torture for any demon, hag, or slithering hell beast. She believes Carl is the Mistake that will bring eternal chaos to all the multiverse.

And she might be right.

But Carl has the Cosmic Swing of Things on his side. Time is running out for his best friend, his new friends in Nevernot, and the rest of the myriad universes he's never even visited. And if there's anything Carl has learned in his several thousand recycled lifetimes, it's that when the going gets tough...

... it's only going to get worse.