In Tim Adams’ cosmic, comedic novel, Hank Kruzenski is a simple man with simple dreams, living in a podunk town near San Francisco in the early ‘70s.

Hank, who narrates the story, is a 24-year-old muscle car enthusiast who wants nothing more than to outfit his vintage Barracuda (or, ‘Cuda, as he lovingly calls it) with the best parts when he’s not working his shift at Hardy’s. The promise of a set of Vulcan Speed Cylinders brings Hank to the Fiesta Speedway. But it’s a chance meeting with “hippy chick” Evelyn at the flea market near the track that drives the novel’s action.

Hank happens to rifle through a set of photos at Evelyn’s stall, and in one, he catches a glimpse of an object he recognizes: the Cuauhtémoc cup, a mysterious relic with roots in the ancient Americas, missing since the height of the Sioux Nation in the 19th century.

With his childhood friend Logos, Hank sets out to find Evelyn, who has gone away, and the cup, an object with reputed mystical powers that “was key to some of the most mysterioso psychic events of the last century, [making] the Mona Lisa and the Hope Diamond together look about as important as a 2-for-1 coupon for dental floss.” The quest spurs metaphysical discovery, romance and even a trip to the 1975 Indy 500.

Adams’ poignant, heartfelt novel weaves together humor and weighty themes in a seamless, witty way that summons comparisons to Tom Robbins and Kurt Vonnegut. As Hank faces epic, mystical questions, Adams deftly touches on themes of history, environmentalism and spirituality. His flawed and genuinely funny characters – from the antihero Hank, to the public-transit-loving Logos, even to Ruby, the town’s beloved stray dog – keep the story humming and constantly fresh.

While Hank’s unfiltered voice may be trying for sensitive readers, Brothers of the Milky Way offers a rare blend of historical depth, fantastical visions and laugh-out-loud humor that readers will savor.