Eco's merciless send-up of conspiracy theorists (there is a bit where the protagonists demonstrate how a car is actually a manifestation of Templar thought) takes a surreal—and not my favorite ever, although it's well in line with some of his other works—twist at the end. Yes, it's a bit longer than is strictly necessary, but it's a fun read, from the segments of amateur prose to the mockery of "self financing authors" to the more serious segments in Casaubon's life.