The novel is an anarchic tale concerning mind control by psychic, electronic, sexual, pharmaceutical, subliminal, and other means.

This work is significant for fans of Burroughs, in that it describes his idea of language as a virus and his philosophy of the cut-up technique.

The revised edition published in 1967 was 50% longer than the original, as Burroughs added more material and an appendix.

Establishing the text's manuscript history, the introduction showed that Burroughs wrote The Ticket after The Soft Machine and before Nova Express, and argued that the Trilogy defied any fixed sequence.

The Ticket That Exploded continues the adventures of Agent Lee in his mission to investigate and subvert the methods of mind control being used by The Nova Mob, a gang of intergalactic criminals intent on destroying Earth.