The Joker’s War by Robert Sheckley. Short summary

5 seconds

During World War II, the Joker helps Hitler and Goering, steals from the Vatican, and meets love. It turns out that it’s all a dream, and he’s long been held in a mental institution.

1 minute

During World War II, the Joker travels to Germany. He sets out to pull a scam and get rich. In Germany, Joker meets the aristocrat Petra and falls in love with her.

He flies from Germany to the Vatican and together with the mafia steals the treasure from St. Peter’s cathedral.

The Mafiosi try to kill the Joker in order to get the riches. But he guesses their plan and turns himself in to the police.

He returns to Germany, where he helps Hitler in his military strategy and teaches Goring. He becomes a hero of the Third Reich.

He flies from Germany to Brazil with the loot from the Vatican. He crashes and barely makes it ashore, where he is joyfully welcomed by Peter and the locals.

Suddenly he wakes up chained to a gurney. It turns out he is in a psychiatric hospital. The war ended decades ago and the villain is dreaming.