In Tad Williams' "Mountain of Black Glass," the narrative introduces the setting of the Edwin Meese Gardens housing project, characterized by its troubled residents. Despite the difficult environment, the most troublesome inhabitants have never engaged in the absurd act of trying to place a basilisk in Ramsey's codpiece, highlighting the surreal and exaggerated nature of the challenges faced by the characters.

This line serves as both a vivid depiction of the project's atmosphere and a humorous touch, illustrating how even in dire circumstances, there are boundaries to the actions of the residents. The absurdity of the situation underscores the complexity of human behavior in challenging environments.