diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 7c2f62d..9ee1ca1 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -14,3 +14,9 @@ license = "MIT"
 
 [dev-dependencies]
 recycler="0.1.4"
+
+[profile.bench]
+# Multiple codegen units speed up compilation, but make compilation output less
+# deteministic and generally decrease codegen quality through worse inlining.
+# Let's turn it off for benchmarking.
+codegen-units = 1
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 1c8565c..13de90c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ A mortifying serialization library for Rust
 
 Abomonation (spelling intentional) is a serialization library for Rust based on the very simple idea that if someone presents data for serialization it will copy those exact bits, and then follow any pointers and copy those bits, and so on. When deserializing it recovers the exact bits, and then corrects pointers to aim at the serialized forms of the chased data.
 
-**Warning**: Abomonation should not be used on any data you care strongly about, or from any computer you value the data on. The `encode` and `decode` methods do things that may be undefined behavior, and you shouldn't stand for that. Specifically, `encode` exposes padding bytes to `memcpy`, and `decode` doesn't much respect alignment.
+**Warning**: Abomonation should not be used on any data you care strongly about, or from any computer you value the data on. The `encode` and `decode` methods do things that may be undefined behavior, and you shouldn't stand for that. Specifically, `encode` exposes padding bytes to `memcpy`, and `decode` doesn't much respect alignment and may need to construct Rust references to invalid data.
 
 Please consult the [abomonation documentation](https://frankmcsherry.github.com/abomonation) for more specific information.
 
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ Be warned that these numbers are not *goodput*, but rather the total number of b
 
 ## unsafe_abomonate!
 
-Abomonation comes with the `unsafe_abomonate!` macro implementing `Abomonation` for structs which are essentially equivalent to a tuple of other `Abomonable` types. To use the macro, you must put the `#[macro_use]` modifier before `extern crate abomonation;`.
+Abomonation comes with the `unsafe_abomonate!` macro implementing `Abomonation` for structs which are essentially equivalent to a tuple of other `Abomonation` types. To use the macro, you must put the `#[macro_use]` modifier before `extern crate abomonation;`.
 
 Please note that `unsafe_abomonate!` synthesizes unsafe implementations of `Abomonation`, and it is should be considered unsafe to invoke.
 
@@ -82,4 +82,4 @@ if let Some((result, remaining)) = unsafe { decode::<MyStruct>(&mut bytes) } {
 }
 ```
 
-Be warned that implementing `Abomonable` for types can be a giant disaster and is entirely discouraged.
+Be warned that implementing `Abomonation` for types can be a giant disaster and is entirely discouraged.
diff --git a/benches/bench.rs b/benches/bench.rs
index 9ce8a3c..4492541 100644
--- a/benches/bench.rs
+++ b/benches/bench.rs
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ use test::Bencher;
 #[bench] fn vec_u_vn_s_dec(bencher: &mut Bencher) { _bench_dec(bencher, vec![vec![(0u64, vec![(); 1 << 40], format!("grawwwwrr!")); 32]; 32]); }
 
 fn _bench_enc<T: Abomonation>(bencher: &mut Bencher, record: T) {
-
     // prepare encoded data for bencher.bytes
     let mut bytes = Vec::new();
     unsafe { encode(&record, &mut bytes).unwrap(); }
@@ -40,12 +39,11 @@ fn _bench_enc<T: Abomonation>(bencher: &mut Bencher, record: T) {
     bencher.bytes = bytes.len() as u64;
     bencher.iter(|| {
         bytes.clear();
-        unsafe { encode(&record, &mut bytes).unwrap(); }
+        unsafe { encode(&record, &mut bytes).unwrap() }
     });
 }
 
 fn _bench_dec<T: Abomonation+Eq>(bencher: &mut Bencher, record: T) {
-
     // prepare encoded data
     let mut bytes = Vec::new();
     unsafe { encode(&record, &mut bytes).unwrap(); }
diff --git a/benches/clone.rs b/benches/clone.rs
index a040895..a5f5b2e 100644
--- a/benches/clone.rs
+++ b/benches/clone.rs
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ use test::Bencher;
 #[bench] fn vec_u_vn_s_cln(bencher: &mut Bencher) { _bench_cln(bencher, vec![vec![(0u64, vec![(); 1 << 40], format!("grawwwwrr!")); 32]; 32]); }
 
 fn _bench_e_d<T: Abomonation>(bencher: &mut Bencher, record: T) {
-
     // prepare encoded data for bencher.bytes
     let mut bytes = Vec::new();
     unsafe { encode(&record, &mut bytes).unwrap(); }
@@ -43,7 +42,6 @@ fn _bench_e_d<T: Abomonation>(bencher: &mut Bencher, record: T) {
 }
 
 fn _bench_cln<T: Abomonation+Clone>(bencher: &mut Bencher, record: T) {
-
     // prepare encoded data
     let mut bytes = Vec::new();
     unsafe { encode(&record, &mut bytes).unwrap(); }
diff --git a/benches/recycler.rs b/benches/recycler.rs
index cc9ae94..96391b5 100644
--- a/benches/recycler.rs
+++ b/benches/recycler.rs
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ use test::Bencher;
 // #[bench] fn vec_u_vn_s_rec(bencher: &mut Bencher) { _bench_rec(bencher, vec![vec![(0u64, vec![(); 1 << 40], format!("grawwwwrr!")); 32]; 32]); }
 
 fn _bench_own<T: Abomonation+Clone>(bencher: &mut Bencher, record: T) {
-
     // prepare encoded data
     let mut bytes = Vec::new();
     unsafe { encode(&record, &mut bytes).unwrap(); }
@@ -43,7 +42,6 @@ fn _bench_own<T: Abomonation+Clone>(bencher: &mut Bencher, record: T) {
 
 
 fn _bench_rec<T: Abomonation+Recyclable>(bencher: &mut Bencher, record: T) {
-
     // prepare encoded data
     let mut bytes = Vec::new();
     unsafe { encode(&record, &mut bytes).unwrap(); }
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 2e617dc..a01bac7 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ use std::io::Write; // for bytes.write_all; push_all is unstable and extend is s
 use std::io::Result as IOResult;
 use std::marker::PhantomData;
 use std::num::*;
+use std::ptr::NonNull;
 
 pub mod abomonated;
 
@@ -70,12 +71,11 @@ pub mod abomonated;
 /// }
 /// ```
 ///
-#[inline]
+#[inline(always)]
 pub unsafe fn encode<T: Abomonation, W: Write>(typed: &T, write: &mut W) -> IOResult<()> {
     let slice = std::slice::from_raw_parts(mem::transmute(typed), mem::size_of::<T>());
     write.write_all(slice)?;
-    typed.entomb(write)?;
-    Ok(())
+    typed.entomb(write)
 }
 
 /// Decodes a mutable binary slice into an immutable typed reference.
@@ -119,14 +119,13 @@ pub unsafe fn encode<T: Abomonation, W: Write>(typed: &T, write: &mut W) -> IORe
 ///     assert!(remaining.len() == 0);
 /// }
 /// ```
-#[inline]
 pub unsafe fn decode<T: Abomonation>(bytes: &mut [u8]) -> Option<(&T, &mut [u8])> {
     if bytes.len() < mem::size_of::<T>() { None }
     else {
         let (split1, split2) = bytes.split_at_mut(mem::size_of::<T>());
-        let result: &mut T = mem::transmute(split1.get_unchecked_mut(0));
-        if let Some(remaining) = result.exhume(split2) {
-            Some((result, remaining))
+        let result: NonNull<T> = mem::transmute(split1.get_unchecked_mut(0));
+        if let Some(remaining) = T::exhume(result, split2) {
+            Some((&*result.as_ptr(), remaining))
         }
         else {
             None
@@ -139,7 +138,6 @@ pub unsafe fn decode<T: Abomonation>(bytes: &mut [u8]) -> Option<(&T, &mut [u8])
 /// # Safety
 ///
 /// The `measure` method is safe. It neither produces nor consults serialized representations.
-#[inline]
 pub fn measure<T: Abomonation>(typed: &T) -> usize {
     mem::size_of::<T>() + typed.extent()
 }
@@ -151,27 +149,48 @@ pub fn measure<T: Abomonation>(typed: &T) -> usize {
 ///
 /// # Safety
 ///
-/// Abomonation has no safe methods. Please do not call them. They should be called only by
+/// `entomb` and `exhume` are not meant to be called directly. They should be called only by
 /// `encode` and `decode`, each of which impose restrictions on ownership and lifetime of the data
-/// they take as input and return as output.
+/// they take as input and return as output, thus improving safety.
+///
+/// Not all Rust types are abomonable, and one should think carefully about the implications of
+/// implementing `Abomonation` for a type. To lend itself to this exercise, a type must...
+///
+/// - Provide exhaustive access to its internal representation
+/// - Allow reconstruction from said representation
+/// - Survive having its heap allocations being silently replaced by inline pointers to
+///   the same storage block, as long as only a shared reference is observed.
+///
+/// The last point is the reason why `Abomonation` only provides a shared reference to the
+/// reconstructed object. Without this, it would be trivial to trigger, say, a `Box` destructor
+/// that tries to call `free()` on the inner pointer. But the use of a shared reference only
+/// provides minimal sanity, and for types with internal mutability (those with an `UnsafeCell`
+/// inside), this precaution is insufficient. `Abomonation` is generally not safely implementable
+/// for such types, but may work in particular cases like atomics.
 ///
 /// If you are concerned about safety, it may be best to avoid Abomonation all together. It does
 /// several things that may be undefined behavior, depending on how undefined behavior is defined.
-pub trait Abomonation {
-
+pub unsafe trait Abomonation {
     /// Write any additional information about `&self` beyond its binary representation.
     ///
     /// Most commonly this is owned data on the other end of pointers in `&self`. The return value
     /// reports any failures in writing to `write`.
-    #[inline(always)] unsafe fn entomb<W: Write>(&self, _write: &mut W) -> IOResult<()> { Ok(()) }
+    unsafe fn entomb<W: Write>(&self, _write: &mut W) -> IOResult<()> { Ok(()) }
 
-    /// Recover any information for `&mut self` not evident from its binary representation.
+    /// Recover any information for `self_` not evident from its binary representation.
     ///
     /// Most commonly this populates pointers with valid references into `bytes`.
-    #[inline(always)] unsafe fn exhume<'a,'b>(&'a mut self, bytes: &'b mut [u8]) -> Option<&'b mut [u8]> { Some(bytes) }
+    ///
+    /// Implementors should take note that `self_` is initially in an invalid state, as its inner
+    /// pointers may be dangling. As Rust references come with a data validity invariant, building
+    /// references to invalid state is undefined behavior, so one should strive to implement
+    /// `exhume` using raw pointer operations as much as feasible.
+    //
+    // FIXME: Replace self_ with self once Rust has arbitrary self types
+    unsafe fn exhume<'a>(_self_: NonNull<Self>, bytes: &'a mut [u8]) -> Option<&'a mut [u8]> { Some(bytes) }
 
     /// Reports the number of further bytes required to entomb `self`.
-    #[inline(always)] fn extent(&self) -> usize { 0 }
+    fn extent(&self) -> usize { 0 }
 }
 
 /// The `unsafe_abomonate!` macro takes a type name with an optional list of fields, and implements
@@ -219,19 +238,26 @@ pub trait Abomonation {
 #[deprecated(since="0.5", note="please use the abomonation_derive crate")]
 macro_rules! unsafe_abomonate {
     ($t:ty) => {
-        impl Abomonation for $t { }
+        unsafe impl Abomonation for $t { }
     };
     ($t:ty : $($field:ident),*) => {
-        impl Abomonation for $t {
-            #[inline] unsafe fn entomb<W: ::std::io::Write>(&self, write: &mut W) -> ::std::io::Result<()> {
+        unsafe impl Abomonation for $t {
+            unsafe fn entomb<W: ::std::io::Write>(&self, write: &mut W) -> ::std::io::Result<()> {
                 $( self.$field.entomb(write)?; )*
                 Ok(())
             }
-            #[inline] unsafe fn exhume<'a,'b>(&'a mut self, mut bytes: &'b mut [u8]) -> Option<&'b mut [u8]> {
-                $( let temp = bytes; bytes = self.$field.exhume(temp)?; )*
+
+            unsafe fn exhume<'a>(self_: ::std::ptr::NonNull<Self>, mut bytes: &'a mut [u8]) -> Option<&'a mut [u8]> {
+                $(
+                    // FIXME: This (briefly) constructs an &mut _ to invalid data, which is UB.
+                    //        The proposed &raw mut operator would allow avoiding this.
+                    let field_ptr: ::std::ptr::NonNull<_> = From::from(&mut (*self_.as_ptr()).$field);
+                    bytes = Abomonation::exhume(field_ptr, bytes)?;
+                )*
                 Some(bytes)
             }
-            #[inline] fn extent(&self) -> usize {
+
+            fn extent(&self) -> usize {
                 let mut size = 0;
                 $( size += self.$field.extent(); )*
                 size
@@ -242,104 +268,126 @@ macro_rules! unsafe_abomonate {
 
 // general code for tuples (can't use '0', '1', ... as field identifiers)
 macro_rules! tuple_abomonate {
-    ( $($name:ident)+) => (
-        impl<$($name: Abomonation),*> Abomonation for ($($name,)*) {
+    ( $($ty:ident)+) => (
+        unsafe impl<$($ty: Abomonation),*> Abomonation for ($($ty,)*) {
             #[allow(non_snake_case)]
-            #[inline(always)] unsafe fn entomb<WRITE: Write>(&self, write: &mut WRITE) -> IOResult<()> {
-                let ($(ref $name,)*) = *self;
-                $($name.entomb(write)?;)*
+            unsafe fn entomb<WRITE: Write>(&self, write: &mut WRITE) -> IOResult<()> {
+                let ($(ref $ty,)*) = *self;
+                $( $ty.entomb(write)?; )*
                 Ok(())
             }
+
             #[allow(non_snake_case)]
-            #[inline(always)] unsafe fn exhume<'a,'b>(&'a mut self, mut bytes: &'b mut [u8]) -> Option<&'b mut [u8]> {
-                let ($(ref mut $name,)*) = *self;
-                $( let temp = bytes; bytes = $name.exhume(temp)?; )*
+            unsafe fn exhume<'a>(self_: NonNull<Self>, mut bytes: &'a mut [u8]) -> Option<&'a mut [u8]> {
+                // FIXME: This (briefly) constructs a "ref mut" to invalid data, which is UB.
+                //        I think avoiding this would require a cleaner way to iterate over tuple fields.
+                //        One possibility would be a C++11-style combination of variadic generics and recursion.
+                let ($(ref mut $ty,)*) = *self_.as_ptr();
+                $(
+                    let field_ptr : NonNull<$ty> = From::from($ty);
+                    bytes = $ty::exhume(field_ptr, bytes)?;
+                )*
                 Some(bytes)
             }
+
             #[allow(non_snake_case)]
-            #[inline(always)] fn extent(&self) -> usize {
+            fn extent(&self) -> usize {
                 let mut size = 0;
-                let ($(ref $name,)*) = *self;
-                $( size += $name.extent(); )*
+                let ($(ref $ty,)*) = *self;
+                $( size += $ty.extent(); )*
                 size
             }
         }
     );
 }
 
-impl Abomonation for u8 { }
-impl Abomonation for u16 { }
-impl Abomonation for u32 { }
-impl Abomonation for u64 { }
-impl Abomonation for u128 { }
-impl Abomonation for usize { }
+unsafe impl Abomonation for u8 { }
+unsafe impl Abomonation for u16 { }
+unsafe impl Abomonation for u32 { }
+unsafe impl Abomonation for u64 { }
+unsafe impl Abomonation for u128 { }
+unsafe impl Abomonation for usize { }
 
-impl Abomonation for i8 { }
-impl Abomonation for i16 { }
-impl Abomonation for i32 { }
-impl Abomonation for i64 { }
-impl Abomonation for i128 { }
-impl Abomonation for isize { }
+unsafe impl Abomonation for i8 { }
+unsafe impl Abomonation for i16 { }
+unsafe impl Abomonation for i32 { }
+unsafe impl Abomonation for i64 { }
+unsafe impl Abomonation for i128 { }
+unsafe impl Abomonation for isize { }
 
-impl Abomonation for NonZeroU8 { }
-impl Abomonation for NonZeroU16 { }
-impl Abomonation for NonZeroU32 { }
-impl Abomonation for NonZeroU64 { }
-impl Abomonation for NonZeroU128 { }
-impl Abomonation for NonZeroUsize { }
+unsafe impl Abomonation for NonZeroU8 { }
+unsafe impl Abomonation for NonZeroU16 { }
+unsafe impl Abomonation for NonZeroU32 { }
+unsafe impl Abomonation for NonZeroU64 { }
+unsafe impl Abomonation for NonZeroU128 { }
+unsafe impl Abomonation for NonZeroUsize { }
 
-impl Abomonation for NonZeroI8 { }
-impl Abomonation for NonZeroI16 { }
-impl Abomonation for NonZeroI32 { }
-impl Abomonation for NonZeroI64 { }
-impl Abomonation for NonZeroI128 { }
-impl Abomonation for NonZeroIsize { }
+unsafe impl Abomonation for NonZeroI8 { }
+unsafe impl Abomonation for NonZeroI16 { }
+unsafe impl Abomonation for NonZeroI32 { }
+unsafe impl Abomonation for NonZeroI64 { }
+unsafe impl Abomonation for NonZeroI128 { }
+unsafe impl Abomonation for NonZeroIsize { }
 
-impl Abomonation for f32 { }
-impl Abomonation for f64 { }
+unsafe impl Abomonation for f32 { }
+unsafe impl Abomonation for f64 { }
 
-impl Abomonation for bool { }
-impl Abomonation for () { }
+unsafe impl Abomonation for bool { }
+unsafe impl Abomonation for () { }
 
-impl Abomonation for char { }
+unsafe impl Abomonation for char { }
 
-impl Abomonation for ::std::time::Duration { }
+unsafe impl Abomonation for ::std::time::Duration { }
 
-impl<T> Abomonation for PhantomData<T> {}
+unsafe impl<T> Abomonation for PhantomData<T> {}
 
-impl<T: Abomonation> Abomonation for Option<T> {
-    #[inline(always)] unsafe fn entomb<W: Write>(&self, write: &mut W) -> IOResult<()> {
+unsafe impl<T: Abomonation> Abomonation for Option<T> {
+    unsafe fn entomb<W: Write>(&self, write: &mut W) -> IOResult<()> {
         if let &Some(ref inner) = self {
             inner.entomb(write)?;
         }
         Ok(())
     }
-    #[inline(always)] unsafe fn exhume<'a, 'b>(&'a mut self, mut bytes: &'b mut[u8]) -> Option<&'b mut [u8]> {
-        if let &mut Some(ref mut inner) = self {
-            let tmp = bytes; bytes = inner.exhume(tmp)?;
+
+    unsafe fn exhume<'a>(self_: NonNull<Self>, mut bytes: &'a mut[u8]) -> Option<&'a mut [u8]> {
+        // FIXME: This (briefly) constructs a "ref mut" to invalid data, which is UB.
+        //        I'm not sure if this can be fully resolved without relying on enum implementation details.
+        if let Some(ref mut inner) = *self_.as_ptr() {
+            let inner_ptr : NonNull<T> = From::from(inner);
+            bytes = T::exhume(inner_ptr, bytes)?;
         }
         Some(bytes)
     }
-    #[inline] fn extent(&self) -> usize {
+
+    fn extent(&self) -> usize {
         self.as_ref().map(|inner| inner.extent()).unwrap_or(0)
     }
 }
 
-impl<T: Abomonation, E: Abomonation> Abomonation for Result<T, E> {
-    #[inline(always)] unsafe fn entomb<W: Write>(&self, write: &mut W) -> IOResult<()> {
+unsafe impl<T: Abomonation, E: Abomonation> Abomonation for Result<T, E> {
+    unsafe fn entomb<W: Write>(&self, write: &mut W) -> IOResult<()> {
         match self {
-            &Ok(ref inner) => inner.entomb(write)?,
-            &Err(ref inner) => inner.entomb(write)?,
-        };
-        Ok(())
+            &Ok(ref inner) => inner.entomb(write),
+            &Err(ref inner) => inner.entomb(write),
+        }
     }
-    #[inline(always)] unsafe fn exhume<'a, 'b>(&'a mut self, bytes: &'b mut[u8]) -> Option<&'b mut [u8]> {
-        match self {
-            &mut Ok(ref mut inner) => inner.exhume(bytes),
-            &mut Err(ref mut inner) => inner.exhume(bytes),
+
+    unsafe fn exhume<'a>(self_: NonNull<Self>, bytes: &'a mut[u8]) -> Option<&'a mut [u8]> {
+        // FIXME: This (briefly) constructs a "ref mut" to invalid data, which is UB.
+        //        I'm not sure if this can be fully resolved without relying on enum implementation details.
+        match *self_.as_ptr() {
+            Ok(ref mut inner) => {
+                let inner_ptr : NonNull<T> = From::from(inner);
+                T::exhume(inner_ptr, bytes)
+            }
+            Err(ref mut inner) => {
+                let inner_ptr : NonNull<E> = From::from(inner);
+                E::exhume(inner_ptr, bytes)
+            }
         }
     }
-    #[inline] fn extent(&self) -> usize {
+
+    fn extent(&self) -> usize {
         match self {
             &Ok(ref inner) => inner.extent(),
             &Err(ref inner) => inner.extent(),
@@ -380,28 +428,19 @@ tuple_abomonate!(A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z AA AB AC AD
 tuple_abomonate!(A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z AA AB AC AD AE);
 tuple_abomonate!(A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z AA AB AC AD AE AF);
 
-
 macro_rules! array_abomonate {
     ($size:expr) => (
-        impl<T: Abomonation> Abomonation for [T; $size] {
-            #[inline(always)]
+        unsafe impl<T: Abomonation> Abomonation for [T; $size] {
             unsafe fn entomb<W: Write>(&self, write: &mut W) ->  IOResult<()> {
-                for element in self { element.entomb(write)?; }
-                Ok(())
+                entomb_slice(&self[..], write)
             }
-            #[inline(always)]
-            unsafe fn exhume<'a, 'b>(&'a mut self, mut bytes: &'b mut[u8]) -> Option<&'b mut [u8]> {
-                for element in self {
-                    let tmp = bytes; bytes = element.exhume(tmp)?;
-                }
-                Some(bytes)
+
+            unsafe fn exhume<'a>(self_: NonNull<Self>, bytes: &'a mut[u8]) -> Option<&'a mut [u8]> {
+                exhume_slice(self_.as_ptr() as *mut T, $size, bytes)
             }
-            #[inline(always)] fn extent(&self) -> usize {
-                let mut size = 0;
-                for element in self {
-                    size += element.extent();
-                }
-                size
+
+            fn extent(&self) -> usize {
+                slice_extent(&self[..])
             }
         }
     )
@@ -441,97 +480,115 @@ array_abomonate!(30);
 array_abomonate!(31);
 array_abomonate!(32);
 
-impl Abomonation for String {
-    #[inline]
+unsafe impl Abomonation for String {
     unsafe fn entomb<W: Write>(&self, write: &mut W) -> IOResult<()> {
-        write.write_all(self.as_bytes())?;
-        Ok(())
+        write.write_all(self.as_bytes())
     }
+
     #[inline]
-    unsafe fn exhume<'a,'b>(&'a mut self, bytes: &'b mut [u8]) -> Option<&'b mut [u8]> {
-        if self.len() > bytes.len() { None }
+    unsafe fn exhume<'a>(self_: NonNull<Self>, bytes: &'a mut [u8]) -> Option<&'a mut [u8]> {
+        // FIXME: This (briefly) constructs an &String to invalid data, which is UB.
+        //        I'm not sure if this can be fully resolved without relying on String implementation details.
+        let self_len = self_.as_ref().len();
+        if self_len > bytes.len() { None }
         else {
-            let (mine, rest) = bytes.split_at_mut(self.len());
-            std::ptr::write(self, String::from_raw_parts(mem::transmute(mine.as_ptr()), self.len(), self.len()));
+            let (mine, rest) = bytes.split_at_mut(self_len);
+            self_.as_ptr().write(String::from_raw_parts(mine.as_mut_ptr(), self_len, self_len));
             Some(rest)
         }
     }
-    #[inline] fn extent(&self) -> usize {
+
+    fn extent(&self) -> usize {
         self.len()
     }
 }
 
-impl<T: Abomonation> Abomonation for Vec<T> {
-    #[inline]
+unsafe impl<T: Abomonation> Abomonation for Vec<T> {
     unsafe fn entomb<W: Write>(&self, write: &mut W) -> IOResult<()> {
         write.write_all(typed_to_bytes(&self[..]))?;
-        for element in self.iter() { element.entomb(write)?; }
-        Ok(())
+        entomb_slice(&self[..], write)
     }
-    #[inline]
-    unsafe fn exhume<'a,'b>(&'a mut self, bytes: &'b mut [u8]) -> Option<&'b mut [u8]> {
 
-        // extract memory from bytes to back our vector
-        let binary_len = self.len() * mem::size_of::<T>();
+    #[inline]
+    unsafe fn exhume<'a>(self_: NonNull<Self>, bytes: &'a mut [u8]) -> Option<&'a mut [u8]> {
+        // FIXME: This (briefly) constructs an &Vec<T> to invalid data, which is UB.
+        //        I'm not sure if this can be fully resolved without relying on Vec implementation details.
+        let self_len = self_.as_ref().len();
+        let binary_len = self_len * mem::size_of::<T>();
         if binary_len > bytes.len() { None }
         else {
             let (mine, mut rest) = bytes.split_at_mut(binary_len);
-            let slice = std::slice::from_raw_parts_mut(mine.as_mut_ptr() as *mut T, self.len());
-            std::ptr::write(self, Vec::from_raw_parts(slice.as_mut_ptr(), self.len(), self.len()));
-            for element in self.iter_mut() {
-                let temp = rest;             // temp variable explains lifetimes (mysterious!)
-                rest = element.exhume(temp)?;
-            }
+            let first_ptr = mine.as_mut_ptr() as *mut T;
+            rest = exhume_slice(first_ptr, self_len, rest)?;
+            self_.as_ptr().write(Vec::from_raw_parts(first_ptr, self_len, self_len));
             Some(rest)
         }
     }
-    #[inline]
+
     fn extent(&self) -> usize {
-        let mut sum = mem::size_of::<T>() * self.len();
-        for element in self.iter() {
-            sum += element.extent();
-        }
-        sum
+        mem::size_of::<T>() * self.len() + slice_extent(&self[..])
     }
 }
 
-impl<T: Abomonation> Abomonation for Box<T> {
-    #[inline]
+unsafe impl<T: Abomonation> Abomonation for Box<T> {
     unsafe fn entomb<W: Write>(&self, bytes: &mut W) -> IOResult<()> {
         bytes.write_all(std::slice::from_raw_parts(mem::transmute(&**self), mem::size_of::<T>()))?;
-        (**self).entomb(bytes)?;
-        Ok(())
+        (**self).entomb(bytes)
     }
-    #[inline]
-    unsafe fn exhume<'a,'b>(&'a mut self, bytes: &'b mut [u8]) -> Option<&'b mut [u8]> {
+
+    unsafe fn exhume<'a>(self_: NonNull<Self>, bytes: &'a mut [u8]) -> Option<&'a mut [u8]> {
         let binary_len = mem::size_of::<T>();
         if binary_len > bytes.len() { None }
         else {
             let (mine, mut rest) = bytes.split_at_mut(binary_len);
-            std::ptr::write(self, mem::transmute(mine.as_mut_ptr() as *mut T));
-            let temp = rest; rest = (**self).exhume(temp)?;
+            let box_target : NonNull<T> = NonNull::new_unchecked(mine.as_mut_ptr() as *mut T);
+            rest = T::exhume(box_target, rest)?;
+            self_.as_ptr().write(Box::from_raw(box_target.as_ptr()));
             Some(rest)
         }
     }
-    #[inline] fn extent(&self) -> usize {
+
+    fn extent(&self) -> usize {
         mem::size_of::<T>() + (&**self).extent()
     }
 }
 
 // This method currently enables undefined behavior, by exposing padding bytes.
-#[inline] unsafe fn typed_to_bytes<T>(slice: &[T]) -> &[u8] {
+unsafe fn typed_to_bytes<T>(slice: &[T]) -> &[u8] {
     std::slice::from_raw_parts(slice.as_ptr() as *const u8, slice.len() * mem::size_of::<T>())
 }
 
+// Common subset of "entomb" for all [T]-like types
+unsafe fn entomb_slice<T: Abomonation, W: Write>(slice: &[T], write: &mut W) ->  IOResult<()> {
+    for element in slice { element.entomb(write)?; }
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+// Common subset of "exhume" for all [T]-like types
+// (I'd gladly take a NonNull<[T]>, but it is too difficult to build raw pointers to slices)
+#[inline]
+unsafe fn exhume_slice<'a, T: Abomonation>(first_ptr: *mut T, length: usize, mut bytes: &'a mut [u8]) -> Option<&'a mut [u8]> {
+    for i in 0..length {
+        let element_ptr: NonNull<T> = NonNull::new_unchecked(first_ptr.add(i));
+        bytes = T::exhume(element_ptr, bytes)?;
+    }
+    Some(bytes)
+}
+
+// Common subset of "extent" for all [T]-like types
+fn slice_extent<T: Abomonation>(slice: &[T]) -> usize {
+    slice.iter().map(T::extent).sum()
+}
+
 mod network {
     use Abomonation;
     use std::net::{SocketAddr, SocketAddrV4, SocketAddrV6, IpAddr, Ipv4Addr, Ipv6Addr};
 
-    impl Abomonation for IpAddr { }
-    impl Abomonation for Ipv4Addr { }
-    impl Abomonation for Ipv6Addr { }
+    unsafe impl Abomonation for IpAddr { }
+    unsafe impl Abomonation for Ipv4Addr { }
+    unsafe impl Abomonation for Ipv6Addr { }
 
-    impl Abomonation for SocketAddr { }
-    impl Abomonation for SocketAddrV4 { }
-    impl Abomonation for SocketAddrV6 { }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+    unsafe impl Abomonation for SocketAddr { }
+    unsafe impl Abomonation for SocketAddrV4 { }
+    unsafe impl Abomonation for SocketAddrV6 { }
+}
diff --git a/tests/tests.rs b/tests/tests.rs
index 340e776..3ff0dec 100644
--- a/tests/tests.rs
+++ b/tests/tests.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 extern crate abomonation;
 
 use abomonation::*;
+use std::fmt::Debug;
 
 #[test] fn test_array() { _test_pass(vec![[0, 1, 2]; 1024]); }
 #[test] fn test_nonzero() { _test_pass(vec![[std::num::NonZeroI32::new(1)]; 1024]); }
@@ -38,21 +39,21 @@ fn test_phantom_data_for_non_abomonatable_type() {
     _test_pass(PhantomData::<NotAbomonatable>::default());
 }
 
-fn _test_pass<T: Abomonation+Eq>(record: T) {
+fn _test_pass<T: Abomonation+Debug+Eq>(record: T) {
     let mut bytes = Vec::new();
     unsafe { encode(&record, &mut bytes).unwrap(); }
     {
         let (result, rest) = unsafe { decode::<T>(&mut bytes[..]) }.unwrap();
-        assert!(&record == result);
-        assert!(rest.len() == 0);
+        assert_eq!(&record, result);
+        assert_eq!(rest.len(), 0);
     }
 }
 
-fn _test_fail<T: Abomonation>(record: T) {
+fn _test_fail<T: Abomonation+Debug+Eq>(record: T) {
     let mut bytes = Vec::new();
     unsafe { encode(&record, &mut bytes).unwrap(); }
     bytes.pop();
-    assert!(unsafe { decode::<T>(&mut bytes[..]) }.is_none());
+    assert_eq!(unsafe { decode::<T>(&mut bytes[..]) }, None);
 }
 
 fn _test_size<T: Abomonation>(record: T) {
@@ -62,7 +63,7 @@ fn _test_size<T: Abomonation>(record: T) {
 }
 
 
-#[derive(Eq, PartialEq)]
+#[derive(Debug, Eq, PartialEq)]
 struct MyStruct {
     a: String,
     b: u64,
@@ -82,8 +83,8 @@ fn test_macro() {
 
     // decode a &Vec<(u64, String)> from binary data
     if let Some((result, rest)) = unsafe { decode::<MyStruct>(&mut bytes) } {
-        assert!(result == &record);
-        assert!(rest.len() == 0);
+        assert_eq!(result, &record);
+        assert_eq!(rest.len(), 0);
     }
 }
 
@@ -106,10 +107,10 @@ fn test_multiple_encode_decode() {
     unsafe { encode(&vec![1,2,3], &mut bytes).unwrap(); }
     unsafe { encode(&"grawwwwrr".to_owned(), &mut bytes).unwrap(); }
 
-    let (t, r) = unsafe { decode::<u32>(&mut bytes) }.unwrap(); assert!(*t == 0);
-    let (t, r) = unsafe { decode::<u64>(r) }.unwrap(); assert!(*t == 7);
-    let (t, r) = unsafe { decode::<Vec<i32>>(r) }.unwrap(); assert!(*t == vec![1,2,3]);
-    let (t, _r) = unsafe { decode::<String>(r) }.unwrap(); assert!(*t == "grawwwwrr".to_owned());
+    let (t, r) = unsafe { decode::<u32>(&mut bytes) }.unwrap(); assert_eq!(*t, 0);
+    let (t, r) = unsafe { decode::<u64>(r) }.unwrap(); assert_eq!(*t, 7);
+    let (t, r) = unsafe { decode::<Vec<i32>>(r) }.unwrap(); assert_eq!(*t, vec![1,2,3]);
+    let (t, _r) = unsafe { decode::<String>(r) }.unwrap(); assert_eq!(*t, "grawwwwrr".to_owned());
 }
 
 #[test]
@@ -125,6 +126,6 @@ fn test_net_types() {
     unsafe { encode(&socket_addr4, &mut bytes).unwrap(); }
     unsafe { encode(&socket_addr6, &mut bytes).unwrap(); }
 
-    let (t, r) = unsafe { decode::<SocketAddr>(&mut bytes) }.unwrap(); assert!(*t == socket_addr4);
-    let (t, _r) = unsafe { decode::<SocketAddr>(r) }.unwrap(); assert!(*t == socket_addr6);
+    let (t, r) = unsafe { decode::<SocketAddr>(&mut bytes) }.unwrap(); assert_eq!(*t, socket_addr4);
+    let (t, _r) = unsafe { decode::<SocketAddr>(r) }.unwrap(); assert_eq!(*t, socket_addr6);
 }