Totally delightful account of the wild results of outlandish experiments of a scientist lured into joining the staff of an incredible institution where the most intensive research is done to harness the power of black magic, wizardry, the secrets of super-science and paranormal talents

A satirical science fiction novel that criticises both Soviet bureaucracy and somewhat the Soviet scientific environment. Although the novel itself is not directed against state per se and a number of points underlined are true of modern day bureaucracy and science, it met with a cold reaction during Soviet times and was quite difficult to obtain, therefore achieving a “forbidden fruit” status