With every touch of W. Self's prose, you become convinced that he is even more complex than he seems at first glance. The action develops either as a formal story of mental illness, or as a realistic, dynamic, but full of symbolism story about the relativity of the concepts “right - wrong”, “weak - strong”, “friend - foe” in the world of the modern urban jungle, where cruel animal laws reign . But as soon as you bring in a bit of human sympathy and empathy, there will be a way out: after all, even the “wolves” will be afraid of the “sheep,” which is smart and therefore extremely dangerous. Self is inimitable in such unexpected - “by the way” - descriptions of everyday routine, witty and caustic to the point of tears. His fantastic designs, symbolic parallels and metaphysical conclusions grow from the soil of everyday life, like lotus flowers from swamp mud, standing out with particular clarity against its background. The author makes us believe in the complete reality of what is happening, which is continually confirmed by dozens and hundreds of specific details, making us wonder and empathize, admire and wipe away tears of laughter.