The work analyzes the nature of the comic in the prose of our countryman writer A.N. Tolstoy. The place of satirical imagery, anecdotal, parody elements in his artistic system is studied. Contents From the author (3).1. The smile of Alexei Tolstoy (4).2. These ironic letters (9).3. Reading the works of literary scholars (20).4. Searching for “your” genre (27).5. “Pure” satire or a satirical component? (36).6. Cranks and tyrants (40).7. Anatomy of adventurism (47).8. The dope of “quiet happiness” (52).9. “Pierrot”, “Colombines” and “Bacchantes” (58).10. The art of acting (67).11. Players and games (77).12. Satirical in the plot. The hero's adventures and the irony of circumstances (86).13. Anecdote and paradox in the plot (92).14. Werewolves and evil spirits (102).15. The ironic smile of L. Tolstoy the science fiction writer (111).16. The artistic “topography” of the prose writer (117).17. In the mirror of things (122).18. The narrator and his position (125).19. Details and motives (131).20. The world of illogicalisms (134).21. “Alien” word (139).22. Self-irony of the hero (145).23. Elements of stylization and parody (150).24. Game with the reader (160).25. The publicist is ironic (165).26. A few words in conclusion (174). Notes (176).