In this amazing story, goblins are not the evil servants of dark forces as Tolkien described them. In Simak, these are good-natured and cheerful people who appreciate a good joke and respect October ale. Trolls live under the bridge here, Shakespeare gives a lecture “Did I Write Shakespeare’s Plays?”, the Neanderthal Alle-Op feels great in the “Pig and Whistle” tavern, favored by students and teachers of the Institute of Time, where the main character of the novel works... The book is light, simple, smart, kind and funny, as any good book should be. And it is for any age, like the books of Exupery and Bradbury.