The new collection of the recognized master of Russian prose Vladimir Makanin includes the entire range of genres: from novels and short stories to short stories. The heroes of this book are people bewitched by envy, love, embarrassed by the passions of their hearts and desires, always ready to exchange a bird in their hands like pie in the sky and have absolutely no regrets about possible losses. These people - drivers, teachers, doctors, self-taught people and scientists, happy and unhappy - they all bear the stamp of some kind of mystery and higher power. It’s as if every day each of them gets a chance to save humanity or open a parallel world behind the warehouse door. Think about love for people! - the words of the old Makanin healer from the legendary novel “The Forerunner” sound like a call. And people believe: even if their illnesses are not cured, their souls will calm down and the laws of life will suddenly appear bright and reasonable. Published in the author’s edition.