This collection gathers short pieces from Levi's later years. Some draw on his memories of the camp and its aftermath, and others on his life in Turin, his work as a chemist and his love of science. Several are close to fable or speculative fiction, with odd inventions and moral puzzles. The title story is a tale that draws on Jewish folklore. The collection shows Levi's imagination, irony and compassion, and the range of his short writing.