In 2002, Michael Gaeb, a German literary agent, traveled to Guadalajara, Mexico for a book fair. While browsing through the fair, he came across a book with a cover featuring a man in a kepi, painting in the Andes. The book was signed by César Aira, an Argentine author Gaeb had never heard of. That night in the hotel, before going out to a party, Gaeb read the novel, which is very short, with ...