The Tsar of Love and Techno

Why do so many of the characters in these stories act impulsively? Are their actions a sign of their turbulent times or of human nature itself? In “The Leopard,” for instance, the censor leaves the dancer’s hand, while in “The Grozny Tourist Bureau” Ruslan paints his wife and son into the country landscape. Discuss the reasons, motivations, or contexts for characters acting on impulse rather than reason.

Discuss the relationship between the past and the present that exists throughout the stories. For example, in “Granddaughters,” Galina becomes a dancer as a way to honor her grandmother’s career. In “Outer Space,” Kolya reminisces on the past as he drifts into the afterlife.

Art serves as one of the thematic focal points throughout the stories. Are the artists portrayed as people to be admired or pitied? Consider how each artist ends up, and what the legacy of their art is at the conclusion of these stories.