The title story concerns the obituary of Belgian actor, who gained notoriety some years before by orchestrating his fake Fascist Youth League kidnapping. The novella takes place during a week of sitting shivah at the home ofa prominent Mexico City businessman, while a heated presidential election rages outside. "Xerox Man" traces the crimes of a fanatical Argentinean Orthodox Jew who believes he can unleash divine chaos in New York City by destroying ancient documents after photocopying them.