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In memory of L I Shigaev, The Circle, Breaking the News - 3 bangers.

"...a pale youth seated in front of the shimmery mirror, with his livid forehead and black beard, dressed only in a torn shirt, guzzling cheap beer and clinking glasses with his reflection. Not only was I of no use to anyone in the world, but I could not even imagine a set of circumstances in which someone might care a whit about me."

Didn't like an Affair of Honor or the Christmas Story. Loved The Aurelian. Potato Elf was insane. a Dashing Fellow very good - Nabokov is so good at writing banal despicable people... the gimmicky "wouldn't it be funny if" ones aren't as compelling as the slices of life imo, even the ones where nothing "happens" (The Seaport)

La Veneziana is masterful and a little wicked.

The rest of them sort of feel like an overpowering candle scent.

Not a bad read so far. Interesting world, neat plot.
Small problem: We've met three female characters of any note. The 'psycho bitch' manipulative ex who shows up when she's on the rebound and exists to pummel our MC's ego, the 'useless bitch' middle-management lady who appears to exist to thwart our MC's work, and the love interest who has thus far played the damsel in distress thrice and been trap-bait twice.