When I flipped open the book at the library, I was sold by the intriguing author’s note that asks a favor of the reader: to read the stories comprising the book in order, “[n]ot because they follow chronologically, though there is something of that, but because that way you and I will understand each other more easily.” Something about being instructed on how to properly experience a book just gets me.⁣
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This collection consists of ten stories, each of which is told as a conversation between the book’s titular character, Trafalgar Medrano, and someone listening to his fabulous tales. Set apparently around the 1979 Argentina of the book’s publication, Trafalgar is an intergalactic traveling salesman, navigating many far-flung worlds in his ship, assuming his stories are true. At first I had a hard time feeling invested in all Trafalgar’s zany antics, but eventually this book somehow charmed me. I love the style of the storytelling, which is heavy on Trafalgar’s narration but still gives hints about his listener, the setting of their conversation, which is often Trafalgar’s favorite cafe, and the copious quantities of coffee Trafalgar consumes during the course of his long winded explanations. I definitely felt like I was missing parts of the cultural historical context that this book comes from, but while knowing more about Argentina in that time period would have surely made the experience richer, my lacking knowledge ultimately didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment. Trafalgar’s various mishaps and triumphs, and the peculiar details of each alien world he encounters reminded me of Lem’s The Cyberiad, but I enjoyed this book a little more. Definitely recommended!