This story by Jorge Borges deals with one of the author’s common themes… the infinite. In this case, a book lover exchanges a rare edition of the bible for a book that can’t be understood. It is in a strange language and has an endless number of randomly changing pages. He becomes obsessed with discovering the book’s secrets and, when he fails, concludes that it is so “monstrous” that it should be hidden away somewhere it will never be found. Other themes include spirituality, the power of books, obsession (the need to understand), fear.

In this story by Jorge Borges, a mystic arrives at the overgrown, burnt-out ruins of an ancient temple. Living as an ascetic, his purpose is to “dream” a man into existence, initiate him into the riddles of the universe, and send him to inhabit another temple. Before they part, he manipulates his creation’s memory so neither he nor anyone else will know he is a spirit. Later, on the point of death, the mystic learns that he, too, is the product of a dream. Themes include philosophical idealism, dreams vs. reality, the circle of life, creation, religion and spirituality.