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36 pages 1 hour read

Anthony Marra

The Tsar of Love and Techno

Anthony MarraFiction | Short Story Collection | Adult | Published in 2015

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Side B, Story 3Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Side B, Story 3 Summary: “A Temporary Exhibition”

“A Temporary Exhibition” resumes with Sergei and Vladimir, the father-and-son con artists. Sergei cons American ladies on the phone from a cybercafé pretending to be from the IRS. This scheme has earned him a lot of money. Vladimir, a seasoned criminal himself, beams with pride; his son has now inherited his greatest skill.

Meanwhile, Nadya from “The Grozny Tourist Bureau” has regained her eyesight after reconstructive surgery. She has married Ruslan, and together they now have a daughter, Makka. She prepares for an exhibition on the work of Roman Markin, the art censor, Vladimir’s uncle. Sergei tells Vladimir about the exhibition and takes his father to Grozny to see it. Worlds collide, as Nadya takes an aging Vladimir through her gallery, explaining Markin’s work and pointing repeatedly to the fact that Vladimir’s father is painted in countless different pictures. Vladimir is moved by the experience.

Side B, Story 3 Analysis

After the initial glimpse into Sergei’s petty crimes as a phone scammer, this story quickly becomes a poignant reflection on the nature of forgiveness and guilt. Ultimately, the story is about coming to terms with history, both from an individual and societal