Soviet Union has long been in history, but Russia continues to fall apart. Wizards of the small town Bakluzhino struggle quietly but persistently against his opponents from the regional center Suslov and local political opponents – orthodox communists and comsoworshippers. Built as a series of short stories, the novel introduces us to the future president of the independent Bakluzhino, young wizard Gleb Portnyagin, beginner in the field, and his mentor, the legendary magician Ephraim Nehoroshev.