In stories of lyrical, brutal beauty, a world is created that resonates with fear, betrayal, and authoritarianism, yet is lit by a resilient faith and hope. In the title story, a brother and sister build the “castle” of chairs and blankets all children have assembled, but their need to believe in its protection is all too real. In “Consultation,” an imprisoned doctor – tortured, bound, and naked – is consulted by the lieutenant in charge of his interrogation about going on a diet. And in “Reader,” a government censor, recognizing himself as the protagonist, allows the publication of a subversive story and waits his inevitable arrest. Told at times with lush exuberance and at others with a sparseness as raw as it burns, these stories have the power to move and enthrall. “Ariel Dorfman is one of the most important voices coming out of Latin America.” – Salman Rushdie “These stories attest to the imaginative brilliance of Dorfman’s art. They have resonance and timelessness, a rare combination that makes them universal.” –S an Francisco Chronicle