About the book: year / One of the main aspects of Zelazny’s books is the relationship between man and machine, reality and the Other World. Let us at least remember the unforgettable Amber Kingdom. In the same book, the “Other World” is computer reality. As far as I remember, Zelazny has three works on this topic - “24 Species...”, “Vitki”, together with Saberhaigen, and “Donnerjack” with Lindskold. So, a dying woman makes a pilgrimage to Fuji, guided by Hokusai's prints. She follows in the footsteps of the Artist, comparing his paintings with existing reality. Mary-Maryushka (that’s the name of the main character) is not looking for answers, she has a goal. She knows that death awaits her ahead, she is not afraid of it, her whole essence is subordinated to one thing - the Goal. She deliberately does not perform all the rituals of the pilgrimage, as if thereby emphasizing the difference between her goals and the goals of other pilgrims. At first we don’t notice that we are reading science fiction. The future here is close to our present, the difference is almost imperceptible. 24 paintings - 24 chapters. The beginning of each chapter - we see the drawing through Mary's eyes and compare it with reality. She seems to be trying to discern particles of the past in the new, urbanized world, to feel the spirit of the past, escaping from her like a light evening breeze...