Having found a fish lying in the street, the unnamed lead character takes it in and gives it a home. Surprisingly it survives and they become friends. When he tries to find out what kind of fish it is, he is told it is a human fish. But when he develops cancer, the only cure he is offered is to eat his friend…

This is an a darkly humourous short story, with a great twist in the tale. What’s more is you cannot tell where the lines between reality and madness are until the end of the book. A lot is packed in for such a short story, and you can easily read it through in a break. To say any more would spoil it.

Also, as this is a translation from a Russian Tale, not only does it captures the dark humour well, but the English version does not feel like a translation but an original tale in its own right.

For a quick, tragi-comic tale, it is recommended.