Der Kuss der Spinnenfrau

Two prisoners, cellmates, have found a pastime for the boring evenings: Molina, who has been sentenced to eight years in prison for pedophilia, tells Valentín Arregui, who is incarcerated for leftist activities, in great detail about old Hollywood and UFO films. When Arregui receives medication-tainted food intended to break his physical and moral resistance, Molina cares for him. As Valentín's physical weakness increases, his inability to accept favors, acknowledge his own dependence, betray fear, and express gratitude diminishes. He realizes that Molina loves him and reciprocates that love. In this novel, which is almost entirely written in direct speech, Puig addresses two themes. He depicts the terror and arbitrariness of the police and provides a perspective on events shaped by extensive storytelling.