Todos los fuegos el fuego offers eight great examples of the creative fullness that encompasses Cortázar's stories. From the exasperated metaphor of human relationships that is "La autopista del sur" through the masterpiece that is "El otro cielo," Cortázar once again paves the way to stories that are a must-read for lovers of the story genre in general.

"La salud de los enfermos," "Reunión," "La señorita Cora," "La isla a mediodía," "Instrucciones para John Howell," and "Todos los fuegos el fuego" are a celebration of intelligence, passion, and genius.

Sometimes they talk all night long. In the still darkness of their cell, Molina re-weaves the glittering and fragile stories of the film he loves, and the cynical Valentin listens. Valentin believes in the just cause which makes all suffering bearable; Molina believes in the magic of love which makes all else endurable. Each has always been alone, and always - especially now - in danger of betrayal. But in cell 7, each surrenders to the other something of himself that he has never surrendered before.

This graceful, intensely compelling novel about love and victimization takes place in an Argentine prison. Molina, a gay window dresser who is self-centered, self-denigrating, yet charming, and Valentin, an articulate, fiercely dogmatic revolutionary, are gradually transformed by their guarded but growing friendship and by Molina’s obsession with the fantasy and romance of the movies.