"Locus Solus" is an avant-garde novel that revolves around the eccentric millionaire inventor, Canterel, who invites a group of guests to visit his estate, Locus Solus. Here, he displays a series of bizarre inventions, each with a detailed backstory. The inventions include a diamond-encrusted machine that constructs intricate mosaics using human teeth, a large glass cage filled with preserved human heads that reenact key moments from their lives, and a device that uses preserved body parts to perform a grotesque ballet. The narrative is heavily detailed and surreal, creating a unique and intriguing exploration of art, life, and the human condition.

"The Bald Soprano" is a play that explores the absurdity of everyday life through a nonsensical narrative. It revolves around two middle-class English couples, the Smiths and the Martins, who engage in meaningless and repetitive conversations. The play is known for its unconventional structure, lack of plot, and the characters' surreal behavior, which are all used to satirize the banality and futility of routine and social norms. The title refers to a character who is never seen or mentioned again after the opening scene.

"The Clay Machine-gun" is a surreal and complex novel that explores the nature of reality and illusion. The story is set in post-Soviet Russia and follows a protagonist who has multiple identities, including a poet in 19th-century Russia, a 20th-century psychiatric patient, and a 21st-century advertising executive. The narrative moves between these identities and realities, blurring the lines between them and creating a layered and philosophical exploration of Russian society, identity, and the human psyche.

"Death Sentence" is a philosophical novella that explores the themes of death, love, and the nature of narrative. The story is divided into two parts, each focusing on a different protagonist who is dealing with the impending death of a loved one. Through their experiences and internal monologues, the novel delves into the complexities of human emotions and the existential dread associated with mortality. The narrative is further complicated by the author's experimental writing style, which challenges traditional storytelling conventions and encourages readers to question their understanding of reality.

"Christmas at the Ivanovs'" is a satirical play that delves into the absurdities of Soviet life during the early 20th century. The narrative unfolds during a Christmas celebration at the Ivanov family's home, where a series of bizarre and surreal events take place. The characters, including a detective, a poet, and various family members, engage in nonsensical dialogues and actions, reflecting the author's avant-garde approach to theater. The play critiques the disconnect between the state's ideological propaganda and the grim realities of everyday life, using dark humor and chaotic scenes to challenge the audience's perception of normalcy and rationality within a society under strict political control.

The novel presents a fragmented and surreal narrative that delves into the mind of a young boy with a learning disability, attending a special school in the Soviet Union. Through a stream-of-consciousness style, the book explores the boy's experiences and perceptions, blending reality with fantasy, and time with memory. The protagonist's inner world is rich with poetic language and vivid imagery, reflecting his struggle to find his place in a society that marginalizes those who are different. The narrative structure defies conventional storytelling, offering a unique and challenging perspective on the nature of sanity, the power of institutions, and the complexity of the human psyche.

The novel is a surreal and satirical tale set in a bizarre town where the eccentric inhabitants live under the oppressive rule of a despotic and whimsical figure. The narrative follows the lives of the townspeople, who are subjected to absurd and often cruel whims that challenge their sanity and morality. As the story unfolds, the characters confront the absurdity of existence, the nature of love and desire, and the struggle for individual freedom against authoritarian control. The book combines elements of fantasy, dark humor, and existential philosophy, creating a unique and thought-provoking exploration of human nature and society.

The book is a surreal and satirical novel set in the fictional desert of Exopotamie, where a group of eccentric characters, including archaeologists, a seductive woman, and a variety of misfits, converge to construct a railway that leads to nowhere. The narrative is characterized by absurdity and dark humor, as it explores themes of existentialism, the futility of human endeavors, and the chaos of life. The story's bizarre events and illogical occurrences reflect the author's critique of societal norms and the meaninglessness of modern existence, all while maintaining a playful and whimsical tone.

The novel is a playful and complex narrative that intertwines the stories of two characters living centuries apart: the medieval Duke of Auge as he goes on various adventures, and a modern-day Frenchman named Cidrolin who spends his days idly lounging on a barge moored on the Seine. The narrative switches back and forth between the two timelines with each chapter, employing a variety of literary styles and linguistic puns. The book is known for its experimental use of language, its humorous take on historical and contemporary life, and its exploration of themes such as time, identity, and the cyclical nature of existence.

"Victims of Duty" is a play that delves into the absurdity of the human condition through a surreal and satirical narrative. The story revolves around a couple whose quiet evening is interrupted by the arrival of a detective, who is on a quest to find the protagonist's predecessor in their apartment. As the detective pressures the protagonist to recall past events, the play descends into a chaotic and nonsensical investigation, blending reality with illusion. The work critiques societal obligations and the search for meaning, ultimately questioning the nature of truth and the role of individuals within the constructs of duty and authority.

The play revolves around the bizarre situation of a couple living with the growing corpse of the husband's friend, Amédée, in their apartment. As the body inexplicably continues to expand, it causes increasing inconvenience and absurdity in their lives. The husband, a failed playwright, and his wife struggle with their mundane existence, their inability to dispose of the corpse, and the surreal events that unfold. The narrative explores themes of stagnation, guilt, and the absurdity of life, as the couple's surreal predicament serves as a metaphor for the inescapable, often grotesque, complexities of the human condition.

"Selected Works" by Alfred Jarry is a compilation of the most significant writings from a French author known for his pioneering work in the Absurdist and Surrealist movements. The collection showcases a range of Jarry's literary output, including plays, essays, and novels, with his most famous character, Père Ubu, often taking center stage. Jarry's work is characterized by its satirical edge, inventive language, and the subversion of traditional literary forms. His influence extends beyond literature into the realms of theatre and the visual arts, where his ideas have continued to resonate with avant-garde movements throughout the 20th century and beyond.