The Caretaker by Victor Pelevin. Short summary

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A two-part novel about the new world, Idyllium, created during the French Revolution. Order in it is guarded by caretakers, each of whom must learn who he really is.

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The novel «The Caretaker» is divided into two parts. The first, «The Order of the Yellow Flag,» tells the story of Idyllium, a new world that was created during the French Revolution. It was hidden in the shadow of our world and interacted with it according to special laws. It was guarded by overseers. The first of them was Paul the Alchemist.

Later, Alexis de Quiget became its guardian. He could create Everything out of Nothing and spoke to four Angels. The overseer is equal to a god, but, doesn’t know where he came from. To become a Master he must find out. In addition, caretakers often die, but not of old age, but thanks to the mysterious Swordsman who sends them to the other world.

The second part of «The Iron Abyss» tells the story of Emperor Paul Perovoy. His death was only a fiction. It allowed Paul, who was an alchemist, to leave St. Petersburg and the world of men. After which he became a caretaker, trying to preserve this world and solve the mystery by finding out who he really was.