This book was written thirty years ago in Iran, during a time marked by severe censorship. Every book was carefully examined by the publisher before approaching the Ministry of Censorship to eliminate any suspicious cases, as one did not want to risk their career, which was a valid concern. Then came the terrifying scrutiny of the Ministry of Censorship, which could raise objections against any sentence or word. However, with all due caution, this book ultimately did not receive permission to be published. Years later, it was published illegally and in a very limited edition, until finally, a few months ago, the Goethe & Hafis Publishing House, which also published the novel Gisso, offered to publish the book.

Words from the author: "And I remembered again that I was, thirty years ago, the worst and most terrifying censor of this book. At the time of writing, I was not cautious about what I knew and was sure that these were the forbidden boundaries. A fear machine was implanted in my brain to censor me before I wrote, a machine that was not a body but merely a sense of fear, referred to as 'self-censorship.' That is why, in this new edition, I have decided to write this book as I would have wished thirty years ago, free from the harassment and restrictions of the Islamic Republic and far removed from 'self-censorship' – in unrestricted freedom of expression. That is the first right of every author."

The story takes place over 24 hours in a refugee camp on the outskirts of Tehran, resembling a barracks or a prison. The story "The Smile of Maryam" begins with the death of Maryam's turtle and ends with the death of a cat trying to escape from the prison.