This is a book of short stories in three sections: East, West, and East, West.
Book One: East
Good Advice is Rarer than Rubies
In this story, a young woman enters the Indian consulate because she is supposed to be married off to a suitor from England, but she doesn't want to go, so she intentionally sabotages the interview and "loses the opportunity."
The Free Radio
This story explores the involuntary sterilization of impoverished men in order to fight the crisis of overpopulation in India. This story takes place during a government declared State of Emergency.
The Prophet's Hair
A banker discovers a lock of the Prophet's hair (in this case, this would probably be the prophet Muhammed of Islam). His family immediately sees that the man has gone insane, and they deduce the lock of hair is responsible, so the banker's family conspires with a professional criminal to steal the lock of hair from him so his sanity can return.
Book Two: West
Named after Hamlet's late jester, this story describes the childhood of the young Danish prince and his playful relationship to Yorick, the jester.
At the Auction of the Ruby Slippers
This story describes an auction where Dorothy Gale's famous red slippers are being sold to the highest bidder. The auctioneers want the slippers, apparently because they are regarded as magical.
Christopher Columbus and Queen Isabella of Spain Consummate Their Relationship
This short story describes Christopher Columbus's nervousness about the queen's decision, either to reject him as the others have, or to sponsor the trip which would famously lead to Spain's discovery of America.
Book Three: East, West
The Harmony of the Spheres
The speaker discusses his relationship to a deeply disturbed man whose schizophrenia unfortunately led to his suicide.
Chekov and Zulu
Pavel Chekov and Hikaru Sulu are the secret codenames of two friends who are involved in espionage against the Sikhs in Britain who are believed to have been responsible for the assassination of Gandhi.
The Courter
A boy describes his life with an Indian woman who raised him and his siblings. This Indian woman often mispronounces the word 'porter' as in the porter of a building, as "courter."
