Jorge Mario Varlotta Levrero (23 January 1940 - 30 August 2004), better known as Mario Levrero, was a Uruguayan author. He authored nearly 20 novels as well as writing articles, columns, comic books and crosswords. His work is said to be influenced by Franz Kafka, Lewis Carroll and surrealism. Throughout his life he shunned publicity and was difficult with interviewers. Regardless, he became a cult figure in Uruguay and Argentina.His writing was often branded as science fiction or genre fiction, a categorisation he strongly rejected. Critics have commented on the both sinister and humorous nature of his work. Source: Wikipedia (en)