Readers familiar with La familia de Pascual Duarte and La colmena will find little in [Oficia de tinieblas 5] reminiscent of those works. There are no defined characters, no action, no plot development. Cela himself admits that this is not a novel; it serves more as a vehicle for expressing many ideas.

The book contains 1,194 monads, or philosophical units, three of which refer specifically to the tenebrae service of the title, a ritual which terminates at the work's conclusion. Monad 1,097 informs the reader that it is a rite from which no man can escape; in it, magic serves evil in a struggle against man.

The book contains no chapter divisions; each monad consists of a series of words without capital letters or punctuation. There is much repetition of word and thought, and often there is reference to another monad by specific number.

Cela alludes to some of our most pressing contemporary concerns: drugs, abortion, Vietnam, technology, homosexuality. In addition, he treats such themes as love death and religion. His preoccupation with sex seems excessive; even the book's cover portrays this inordinate concern. It is one which seems incongruous when one considers the book's title plus a note at the very end stating that it was written between All Souls' Day, 1971 and Holy Week, 1973.

The variety of philosophical, historical and literary allusions is striking. Quotations are given, not only in Spanish, but in several other languages. The reader will be challenged to ask himself what the work means. He should also ask himself whether it is of value in itself or merely as part of a comparative study of its well-known author's works. (p. 92)