The narrative centers on the sudden, unsettling blink of a long-standing dictator, an act that triggers a cascade of political instability and existential dread within his regime. Slavitt explores the fragile nature of power through the lens of a fictionalized Portuguese-style dictatorship. The protagonist, Salazar, serves as the immovable object around which the fears and ambitions of his subordinates orbit. The narrative framework utilizes a detached, observational tone to dissect the absurdity of authoritarian control and the psychological toll of living under constant surveillance. The prose emphasizes the tension between the dictator's perceived omnipotence and the physical reality of his aging body.

Readers and critics often note the sharp, biting wit employed by Slavitt to dismantle the facade of absolute power. Discussion frequently centers on the effectiveness of the blink as a metaphor for the vulnerability inherent in even the most rigid political structures. The pacing is described as deliberate, favoring psychological depth and atmospheric tension over rapid plot progression. Many observers highlight the author's ability to maintain a clinical distance while exposing the inherent ridiculousness of the characters' desperate attempts to maintain the status quo. The work is frequently cited for its intellectual rigor and its refusal to offer easy resolutions to the political dilemmas it presents.