The stories in this volume reflect the dark themes evident in Verne's work at the beginning and end of his writing career. The early short story, "Master Zacharias" (1854), tells the story of an obsessive watchmaker faced with a Faustian bargain. Later novella, "The Castle of the Carpathians (1892), also reflects the dangers of obsession, as well as superstition. In both cases, Verne raises questions concerning the role of science in our understanding of the world and of ourselves. The stories share similar themes, despite their four-decade separation. For that reason, we chose to pair them together.