About the book: 1975 / The stories “Firebird” and “Bend”, included in the book by Orazbek Sarsenbaev, are dedicated to the life of the Kazakh village during the socialist transformations in the steppe region and during the years of the last war. They depict living people with their joys and sorrows, happy and difficult destinies. Ketmen worker Bekbaul, the hero of the story “The Firebird,” sincerely believes in the existence of the bird of happiness; through difficult trials and mistakes he comes to an understanding of true happiness, which can only be achieved by honest work. Agabek, who dies without understanding why he lived and what he achieved, does not seek anyone’s pity or forgiveness; gentle Janelle, who never found love and understanding, suffers - the heroes of the story “The Bend.” The stories included in the collection are also interesting. Lyrical and captivating, angry and life-affirming, they attract people with their unique solutions to the main problematic issues facing people and society..