Epileptic Trees: Some theorize that "Maga" (magician in Spanish) is the last name of Lucía, hence the nickname.
Genius Bonus: If you get all of the references, you get a lollipop.
Misaimed Fandom: After the book came out some young women in Argentina started imitating La Maga's way of thinking and living; never mind that the book is clear in how irresponsable she is and the horrible consequences.
Moral Event Horizon: In the eyes of some readers, Horacio's response of disdain and indifference to baby Rocamadour's death is the point where it became clear just how much of a selfish asshole he really is.
Tear Jerker: The letter written by the Magician to Rocamadour. Bonus points because in both suggested orders it appears directly after Rocamadour's death.
Aluminum Christmas Trees: One of the embarrassing secrets that Kendig reveals in his memoirs was an attempt to kill Fidel Castro with a tampered cigar. While it's uncertain as to whether or not it was ever actually tried, the CIA did float that idea as a possible method of assassination when they were thinking up various ways to kill Castro back in the sixties.
Vindicated by History: Viewed as just another Walter Matthau comedy in 1980, its reputation as a taut comic adventure and a sharp satire on espionage and bureaucracy has increased over the years, to the extent that it's been reissued more than once by The Criterion Collection.
