Ove Stefansson

Sven Bertil, a pastor's son, accidentally is hit in the head by a church bell, resulting in a permanent concussion. He is admitted to a mental hospital,. Sven Bertil ends up in a conflict with his psychologist, his father and his father's new woman. He escapes from the institution and joins a group of gangsters. They exploit him for their criminal purposes..

Mania is a new employee at a mental hospital, where she meets a young man with mutism. He gets her to realize that it is a fluid boundary between being healthy and being regarded as sick.

When the gods appear in disguise the only person who shows them hospitality is the young girl Shen Te and for this she is awarded by them. After a while she finds her new life has also brought new problems.