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Human Wishes / Enemy Combatant

by Edmond Caldwell

Transit spaces and darkening absurdity

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AlbakiReads Editorial

Transit spaces and darkening absurdity

Airports, a hotel for bumped passengers, a rest stop and a shopping mall become the “In-Between places” through which this unnamed, somewhat paranoid protagonist moves. The novel’s humor grows darker as its literary conceits widen: a plot involving critic James Wood sits alongside the discovery of a purportedly unknown Beckett play, before the narrative confronts the horror of the Palestinian Nakba. The result is an unusual blend of comic dislocation, literary play and historical subject matter. This edition also includes an afterword by Joseph G Ramsey.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • For readers interested in fiction set in transient, impersonal spaces.
  • For readers drawn to comic fiction that turns toward darker and political subject matter.
  • For readers interested in literary references and fictional works within a novel.

Themes

Transit and liminal spacesParanoia and dislocationLiterary playThe Palestinian Nakba

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

The unnamed, somewhat paranoid hero's experiences of "In-Between places" such as an airport baggage reclaim area, a hotel complex that exists solely to cater for bumped airline passengers, a rest stop, and a shopping mall, are achingly funny. But the humour takes increasingly dark turns: the "literary novel" is turned inside out as we encounter a plot to kidnap and replace the critic James Wood, an unknown play allegedly by Samuel Beckett (featuring Dr Johnson and his cat Hodge) is discovered and its fugitive production discussed, and, finally, the horror of the Palestinian Nakba is confronted.

 

First published in 2012, this novel was received enthusiastically before quickly slipping out of print. Our edition, including an afterword by Joseph G Ramsey, is published by agreement with Edmond Caldwell's estate.

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