Human Wishes / Enemy Combatant

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.