The Answer Is No: A Short Story
Fredrik Backman, the New York Times bestselling author behind a string of warmly comic novels, turns his attention here to the quietly desperate existence of Lucas, a man who has perfected the art of being left alone. His ideal evening asks very little of the universe: video games, a glass of wine, pad thai with peanuts. No complications, no company. It's a modest ambition, and for a while, it works beautifully. Then the apartment board comes knocking. This trio of self-appointed neighbourhood authority figures has a bone to pick. Someone, apparently, left a frying pan beside the recycling room overnight. A simple removal would do the trick, Lucas points out, but no. They want a culprit. What follows is the kind of absurd, snowballing chaos that Backman handles with genuine comic precision, the sort of situation where a single mundane object becomes the centre of a small, ridiculous storm. It does not go well for anyone involved. Short in length but generous in laughs, this story captures something recognisable about modern life: the way it has a talent for barging in on people who only wanted a quiet Tuesday. Backman's characters are drawn with the kind of sharp, affectionate wit that makes even minor figures feel vivid. Funny, fast, and oddly satisfying.
- Author: Fredrik Backman
- Publisher: Amazon Original Stories
- Genre: Action & Adventure
- ISBN: 978-1662526527
- Pages: 68 pages