Literature and Fiction · Hardback

A Random Bureucrat

Norwegian title: En tilfeldig nordmann

Lars Saabye Christensen

Gordon Mo works in the Ministry of Agriculture and is the very model of a grey bureaucrat. But inside he’s seething and now and then he has to relieve the pressure: that’s when he checks into a hotel and lets off a bit of steam from the pressure cooker. This works fine until one day at work when a cake is served up in his honour: that day, unfortunately, the pressure becomes too much for Gordon Mo. To cut a long story short, by the next day he no longer works at the ministry. But unlike many 60-year-old bureaucrats who lose their jobs, Gordon Mo is not superfluous: a shy old man who’s seething inside needs something.

This is the starting point for Gordon Mo’s journey, which begins at an institution outside Baltimore that is supposed to get him back on his feet again. There he encounters the night watchman, Only Me, who will turn out to play a decisive role in the novel. What’s more, there’s a certain Frans Meek in the background who’s pulling the strings and ensuring that things continue to boil over here and there.

A Random Norwegian takes the pulse of our age with stinging wit and warmth.Norwegian Reviews:

Serious playfulness in zesty new Saabye Christensen novel.BOK365Funnier than ever.For this is a contemporary novel, darn it! And as such it is equally absurd, smart, funny, provoking and elegantly written.Dagbladet – Five stars out of Six

Filled with energy!The book is full of linguistic energy, smart turns of phrase and just the right number of eccentric individuals, just like you would expect from this author....I could just keep on quoting for a long time, as this book is full of little literary pearls. But rather, I'll just say: Read the book!VG – Five stars out of Six

Invited to a party by Saabye Christensen!Lars Saabye Christensen has written an original masterpiece. I will only tell you this once: Get this book, clear your schedule and take your time with these three hundred pages. The author invites you to a linguistic Party with a capital P and a minor undertone. In the company of a Random Bureaucrat and a few other individuals....Linguistically spiced up with intelligent and intense formulations – almost an encyclopaedia for your next public speech.NETTAVISEN – Six stars out of six.

Saabye Christensen’s engaginged and energetic novel could hardly be any more contemporary than this. (…) And the sentences. Wonderfully quotable aphoristic golden nuggets – the speciality of Saabye Christensen.DAGSAVISEN