Bad Job #[nn]

Nicolas Mahler's *Bad Job*, published by Les Éditions de la Pastèque in 2004, announces itself with a wonderfully understated cover: a spindly, elongated yellow figure — absurdly tall and pencil-thin — stands holding what appears to be a small document or card, rendered in Mahler's signature minimalist style against a cool grey-blue background. The deadpan charm of that lone awkward character sets the tone perfectly for the kind of dry, existential humor Mahler is known for delivering. A compact hardcover with a lot of personality packed into its spare design.