The Succubus Book

Now perhaps it is just my weird taste and the places I go looking for books but it seems as if there is a disproportionate amount of material coming from Eastern Europe that is full of existentialist angst.

If that is your thang, then hurrah! for this will be your thing as it is more of the same.

The publishers blurb overplays the 'nymphet' angle and whilst she is a part of the plot, overall it is far more about a retired person trying to live some simulacrum of his past life; dressing up as if he is going to do some 'business', strolling in more affluent neighbourhoods, and trying to escape (obliterate?) his (non) relationship with his wife.

There is an overall feeling of dislocation and disorientation together with some great creepy moments, especially one set on the top floor of the apartment where our protagonist lives. As the book progresses the plot becomes more fragmented it does not have an ending as such, but this suits the book and was not a problem for me.

It is not exactly clear which elements are part of (self induced?) mental breakdown or whether outside forces of some occult sort are impinging themselves upon him. Perhaps both- his neighbours do not understand the events or are part of a conspiracy- shades of Roland Torpors 'The Tenant' and this gives the book a bleak overall feel that might/should appeal to fans of, say, Thomas Ligotti or Roman Polanski's film 'Repulsion'. Žabot is an entirely new name to me and on the basis of this, I would like to read more by him.