Promptness and Other Errors: The Anatomy of Existential Errors

Summary

This surreal collection of vignettes explores a world where linear time and logic have fractured, replaced by a state of “administrative continuation” where life moves sideways rather than forward. The narrative personifies the mundane, granting agency and existential dread to everyday objects like toasters, bus signs, and office printers, all of which struggle to perform their functions in a reality devoid of human purpose. Central characters like Arthur act as anchors of presence, stabilising a city that is rehearsing its own existence amidst flickering streetlamps and clouds named after misunderstandings. Ultimately, the narrative depicts a shift from meaningful progress to a hollow, bureaucratic drift, where the burden of justification is lifted because stopping would require more paperwork than simply carrying on.