A meditation on an empty life, made less solitary by an odd job: writing obituaries for people who haven't yet died. As the job goes on, it seems to fill the empty life with characters in almost-normal relationships with the protagonist (Viktor). The job makes him leave town, so he acquires a "friend" so that there's someone to take care of his penguin while he's gone. A referral from the job results in another "friend", and later a "daughter" who necessitates a "wife".

But all of the relationships are tenuous. Fortune has nudged these people together, but there's no reason for them to stay together except a desire for normalcy or a strange sense of duty. Viktor never really feels more towards them than he feels towards his penguin, who is aloof and seems to mostly share Viktor's space rather than being an actual companion.

Thoughtful. Melancholy. Quick read.