In this minimalist tale, a migrant worker chronicles his days moving from job to job on a drilling rig.

Protagonist Mark Bonen’s life on the job is an austere one. At an unnamed location, work is 12 hours a day, 7 days a week in a temporary town of containers made into offices, a mess hall, and caravans where the crew sleeps.

The day’s routine begins when it’s still dark, the mess hall smelling of old coffee and damp vests, with fluorescent bulbs buzzing overhead and rubbery eggs and toast for breakfast. Even if he doesn’t talk much, Bonen laughs at others’ jokes and listens to the complaints, and he has his notebook, filled with unrealized plans and unfinished tasks.

If life sounds dismal, it’s all aimed toward achieving the dream: the visa. “A signed bond between the company and himself … Just a few more weeks to fulfil [sic]l the requirements … Maybe citizenship after that. The papers would make him real.”

Then, the job suddenly ends; Bonen is sent to a new job where he meets a mentor of sorts, Simon; and for a time, life is fuller. But then comes the email: “Restructure Announcement. Corporate language. Professional.” And just like that, his future is again uncertain.

As the story unfolds, the novella’s spare style complements the tale of one man far from home and family, seeking a better life via back-breaking, soul-crushing work. While the lack of information about the actual location or other identifying details can initially feel off-putting, it’s an apt choice for the aloneness and uncertainty of the protagonist’s life. Small moments, such as the phone call with Bonen’s “mum,” or his gratitude for Simon’s kindness, help make Bonen a sympathetic character – even as he’s largely unknown.

It’s no easy job to create a full tale using only minimal details, but the author impressively succeeds. Readers who appreciate a spare, literary style will admire this story.