Doktor Pilka si kope hrob – Motýl Petr (2017)

The prose of Doctor Pilka digs his grave is a text in the best tradition of Czech grotesque and absurd humor, playful and witty, in no way superficial, but with depth, where seemingly trivial stories gradually reveal the tragic alienation of the individual in a world that has shrunk to consumption and lost its metaphysical dimension. The author's work with language is crucial; linguistic playfulness permeates the entire text, mostly divided into short chapters corresponding to a clipped, fragmented perception of the world, from which there is virtually no escape for a person today. Thus, in this prose, information abounds, yet it is essentially just empty codes that carry no meaning. However, the author does not identify with this emptiness of the world and attempts to find, if not its lost meaning, at least space for individual freedom through humor and ironic distance. The main target of the author's laughter, which rarely turns into open mockery, is global tourism and the "enjoyment" of vacations. In this context, he addresses the question of multiculturalism and the revival of nationalism. Serious issues are presented playfully, with a whole range of literary references. The influence of primarily Francophone authors such as Raymond Queneau is unmistakable...