Book: The Restraint of Beasts

"The Restraint of Beasts" by Magnus Mills is a darkly comedic novel that interweaves elements of absurdity with sharp social critique. The story follows Tam and Richie, two Scottish fence builders, who work under the reluctant supervision of an unnamed English foreman. Tasked with mundane assignments that gradually escalate into chaos, the trio travels through a landscape as bleak and industrial as their lives.

A string of miscommunications and peculiar incidents transforms ordinary tasks into surreal adventures filled with foreboding and unsettling humor. Mills masterfully explores themes of authority, the working class, and existential ennui, capturing the repetitiveness of labor while conjuring an atmosphere of quiet dread. As the team travels from job to job, a trail of mysterious accidents and increasingly bizarre outcomes unfolds.

The novel’s understated prose and deadpan delivery heighten its satirical edge, offering a bleak yet compelling glimpse into the absurdities of everyday life. With its unique blend of wit and melancholy, "The Restraint of Beasts" invites readers to reflect on the nature of work and the fragile boundaries that define human existence.