Future Fish

In a deliciously daft comic caper, Conor Sneyd perfectly captures the powerlessness of low-rung office life as well as the seductive zealotry of our times.

Sacked from his first job in Dublin, Mark McGuire arrives in the dismal town of Ashcross to take up a new role as customer service assistant for Ireland's second-biggest pet food brand, WellCat. From his initial impressions, it's a toss-up whether he'll die of misery or boredom. He couldn't be more wrong.

For starters, the improbably cute receptionist, Kevin, seems willing to audition as the man of Mark's dreams. There's also the launch of a hush-hush new product, Future Fish, on the horizon. Not to mention the ragtag band of exorcists, alien-hunters and animal rights warriors who are all convinced WellCat is up to no good.

Why are these crackpots so keen on getting close to Mark? And will their schemes ruin his career prospects?