THE IMPOSTER <i> by Peter Seeberg, translated by Anni Whissen (University of Nebraska Press: $7.95)</i>

This quirky Danish novel presents an uncompromising portrait of an unprepossessing ne’er-do-well. Tom dreams of being a writer, but his limp character can’t support the necessary discipline. An utter nonentity, he drifts along in idleness, only vaguely aware of the world around him. Shortly after his long-suffering wife finally leaves him, Tom declares to a friend that he “doesn’t believe in reality.” A bleak portrait of alienation in extremis, “The Imposter” reportedly enjoys cult status in Denmark; it’s difficult to understand why.