Hits and Misses, Simon Rich: Book Review

Man Seeking Woman creator Simon Rich is delightfully weird, pushing common fears to absurdity.

In his short story collection Hits & Misses, an ageing writer fears losing touch with audiences. He’s a literal dinosaur. Another story sees a former aspiring journalist, now corporate advertiser visited by versions of himself at different ages. One is 70, and oddly content feeding human children to the robots of the future.

Not everything lands. ‘Adolf Hitler: The GQ Profile’ and ‘Physician’s Lounge, April 1st’ are less stories than pithy sketches. Rich’s eccentric plots and deadpan style are hilarious though, and often Hits & Misses’ silliness pays-off emotionally. The dinosaur realises age affects everyone. The advertiser learns that not achieving one’s dreams isn’t important if one’s happy.

One story ends with spontaneous applause. Rich deserves it.