Several People Are Typing

Gerald, a diligent employee at a New York-based PR firm, finds himself in an unprecedented predicament when his consciousness is accidentally uploaded into the company's Slack channel while working on a spreadsheet. His pleas for help are dismissed by his colleagues, who assume it’s an elaborate prank designed to take advantage of the new working-from-home policy. Despite his newfound digital existence, Gerald's productivity reaches unparalleled levels, delighting his bosses who are content to let him work from "wherever" he claims to be.

As Gerald grapples with the surreal reality of a disembodied life online, he enlists the help of Pradeep, a sympathetic co-worker, to look after his physical body. Simultaneously, he seeks the guidance of Slackbot, the platform's AI assistant, to navigate his new digital existence. But when Slackbot starts to yearn for its own experience of the real world, the boundaries between the virtual and physical realms blur in unexpected and humorous ways.

Meanwhile, chaos erupts in the physical office: the company's CEO is convinced that someone is sabotaging his office furniture, and Gerald's co-workers are frantically working to avert a PR catastrophe unlike any other. The question arises: if Gerald gets to work from home perpetually, why can't everyone else?

Hilarious, irreverent, and brimming with originality, Several People Are Typing is an incisive satire of both the virtual workspace and modern life. It skillfully parodies the absurdities of the digital age and offers a sharp critique of the idiosyncrasies of contemporary office culture. This novel is the perfect remedy for anyone with idle fingers itching to doomscroll, providing a refreshing and thought-provoking escape into a world where the lines between human and machine are comically blurred.

Several People Are Typing is a witty and inventive narrative that will resonate with anyone who has experienced the quirks of remote working and the peculiarities of our increasingly online lives. With its blend of humour and sharp social commentary, this novel is an ideal read for those navigating the complexities of modern digital existence.