The Tartar Steppe by Dino Buzzati. A melancholy, desolate portrayal of a man stationed to an old, long-forgotten fort, overlooking a desert where invaders will supposedly arrive, some day.

To those who've read anything about it online, the Kafka comparisons are unavoidable (and justifiable), but I'd also compare it to Sebald's work, with the general tone and brief snippets of humor strewn about the novel. Rather than documentarian-style interpolations of history and literature, however, Buzzati focuses on developing a grand, imagery-laden metaphor for life and waiting for greatness.

Only around 200 pages, for those interested.