There is something fitting about where Malachy McCourt is calling from as I speak to him about his dark and hilarious new book Death Need Not Be Fatal. McCourt is at a Manhattan rehabilitation facility, where he will spend the next few weeks recovering from a “severe attack” of gout. “I’m doing pretty good now,” he says, sounding lively and cheerful enough given what he’s endured. Initially, he says, “The pain was so awful.” For the next few weeks, as he recovers, McCourt will spend his days moving around very carefully and doing light rehabilitative exercises. “All the things little babies love to do,” he says with a laugh.