La scrittura oscuramente satirica di Miles Gibson è caratterizzata da elementi di realismo magico e fiction assurda. Sebbene le sue narrazioni seguano una struttura lineare, il suo uso dell'umorismo nero, del pastiche e dei narratori inaffidabili lo colloca saldamente tra i postmodernisti. Il suo stile unico esplora i confini della realtà e dell'assurdità con un'arguzia provocatoria.
Miles Gibson's cult novel from 1984 returns to print with a new preface by the author. Growing up in a small hotel in a shabby seaside town, lonely William 'Mackerel' Burton amuses himself by perfecting his conjuring tricks.
Set in the enchanting village of Rams Horn, the story blends fantasy and the supernatural, where legends intertwine with the lives of its residents. A clairvoyant grapples with her past as she awaits her deceased husband's return, haunted by demons that disrupt her peace. Meanwhile, the arrival of a mysterious African sailor adds intrigue and depth to the seaside community, creating a rich tapestry of emotions and encounters against the backdrop of ever-changing tides.
Kingdom Swann, a seemingly respectable Victorian gentleman, grapples with his complex feelings towards women, as illustrated by his encounter with a nude woman suspended from a pillar. This striking imagery sets the stage for a narrative exploring themes of desire, societal expectations, and the darker aspects of human relationships, revealing the tension between outward respectability and inner turmoil.