“You’re mine in the next world, right?” “Might come sooner than you think.” Murchison’s Fragment brings together nineteen plays – mostly for stage but with three for radio – that range from a deceptively frivolous, if macabre, 10-minute monologue to an uncompromising 45-minute study of imprisonment and torture based upon a real-life situation. In between are tales of ambition, greed and human frailty, here and there touching upon horror and the supernatural. Throughout, we encounter flawed individuals getting their comeuppance or – just as likely (and unjustly) – escaping it; elsewhere, others less deserving succumb to forces beyond their control. Some of the plays are unambiguously and intentionally serious: one, for example, follows the adventures of a boy within the autistic spectrum, determined to do a good deed but failing to realise the cost of his actions; another concerns reparations to Kenyans who suffered under the colonial administration during the Mau Mau insurgency; a third offers a challenging and doubtless contentious interpretation of a New Testament episode – the resurrection of Jesus. Other plays may appear lighter, even humorous, although darker threads almost always run through them. ‘Murchison’s Fragment’, which lends its title to the collection, is a story of lost opportunity set in London and east Africa; here the protagonist unwisely allows lust to overcome reason, with far-reaching consequences. The collection ends with a romantic love story in which a formidable barrier to a fulfilling relationship unexpectedly falls away. For each play a synopsis is provided, with additional notes where there is background interest.
A young woman is facially disfigured in an apparently motiveless attack. As her relationships with those around her change, she is forced to confront her own shortcomings. Gradually it becomes apparent that she has been a pawn in the machinations of an exclusive and secretive club for the seriously rich that, unknown to her, has been a malign influence on her life and family since childhood. When her face is restored by a skilled surgeon the motive behind the apparently senseless attack is revealed. But does she stand a chance of bringing those responsible to justice, or will she only succeed in creating some very powerful and dangerous enemies?
Lights in a Western Sky is a collection of twenty short stories encompassing a wide variety of genres, settings and historical periods. With themes ranging from romance to horror, and with settings in the most exotic of locations, the tales contain twists and turns and plenty of unexpected denouements. This collection of short stories have human tribulation as a common theme. They include a sentimental love story, a tale of lost opportunity in the pursuit of a mythical beast in Africa, an account of an autistic boy’s tragic attempt to do good as he sees it, a simple ghost story, an act of terrorism in which an innocent party becomes implicated, and others that touch upon the supernatural and horror. Also included within Lights in a Western Sky is a trilogy of stories offering thought-provoking interpretations of some of the events surrounding the demise and crucifixion of the biblical Jesus. Inspired by Roald Dahl’s employment of terminal twists, this book will appeal to readers of short stories. It will also be enjoyed by fans of Roger’s previous literary works.
On the outskirts of Flaxmere, in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand, stands a house affectionately known as 'The Barn'. Built in 2004, it has been a shelter for many as they make their way from prison back into normal life. The work done there, and in prisons, by Roger and Rachel Curtis for over 40 years forms the stories and background of this book. There is nothing greater than seeing a person break free and be changed by the love, the aroha, of God. If you feel trapped by a relentless cycle of crime, unable to escape, Prison Break offers hope. It will introduce you to the One who is able to change you from the inside, and show you a better way. You've been held down too long. Your whanau has suffered enough. By following the steps outlined in this book, you'll never return to prison again - except, maybe, to tell others about the new life you found... This is a book for those on the inside, and those who go into prisons to share the Good News.
Garniss, lend me your knife for a second, will you,' I whispered." So begins Java Man, the inside story of how one discovery—a human skull found on the island of Java—by two geologists shook the foundations of science. By uncovering new evidence about the hominid known as Java man, Carl C. Swisher and Garniss H. Curtis were able to date his fossil remains at 1.7 million years, an age that stunned the scientific community because it pushed back the time when humans migrating out of Africa first reached Eurasia by nearly one million years. Cowritten by the popular science writer Roger Lewin, this is a gripping and informative account of the discovery that breathed new life into the human origins debate. Originally published by Scribner 2000 ISBN: 0-684-80000-4
The Atlas of Intellectual Disability Syndromes presents a concise description of 150 clinically distinctive syndromes caused by genes on the X chromosome. Each entry includes photographs and a differential matrix of similar syndromes. Appendices identify syndromes with common features and provide the location or mapping limits and function of responsible genes.
He became a father restricted from seeing his son. Feeling hopeless, yet wanting to be involved in his childas life, this father took on the task of sharing his values and beliefs. The only way to communicate was by letter, to which there was never a reply. Young and old alike will enjoy walking through the adventures with this father and son as timeless principles are shared in an unforgettable manner. With one goal in mind, these letters encourage and teach a boy how to become a man of integrity and faith. Birthed out of love and sent out of longing, they communicate on many levels. If you have ever lost your way and are waiting for a fatheras love to pull you back or are waiting for someone you love to come back home, these pages will inspire you.
A collection of color photographs taken over a period of decades, Feb. 1968 - July 1998, with descriptions by Roger Steffens and afterwords by Kate and Devon Steffens.
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