Het duister satirische werk van Miles Gibson wordt gekenmerkt door elementen van magisch realisme en absurde fictie. Hoewel zijn verhalen een lineaire structuur volgen, plaatsen zijn gebruik van zwarte humor, pastiche en onbetrouwbare vertellers hem stevig onder de postmodernisten. Zijn unieke stijl verkent de grenzen van realiteit en absurditeit met provocerende humor.
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.