Standfast and Other Tales

This collection and its companion piece No Time for Pity and Other Tales covers wide-ranging motifs: humour crime fantasy family and childhood themes. Several stories are located in the outback areas much loved but seldom visited by Australians-they are often regarded as the real Australia where men are men...etc.<p> But there are humorous tales too though readers should remember that one man's funny story is another man's blank stare.<p> Then there are ghosts but not of the sheet-flapping variety; and slices of life seen through the eyes of children.<p> Where would story writers be without crime? What happened in Townhouse to create the cold chill? Why was that young man shooting like a maniac on the rifle range in Come to the Fair? And what is the dark secret in Fruition?<p> In a lighter vein is In Memoriam-would you have handled Margot's problem with such grace? And there is unfulfilled yearning in The True Romantic and Waiting.<p> All that is needed now is a comfortable chair a warm fire and a glass of something cheering or perhaps plenty of sunscreen and a shady umbrella on the beach and these stories wait to help you pass an enjoyable hour or so.