The Father of Octopus Wrestling

Discover the captivating world of 'The Father of Octopus Wrestling,' a masterful collection of small fictions by the brilliant Frankie McMillan. This paperback edition, measuring 165 x 230 mm with 146 pages, was published on 23-08-2019 by Canterbury University Press. Dive into a darkly comedic and surreal narrative that brilliantly captures human vulnerability and the eccentricities of life. McMillan's prose is rich with perceptiveness, expertly weaving tales that often defy reader expectations. Each story reflects a poet's sensitivity to language, exploring how seemingly simple words can evoke profound meanings and evoke imagery. With every page, you'll encounter a vivid tapestry of characters, from quirky humans to the wonders of the animal world, as the collection transports you across the globe—from Russia to America, and all the way to New Zealand.

This enchanting book also delves into the delicate nuances of intimate relationships, revealing the highs and lows of human connection. Frankie McMillan emerges as a quietly outrageous Zen master, guiding readers through the complexities of life and illuminating our foibles with humor and insight. 'The Father of Octopus Wrestling and other small fictions' is not just a read; it’s an artisan treasure designed and printed by Ilam Press, enriching your bookshelf with its artistic allure. Perfect for lovers of imaginative storytelling, this collection promises to inspire reflection, laughter, and a deeper appreciation of life's intricacies. Grab your copy today and experience the magic of McMillan's words firsthand.

Author: Frankie McMillan Publisher: Canterbury University Press
Bind: paperback
Dimensions: 165 x 230 mm
Pages: 146
Publication Date: 23-08-2019

Darkly comic, surreal and full of perceptiveness about human vulnerability and eccentricity, Frankie McMillan’s small fictions often duck and dive away from the reader’s expectations. With a poet’s sense of how single words or phrases ripple out with alternate meanings, and a dramatist’s feeling for how apparently small gestures reveal character, and how sudden, cataclysmic change can wrench us out of comfort, routine and unthinking assumptions, the author leaves us ransacking the language for finer genre definitions. This collection teems with both the animal world and a vivid circus of quirky human individuals. The pieces globe-trot all over the planet: from Russia to America to New Zealand; and yet often their piquant wisdom comes from how they bear down into ‘micro-geography’ of intimate relationships: the troughs, peaks, cliff-sides, the warm, still pools of recognition. Frankie McMillan is like a quietly outrageous Zen master, showing us human folly and idiocy, steering us carefully over the dark river of vulnerability that swells under it all. "The Father of Octopus Wrestling, and other small fictions" is an artisan production, designed and printed by Ilam Press, Ilam School of Fine Arts and is published with the support of Creative New Zealand.