Tantragee Arboretum - Short Story Collection (Paperback)

An original and entertaining collection of short stories from New Zealand author Justin Eade. Many of these stories have previously been published or produced for radio, but some are published for the first time here. 'Metropolis' was runner-up in the prestigious Sunday Star Times Short Story competition in 1997 and was published in the Sunday Star Times. 'Apples' won the competition in 2002 and was also published in the Sunday Star Times and subsequently in 'Sunday 22' (Random House, 2006), and 'The Penguin Book of Contemporary New Zealand Short Stories' (Penguin, 2009). "Belting Clear," "Green Bullet Cuts," "The Youth Camp," "Last Moments of a Failed Skydiver," "Old Muggers Mate," "Turaki Domain" and "The Fear of Germans," have all been produced for and aired on Radio New Zealand National. This is a vibrant collection of stories featuring a diverse range of settings and true-to-life characters encountered during the author's varied work and life experiences... An All Black legend is reduced to playing senior thirds club rugby on a country domain, but still has a major grudge to settle. A troubled youth and his friends go on a camp in central New South Wales and are torn between their new mentor and their old. An old man who has blocked out his emotions due to the war bonds with a young backpacker he takes on to help him with his motorcycle collection. A strong, silent and mysterious apple picker in the Nelson region galvanises an entire orchard behind him with his integrity. An arrogant frenchman causes waves in Vanuatu when he is rude to a native airline consultant. A young man recovering from a violent upbringing tries to survive in a tough environment at a removal company in South Auckland. A 14 year old Blenheim boy tells what it's like to be the alpha male of his circle while exercising his power capriciously. An old prospector and his dog travel from the West Coast to Christchurch to buy books and encounter some local skinheads intent on destruction. A Pastor struggles to give his sermon - and his forgiveness - when a former cult leader wanders into his congregation looking for redemption. Rounding out this collection are a mural in Golden Bay with a mind of its own, a Sydney University arts student with a chip on her shoulder, a Wellington skydiver with lousy timing, and a likeable but accident prone Hop Garden worker in Upper Moutere. This is a sample of humanity in all it's various hues and shades, as viewed through the author's eyes, often up close and personal.