Living as a moon / Owen Marshall.

Short stories, some previously published in journals.

Living as a moon -- Manhunt -- Bunsen versus the republic -- Throw down your guns -- Segue dreams -- Sleeping in the afternoon -- OE calls home -- Vapour trails -- Freezing -- Head butting -- Another's shadow -- The detention -- No stations of remorse -- Coming right -- Howell -- Travelling in Eden -- The Don Fernando Motels -- Michael -- Sojourn in Arles -- Paulie Tallis -- Blunderer -- Mid-canvas figures -- Brian and Baz -- Patrick and the killer -- Anacapri.

Set in both Europe and the Antipodes, these twenty-five stories are at once arresting, moving, funny and full of insight into human condition. Being a celebrity impersonator, says the Aussie Elton John, is like living your life as a moon. 'We give up identity and become just a reflection of another personality, like the moon having no fire of its own and be just a pale reflection of the sun when it's not there.' This new collection of stories from master short fiction writer Owen Marshall is rich in people exploring their identities and how they are affected by others. There's Patrick, whose life is radically alerted by a random encounter with a killer; widowed Margaret, who faces a new kind of existence alone; David, who experiences the 'spontaneous and passing friendship of strange Ian, whose wife's demands for a better lifestyle lead him to a new career in telephone sex. Set in both Europe and the Antipodes, these twenty-five stories are at once arresting, moving, funny and full of insight into human condition.