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.

But there are humorous tales too, though readers should remember that one man's funny story is another man's blank stare.

Then there are ghosts, but not of the sheet-flapping variety; and slices of life seen through the eyes of children.

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?"

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."

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.