A rich woman, confined to a wheelchair, commissions a portraitist to create for her an ideal mate. A successful doctor confronts his past life in a deserted cottage. A young idealistic teacher is caught in a web of power in a decaying country town. In these gripping gothic tales, individuals' fears and fantasies come startlingly to life to confront them. A disturbing and original new voice in Australian writing. '[Swinbourne] demonstrates a rare confidence with language that makes for compelling reading.' - Weekend Australian 'Even the shorter stories quickly create an atmosphere of foreboding and menace.' - Sydney Morning Herald 'This is good meaty material - a springboard for good fiction.' - Sunday Tasmanian