This is Rob Jackaman’s fourteenth book of poems, in which we’re invited to share the adventures (and misadventures) of the Dark Overlord, an ambiguous wizard-like presence whose powers are significantly on the wane. As he travels across the globe (Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and New Zealand), like all good poets he seeks to transform the reality around him by casting spells to help him come to terms with the bric-a-brac his life has become. If this business seems at times somewhat self-defeating, nevertheless the Dark Lord ultimately works his way (with surprising humour) towards reconciliation and redemption.

This is a poetry of vividness, strength and high skill as we move with the protagonist from ‘Halloween’ (the first poem in the volume) to the final symbol of the spider we’re all obliged sooner or later to ride.


This is Rob Jackaman’s fourteenth volume of poetry. He is widely known as the editor of the Hazard Poets series, which has been at the forefront of the publication of new New Zealand and Australian poets for over twenty years. He has also been extensively published in major literary journals known to the poetry community throughout the world.