Mortaumal

by Rigby Taylor

Mortaumal [Mort-au-mal...Death to evil.]One would expect a young man whose single mother skipped town a couple of hours after his birth, to have a few problems, but Mortaumal [Mort] doesn’t seem to, thanks to his grandfather. However, when that support is gone and foster parents fail, and there are nasty people demanding he do evil deeds...things begin to look pretty desperate.From the age of ten to eighteen Mort lives with and meets an extraordinary variety of people, gets himself into and out of very hot water, sees rather too many people die, learns to defend himself both physically and mentally, and ends up unimpressed with humanity in general, while loving the few who come up to scratch.This is a light-hearted, not too serious tale about death and dying, affection and callous indifference, independence and love somewhere in tropical Queensland. There’s sentiment but not sentimentality, social criticism, excitement, fun and a bit of everything else in a fast paced yarn that suggests ways to live that are more interesting and natural than those we see on our screens.

ebook

First published March 26, 2015

About the author

Profile

I live on several acres of rainforest in sub-tropical Queensland, Australia with my partner.
I've published five novels:- 'NumbaCruncha' 'Sebastian', 'Jarek', 'Dome of Death', & 'The Price of Freedom'; a biography - 'Dancing Bare' , and a volume of short stories:- 'Time to Think'.
I write the sort of fiction I like to read - fast paced with some danger and heroes who are decent, honest, reliable and unafraid to make decisions, and who reckon that more than enough is too much.
I have always enjoyed the symbolism of Renaissance Art in which, among other things, purity, honesty and truthfulness is depicted by nudity. Titian’s “Sacred and Profane Love” and Michelangelo’s "Sistine Ceiling" and “Doni Tondo” are obvious examples.
It is in that sense that I use nudity in my novels. Only the good guys run around naked. Nude is not rude! Actions can be evil or good; bodies are merely natural vessels and, if well maintained, are admirable.
My characters live in the real world, not in a ghetto. They just happen to be gay and any sex is part of the story, not gratuitous or explicit.
All my novels are set in tropical Australia.

Reviews

[Tim Trent · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've said before that Rigby Taylor is a satirist in the Tom Sharpe mould. Mortaumal is another huge triumph of his extraordinary talent.

The characters start out unfleshed, gain three dimensions very fast and get into our heads. Of them all my favourite is Fystie.

There are grotesques, heroes, villains, friends and erotic moments. If I write more I'll add spoilers, and I have no intention of doing so.

Treat yourself to the suspension of disbelief for a few hours and immerse yourself in a book that is very hard to put down

[Ralphe Wiggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very strange writing: a series of episodes that often result in someone getting killed. Interesting attitudes:
Little or no remorse from killing a bad guy.
Strong belief in health giving effects of nude living.
No resistance to stripping.
Everyone (except his mother) is drawn to the central character.
Total disbelief in any kind of afterlife.
Socks it to the fundies.