Maurice Gee

Maurice Gees fiction for younger readers blends exciting stories with serious issues. Told through a range of genres, from fantasy to realism, adventure to science fiction, mysteries, psychological thrillers and gangster stories, they offer a distinctive body of work that shows New Zealand to children and young adults. This book is the first of two that pays tribute to Maurice Gees distinctive contribution to New Zealand literature. It argues that the depth and excitement of Gees fiction for young readers makes for an impressive introduction to New Zealand culture, history and storytelling. Overview chapters explore the motivations, themes, contexts and reception of Gees work, from the fantasy novels Under the Mountain, The World Around the Corner and the O and Salt trilogies, to the five realist and historical novels, including The Fat Man, The Champion and The Fire-Raiser. This volume will appeal to students, teachers, readers and writers of New Zealand literature, childrens literature and fantasy literature. A second book, by Lawrence Jones, will discuss Gees fiction for adult readers.