The Return of the Vanishing New Zealander (2009)

Book design: Dean Havard
Front cover

The Return of the Vanishing New Zealander. ISBN 978-0-9864507-6-1. Dunedin: Kilmog Press, 2009. 20 pp.

Title page

Contents:

I ♥ NZ
NZ Golf (and English) Academy
Boi-Boi on Karaoke
Language School Picnic
Journey to the West
Index
Mysteries: A Christmas Poem
In the Days of The Lord of the Rings
A Question of Faith
Bonfire Gothic

Copyright page

Samples:

Kilmog Press

The Imaginary Museum

Back cover

Available:

Kilmog Press
Po Box 1562
Dunedin
New Zealand

RRP: $NZ35

Back dustjacket

Reviews & Comments:

1. Nga-Atawhainga Creagh, "Collector's Edition." School of Social and Cultural Studies, Massey University (4/11/09):
   

   
   Fans of Dr. Jack Ross, lecturer in Creative Writing at the Albany campus and author of three published novels, two books of short stories and several books of poems, will be delighted to know he has published a new chapbook of poems titled The Return of the Vanishing New Zealander. According to Jack, the limited edition collection works through the complexities of being a “'New Zealander' in an increasingly multi-cultural and polyglot country." He welcomes the changes in society, "whereas a lot of other people seem to see them as some kind of erosion of integrity and identity.”
   
   The book is rather special as it is Jack's first hardback, a rarity amongst New Zealand publishers. It can be bought from Parsons Bookshop on Wellesley St in Auckland city. Jack would like to make special mention that Parsons are an amazing supporter of the local arts scene, and stock virtually every New Zealand author and artist, maverick or mainstream: “Go in there and spend some money!” Alternatively, the book can be ordered directly from the publisher at Kilmog Press in Dunedin, whose website also features a sample poem.
   
   Congratulations Jack! And we will look forward to more published work in the future.



2. Alistair Paterson, "Books and Magazines in brief: The Return of the Vanishing NEW ZEALANDER, by Jack Ross (Kilmog Press, PO Box 1562, Dunedin, 20 pp., $35)." Poetry NZ 40 (2010): 108:
   

   
   The Return of the Vanishing New Zealander, by Jack Ross, is a beautifully presented, hand-covered chapbook, produced in the classic manner with a marvellously designed title page and wonderful end papers. Its title is derived from Leslie Fiedler’s The Return of the Vanishing American – a writer who was adopted by the Blackfoot tribe and known as ‘the wild man of American criticism’. One could say something of the latter in regard to Jack Ross who in his own way can sometimes be thought of as a wild man of New Zealand Literature – the twelve poems in the present collection reinforce this view yet at the same time offer writing that’s invariably ‘right’ with every word of every line put together as the poetry insists and requires. With such wonderful writing and superbly skilful printing and binding, this is a book for the collector – a publication not to be missed!

•