Can fantasy be rooted in reality? Where would we be without imagination? These were some of the considerations that Desmond Bishop presented in his talk to the Pattaya City Expats Club’s meeting on Sunday, October 6. Desmond was speaking about his recent book, “The Wizard of Zee;” a fantasy taking place 150 million years ago, but is set in places that still exist today.
Desmond described how he drew on his past experiences and wilderness travels for inspiration in creating the characters in his novel. In the novel, 11-year-old Demki ventures out of the comfort zone of his own family into the wilderness.
The PCEC arranged with Bangkok Hospital Pattaya (BHP) to provide this year’s flu vaccine at the Club’s October 20 meeting. Nui and Ann from BHP were busy during the meeting signing up members and guests as registration is necessary prior to the date the vaccine will be given.
There, he meets an array of somewhat bizarre characters. Although it takes place in the ancient continent of Gondwanaland, this locale is based the Zambezi River, one of Desmond’s favorite places in Africa. For the book’s illustrations, Desmond said he engaged a Thai artist, who used some of Desmond’s photos of the Zambezi River in making them. Also, in the book, he calls the main locale, the Valley of Zam (shortened from Zambezi).
Author Desmond Bishop explains how he based many of the characters and locale in his fantasy novel, “The Wizard of Zee,” on his own life experiences; creating fantasy out of reality.
Desmond previously spoke to the Club in June 2011 about his book “Goodbye, Africa…” which is an autobiography of his life growing up and living in British colonial Africa. He said he used the fictional name Raymond Spenser for himself and other aliases in lieu of the real names of the people he wrote about as he wanted to protect their identities. During that talk, he described his awe in seeing Victoria Falls for the first time as an 11-year-old boy traveling by train. Perhaps not by coincidence, the main character is an11-year-old boy, Demki who is incapable of resisting the adventure of going off into the wilderness on his own.
In the story, despite the warning from his family and friends, Demki makes his way into the valley of Zam where he meets the Wizard of Zee and countless other characters he could never have dreamt of. The Wizard becomes Demki’s mentor and teaches him to believe in himself and he gets involved in many adventures. It is the time of the Spring Equinox Festival and Demki gets to meet shamans from far and wide, as well as many wild creatures.
Desmond commented on many of the characters that Demki meets and how they are based to some extent on people or composites of people he has known in his past. The Wizard is based to some extent on a person who had been a mentor to Desmond. Mhondoro, the lion-man, is based on a shaman (spiritual person) that Desmond knew during his time in Africa. The villain in the novel is Bogaar, who styles himself as the Prince of Vulcana. Bogaar is a mutant buffalo and has plans to attack the folks and creatures that live in the Valley of Zam. Desmond showed a picture he took while exploring the wilderness in Africa and described how it inspired him to make the villain of his novel a mutant buffalo.
Steven Rouse holds the first-place trophy his film production company won recently at the Toyota 9FilmFest 2013 in Bangkok, beating out over 200 entries (they also won a Toyota car). Steven will be the PCEC guest speaker on November 3. He will present the 9 minute video and talk about making this prize winning film “The Guardian,” which is about a man that lives by the river and knows he is old but teaches himself to swim.
Desmond also talked of his interest in wildlife, which is probably the reason after returning to Australia, he decided to live in an underdeveloped area where one could be closer to nature. He said that in Africa, he often camped out and came across wild animals. There he learned to “read” their body language so he knew when he didn’t need to worry about danger as well as when he did. The main thing he said, was don’t show fear. He described some of his encounters with buffalos, lions, and elephants.
Desmond received his Bachelor degree from Rhodes University, South Africa. He has been a TV and theatre director, radio producer, teacher, lecturer, and author. He writes because he wants to engage the world around him. He started writing educational documentaries for the ABC in Sydney in 1975. Now retired, Desmond’s career included acting, teaching and directing theatre, radio and TV. He divides his time between Asia and Nimbin, Australia, where he has a deep connection to the community. You can learn more by visiting his website www.desmondbishop.webs.com.
After Desmond’s presentation, Master of Ceremonies Richard Silverberg brought everyone up to date on upcoming events and then called on Roy Albiston to conduct the always informative Open Forum; where questions are asked and answered about Expat living in Thailand.
For more information on the Club and its many activities, please visit their website at: www.pattayacityexpatsclub.com.
Author Desmond Bishop explained how this photograph he took long ago of a menacing buffalo was the inspiration for his mutant buffalo villain in his book “The Wizard of Zee.”
Desmond showed this picture of the cover of his novel “The Wizard of Zee” showing the Wizard, the boy Demki, the Lion Man, and other characters in this fantasy for teens and adults. He pointed out that the background in this illustration was Victoria Falls in Africa.
