Geoffrey Philp

Uncle Obadiah and the Alien Geoffrey Philp

The lives of contemporary Jamaicans both at home and in exile in Miami are portrayed with humour, pathos and deep understanding. Like the best roots reggae albums, this collection mixes a multitude of voices and attitudes with inventiveness and art. Righteous anger, ragamuffin provocations and insightful observation are present through a variety of forms: social realism, the Jamaican tall tale and even science fiction. The social environments of contemporary Jamaica and Miami are sharply drawn in these stories, but it is the inwardness and humanity of the characterisation which makes them truly memorable.