The Buddha in Malibu
Subtitle: new and selected stories
By: by William Harrison.
Publisher: University of Missouri Press
Published: 1998
Place of publication: Columbia
Language: eng
Number of pages: 215
Description: Dissecting a legendary American locale where people live in close proximity to the movie business and at vast distances from themselves, the Malibu stories explore a series of satiric yet deeply human confrontations. "The Cockatoo Tower" weaves the tale of a construction worker ensnared in the lives of three of his most profitable clients.

In order to retain his current projects, the man must appease the persistent advances of a wealthy mystic, pose as a lucrative Canadian businessman, and convince an avid antique collector to open her own shop. In this humorous yet unsentimental story, Harrison reveals that even a simple construction worker must play the subtle games that permeate Malibu's elite society.

The African stories reflect Harrison's long preoccupation with that continent and add a new dimension to this turbulent setting. "On Location" presents an untamed view of the great continent. In each bizarre scenario, a director or an actor tries, with the help of a technical adviser, to capture the "essence" of Africa, whether that be the power of the Congo or the murderous skills of a wild leopard.