Discover The Lyrical Brilliance Of South To That Dark Sun By Gareth Owen

On The Table Read Magazine, “the best arts and entertainment magazine UK“, discover South To That Dark Sun, Gareth Owen’s masterful collection of eleven short stories that blend wit, heart, and piercing insight, showcasing the lyrical brilliance of a celebrated poet, playwright, and musician.

Gareth Owen, a literary polymath whose talents span poetry, prose, drama, and music, has crafted a remarkable legacy that shines brightly in his 2010 short story collection, South To That Dark Sun. This masterful work of eleven stories blends wit, heart, and piercing insight, offering readers a captivating journey through the complexities of human experience.

Whether you’re drawn to dark humor, psychological depth, or tender moments, this collection is a must-read, showcasing Owen’s storytelling prowess and cementing his status as a celebrated author, poet, and performer.

A Life Shaped by Words and Wanderlust

Born in Ainsdale, Lancashire, with Welsh roots, Gareth Owen grew up steeped in a blend of Northern humor and Welsh melancholy, influenced by his fervent Presbyterian father who read classics like Treasure Island, The Bible, and Lorna Doone. From an early age, Owen was captivated by words, reading the dictionary for fun and sketching masterpieces from The World’s Greatest Paintings by artists like Rembrandt and Caravaggio. His childhood was also marked by a passion for football, immortalized in his poem “The Commentator,” where he imagined himself as a young boy captaining England in his backyard.

Owen’s youth was filled with adventurous escapades that shaped his storytelling. At two and a half, he hopped on an electric train, traveling twenty miles toward Liverpool, causing a stir among his parents and the police. At thirteen, he and friends attempted to sail a stolen door down a river, only to sink yards from the bank. These spirited anecdotes, coupled with a Merchant Navy stint where he fell from a mast in Buenos Aires, sustaining a triple skull fracture, infuse his work with authenticity and a knack for finding humor in life’s absurdities.

After his naval adventures, Owen found his calling in education, teaching at Downshall Secondary Modern School in Ilford, where he became Head of English and Drama, and later spending 23 years as a drama lecturer in Birmingham. It was during his teaching years that his writing career took root. Frustrated by the disconnect between traditional poetry and his students’ lives, Owen began crafting poems about everyday experiences, leading to his acclaimed debut collection, Salford Road (1976), praised by poet Patric Dickinson as “original, beautiful, serious, funny, real and imaginative.” This marked the beginning of a prolific career that spans poetry, novels, plays, and music.

South To That Dark Sun: A Literary Triumph

South To That Dark Sun is a dazzling collection of eleven short stories that showcase Owen’s evolution from poet to prose master. With a poet’s precision and a storyteller’s flair, he introduces readers to a vibrant cast of characters navigating surreal, poignant, and deeply human moments. From Zia Teresa, a naive Italian beauty with eccentric obsessions inspired by an anecdote from Owen’s Italian teacher, to a faded rock/blues singer enchanted by the honeyed voice of his Mississippi Southern Belle satnav, each story is a world unto itself, united by Owen’s lyrical prose and sharp observation.

The collection’s strength lies in its range, seamlessly blending comedy, horror, and tenderness. Standout stories include the chilling ghost tale of an aborted child, the unraveling of a narcissistic actor in Gilded Butterflies, and the poignant economy of Fault. Made in Heaven and How I Met My Wife are hailed as masterpieces by academic Martial Rose, who called the collection a “stunning masterpiece” for its “story-telling skill and range.” Jenny Rose, Professor of Religion at Claremont University, described it as a “consummate work of art,” noting its “gripping” power and narrative freshness. An Amazon reviewer echoed this, praising its “range of themes, skilled use of language, and shrewd depiction of character,” with a 4.2-star rating underscoring its appeal.

Brian Tippett, Emeritus Pro-Vice Chancellor of Winchester University, lauded Owen’s “technical skill” and “human insight,” particularly in stories with English settings that draw on the author’s own life. Whether it’s the dexterous humor of Zia Teresa or the ironic twist of Gilded Butterflies, Owen’s ability to inhabit diverse perspectives with empathy and authenticity makes this collection a literary gem that enthralls and delights.

A Renaissance Man of the Arts

Owen’s talents extend far beyond prose. A prize-winning poet, he has published collections like Song of the City (a Signal Poetry Award winner), My Granny Is a Sumo Wrestler, and The Fox on the Roundabout, with his work appearing in over 100 anthologies. For years, he presented BBC’s Poetry Please! and Verse Universe, earning the Welsh Academy Spoken Poetry Award and the National Speak a Poem Award for his captivating readings. His YouTube channel features performances like “Mummy I Never Knew You,” a poignant reflection on his regret of not knowing his mother, and renditions of classics like Robert Browning’s “My Last Duchess.”

As a playwright, Owen has seen four of his works produced by the BBC, including The Game, in which he played the lead. His acting credits include roles in Othello, The Merchant of Venice, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. He also won awards for his play Rosie No-Name and the Forest of Forgetting, later adapted into a novel. Owen’s creative versatility shines in his films, such as The Door (2006) and Old Country (1986), co-directed with Phil Brown, and his involvement in a 1984 news item about his book The Final Test and singer Ruby Turner’s rock opera Rumpus.

Music is another facet of Owen’s artistry. Under the pseudonym Virg Clenthills, he has recorded three country music albums, including Rolling By and I’m Out of This Place. His performances, often with guitarist Steve Dunachie, blend storytelling with soulful melodies, as seen in music videos like Marie, The Preacher, and Happy with That, available on YouTube. Owen’s love for performance, whether reciting poetry or singing, reflects the same passion and authenticity found in his writing.

Why South To That Dark Sun Matters

South To That Dark Sun is more than a collection of stories—it’s a meditation on the messy, beautiful, and surreal nature of human existence. Owen’s ability to capture the absurd (a satnav romance) and the heartbreaking (a ghost story) with equal finesse makes this work a standout. As Tippett noted, Owen’s “intimate awareness of the social setting” and “higher level of human insight” elevate the narratives, particularly those drawn from his own experiences. His advice to writers—“Have talent, read, observe, keep at it, be lucky and tell it true”—is embodied in every page, grounding the stories in truth and emotional resonance.

This collection is perfect for readers who crave fiction that surprises, provokes, and illuminates. Its elegant prose and unforgettable characters make it an ideal gift for discerning readers or a cherished addition to any bookshelf. With its blend of humor, horror, and tenderness, South To That Dark Sun leaves readers eager for more from Owen’s lyrically inventive mind.

A Call to Discover Gareth Owen

Now residing in Ludlow, Gareth Owen continues to inspire through his writing, performances, and music. His YouTube channel showcases poetry readings, music videos, and theatrical performances. For those new to his work, South To That Dark Sun is the perfect entry point—a collection that captures the heart and soul of humanity with wit, empathy, and unflinching clarity.

Pick up South To That Dark Sun today and immerse yourself in the brilliance of Gareth Owen, a storyteller whose work resonates across genres and generations.

Find more from Gareth Owen now:

Apple Books: https://apple.co/4ki3c6J

Kindle: https://amzn.to/4deVQ1i

Paperback: https://amzn.to/4jPfSC7