{"product_id":"the-late-guest","title":"The Late Guest","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThis book will be released in October 2026.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePre-orders are charged at time of order and the book will be posted to you as soon as it becomes available.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUK postage is 99 pence per order.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'Deftly teetering from small occasion to whimsical association, with a glance at some lightly worn knowledge, some close-to-the-bone apprehension, on the way, the apparently casual voice of these prose poems knows exactly what it’s doing. Think of the skill of the tightrope walker, always almost falling in a way that makes us smile… and gasp now and then. Yes, like that.’ – \u003cstrong\u003ePhilip Gross\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe prose poems in \u003cem\u003eThe Late Guest\u003c\/em\u003e dwell on remembered episodes, accidental encounters, overheard conversations, daydreams and art works to find surprising meaning – allegories from fragments and insights into the life of the mind. Readers of these poems might be amused or moved, or both at once, but also provoked to think outside the poems’ small, clear boxes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this playful and deft collection, pickpockets, psychoanalysts, professors and philosophers run amok. There are exuberant dolphins, aggressive whales and unsolvable arguments. Boys mime causes of death at the swimming pool and a geyser erupts sporadically but a trip to the Repair Café should see you right. Future wives and other interesting encounters may be found in the kitchen of a party, if only you could arrive on time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ePraise for \u003cem\u003ePattern Beyond Chance\u003c\/em\u003e:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e‘Payne’s poems are accessible as well as intelligent.’ –\u003cstrong\u003e Katherine Stansfield\u003c\/strong\u003e, gwales.com\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e‘Payne’s amiable juggernaut of curiosity seduces effortlessly.’ – \u003cstrong\u003eTerese Coe\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cem\u003eNew Walk Review\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: start;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1097\/7086\/files\/Stephen_Payne_3_240x240.jpg?v=1785150272\" alt=\"\" style=\"float: none;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: start;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStephen Payne\u003c\/strong\u003e was born in Merthyr and lives in Penarth. He has published poems in magazines including \u003cem\u003eThe Poetry Review\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eThe Rialto\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eThe North\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eThe Dark Horse\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eMagma\u003c\/em\u003e,\u003cem\u003e Poetry Wales\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eNew Welsh Review\u003c\/em\u003e. He was a Smiths Knoll mentee which led to the publication of his debut pamphlet, \u003cem\u003eThe Probabilities of Balance\u003c\/em\u003e in 2010. His first full collection \u003cem\u003ePattern Beyond Chance\u003c\/em\u003e was published by HappenStance in 2015 and shortlisted for Wales Book of the Year. It was followed by \u003cem\u003eThe Windmill Proof\u003c\/em\u003e (2021) and a pamphlet \u003cem\u003eThe Wax Argument \u0026amp; Other Thought\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e Experiments\u003c\/em\u003e (2022). Stephen’s job until recently was Professor of Human-Centric Systems at the University of Bath where he is currently Professor Emeritus.\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Stephen Payne","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55618384626040,"sku":null,"price":10.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1097\/7086\/files\/9781913830793.jpg?v=1785150486","url":"https:\/\/www.parthianbooks.com\/products\/the-late-guest","provider":"Parthian Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}