Harrison, Craig
Entry updated 12 September 2022. Tagged: Author, Theatre.
(1942- ) UK-born playwright and author, in New Zealand from 1966, whose work embodies consistently anti-racist themes. The material initially expounded in the play Tomorrow Will Be a Lovely Day (performed 1974; 1975) is developed in Broken October: New Zealand, 1985 (1976), which depicts an authoritarian Dystopia, with Maoris able to travel only when issued with passes; the American government colludes with the New Zealand authorities to retain access to military rights. In The Quiet Earth (1981), filmed as The Quiet Earth (1985), a Genetic-Engineering disaster depopulates the planet. The insane protagonist realizes, in a moment of Conceptual Breakthrough that vindicates his Paranoia, that he has caused the Disaster. Days of Starlight (1988) pits scientists against the US military after a holographic recorder of Earth's history is discovered. Technically excellent, Harrison's work for adults is sometimes uninvolving. The Dumpster Saga (2007) is a spoofish tale for younger Young Adult readers, involving Precognition and the flying-saucer-like dumpster. [MMacL/JC]
Craig Harrison
born Leeds, West Yorkshire: 1942
works
- Tomorrow Will Be a Lovely Day (Wellington, New Zealand: A H and A W Reed, 1975) [play: first performed 18 May 1974: pb/]
- Broken October: New Zealand, 1985 (Wellington, New Zealand: A H and A W Reed, 1976) [hb/]
- The Quiet Earth (Auckland, New Zealand: Hodder and Stoughton, 1981) [hb/]
- Days of Starlight (Auckland, New Zealand: Hodder and Stoughton, 1988) [hb/Garry Meeson]
- The Dumpster Saga (Auckland, New Zealand: Scholastic, 2007) [pb/]
links
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