A roar of frustrated rage and pain at the way we live and work in the twenty-first century. It's a book about 11-hour shifts, sick-days, lay-offs, computer systems crashing and the joy of Friday afternoons. Dermot, Stacey, Shaq, Big Bri, Dexter the old-timer, Antoine, Mohammed, Jim the Letch, and Harry the head supervisor work for Phoenix Express couriers, located somewhere `between Stockholm Street and Syndrome Way', making money for other people and trying to make themselves heard above the roar of an economic system that `has us in its mouth and is shaking us about in its teeth'.
Exploring the multifaceted life of one of Britain's most notorious figures, the narrative delves into his roles as an occultist, poet, and free-love advocate. Known for his controversial pursuits, including summoning demons and espionage, he sought to save humanity while earning the title of "The Wickedest Man in the World." The book captures the paradox of a genius whose ambitions led to both acclaim and alienation, painting a vivid portrait of a man who lived on the edge of societal norms.
The book presents a clever allegory reflecting on modern work life, drawing inspiration from the tradition of poets and writers who navigate totalitarian regimes. Martin Hayes and Ox showcase their ingenuity and perseverance in crafting a narrative that remains both incisive and humorous, effectively conveying their message while evading the scrutiny of oppressive authorities.
In 1947, a diverse crew embarks on a moon mission to investigate a peculiar lunar signal, thrusting them into a web of intrigue involving British Intelligence, ex-Nazi scientists, and CIA operatives. As they navigate through the chaos, they encounter bizarre elements, including Scottish Highland sheep, and uncover a vast conspiracy that threatens the world. The narrative blends historical context with science fiction, creating a thrilling adventure filled with suspense and unexpected twists.
"Martin Hayes' third Smokestack collection is a hymn to the invisible workers everywhere who hold up the sky--specifically the couriers and support staff who have been working 15-hours a day to distribute PPE and test kits up and down the UK. Underneath is a brutally funny collection about work, comradeship and community, the deals we do to stay human in the dehumanising conditions of the twenty-first century, the years we exchange for a fridge full of food, a well-stocked medicine cabinet and the chance to swim in the sea once a year. It's a book about work-mates and neighbours, warnings and redundancies, managers with their 'Moray eel smiles' and the alien rich who think that the world belongs to them. Martin Hayes gives a voice to everyone at the bottom of the pile, below the salt, underneath, defiantly asserting that we are not defeated--at least not just yet."--Page 4 of cover.
Culture Matters has published an oustanding new collection of poetry by Martin Hayes.Martin Hayes is the only British poet who writes consistently and seriously about work, and about the insanity of a society where employees are seen as mere ‘hands’ whose sole role is to make money for the employer.Alan Dent, a publisher and poet himself, who writes an illuminating introduction, says, “Hayes speaks for those whose lives are supposed to be not worth speaking about. He is intent on revealing the significance of the lives of ordinary people in the workplace. When current employment relations are consigned to the dustbin of history, and are viewed as we now view the feudal relations between lord and vassal, will people wonder why so little was written about it?"Martin’s poems are direct and simple, and full of black humour. Like the grainy black and white images that illustrate them so well, they expose and express the simple, terrible truth – that the human relation on which our society is based, that between employer and employee, is morally indefensible. The clear message of his poetry is that those who do the work should own, control, and benefit fully from it. They should, in the last words of the last poem, ‘start the revolution that will change everything’, and show that ‘all of our fingertips combined/might just be the fingertips/ that keep us and this Universe/ stitched together’.
Martin Hayes spent his childhood on a farm in County Clare, in a household steeped in musical tradition. After a free-spirited youth, he headed to the United States where he built a career that led to a life of musical performance on stages all over the world. Shared Notes traces this remarkable journey. Picking up his first fiddle at the age of seven, Hayes learned that music must express feeling. No amount of technical prowess can compensate for an absence of soulfulness. His interpretations of traditional Irish music are recognized the world over for their exquisite musicality and irresistible rhythm. Hayes has toured and recorded with guitarist Dennis Cahill for over twenty years, founded the Irish-American band The Gloaming, The Martin Hayes Quartet and The Common Ground Ensemble, and here, for the first time, tells his story of getting to the heart of the music.
