SA has few independent bookshops, almost no worthwhile reviewing and certainly no cult of the reviewer as there is in Britain or the US.

Books about Afghanistan tell tales of war, kite-flying, the Taliban and patience stones.

Pirate, merc and telepath – all female, but some less convincingly so than others, writes Gwen Ansell.

Roxandra Dardagan Britz and Dan Wylie’s witty and beautiful collaboration of poetry and printmaking smoulders with the artists’ passion.

Pat Schwartz reviews ‘In Search of Happiness’ by Sonwabiso Ngcowa and ‘May I Have This Dance’ by Connie Manse Ngcaba.

Jane Rosenthal reviews ‘Dark Windows’ by Louis Greenberg and ‘Half of One Thing’ by Zirk van den Berg.