playing god

Playing God – republished

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Get your copy of the new hardback version of my book ‘Playing God’!

‘Playing God’ is a book of “Seven stories. Seven perspectives. Seven experiences. Seven morality tales of one immortal Rebel, Hero, Friend, Fan, Father, Son, Playing God” – which was originally published in 2018.

This new hardback version of ‘Playing God’ features a new front-cover artwork, depicting the main protagonist and character of each of the seven stories – the enigmatic “Man in Black”, and sometimes “Man in White”.

The stories of ‘Playing God’, and the character of the powerful and mysterious “Man in Black” and his interactions with those he meets, are some of the most compelling and inspiring tales I have written, and I often think about them and what they personally mean to me.

And I also have to mention that ‘Playing God’, its stories, and the character of the “Man in Black”, is dedicated to, and was inspired by, the late, great, David Bowie.

You can get your copy of the new hardcover version of ‘Playing God’ from Amazon now!

-Mark

Short story: “The Man in Green” (2018) by Mark Hastings

Mark Hastings books, David Bowie, playing god, Podcast, Short-story , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
The complete short story “The Man in Green” from Mark’s 2018 short-story collection, ‘Playing God’, about a young man by the name of Paul Arthur Newton, who, since he was a boy, has been best friends with the enigmatic, “God of the Wilderness”, Pan – who he regularly meets with and writes about in his journal, while enjoying the natural splendour of Chantry Woods, near his home. However, one day, while Paul and Pan are enjoying each others company, Paul is shown another side of Pan that concerns him – and when a “Man in White” arrives, claiming to be Pan’s father, Paul is given a opportunity to learn more about Pan, about the “Man in White”, and about why people, as well as gods, do what they do. ‘Playing God’ is a collection of “Seven stories… Seven perspectives… Seven experiences… about One Man in Black, one Man in White… Seven morality tales of one immortal Rebel, Hero, Friend, Fan, Father, Son, Playing, God”. You can read Mark’s poetry on his website http://MarkThePoet.Me, and you can purchase all of Mark’s books of poetry, short-story anthologies, and novellas on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3HjAJMC

Short story: “The Man in Blue” (2018) by Mark Hastings

Mark Hastings books, David Bowie, playing god, Podcast, Short-story , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
The complete short story “The Man in Blue” from Mark’s 2018 short-story collection, ‘Playing God’, about a young runaway called Jean, who has been living on the streets for over a year after running away from an abusive home life. Then, one day, Jean meets a mysterious “Man in Black” who wants to give Jean the gift of a new life; however, when the “Man in Black” is confronted by his past, in the form of his powerful father, he is forced to return home – but the “Man in Black” does not plan to stop being who he believes he was always meant to be, doing what he was always meant to do without a fight. ‘Playing God’ is a collection of “Seven stories… Seven perspectives… Seven experiences… about One Man in Black, one Man in White… Seven morality tales of one immortal Rebel, Hero, Friend, Fan, Father, Son, Playing, God”. You can read Mark’s poetry on his website http://MarkThePoet.Me, and you can purchase all of Mark’s books of poetry, short-story anthologies, and novellas on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3HjAJMC

Short story: “The Man in the Mirror” (2018) by Mark Hastings

Mark Hastings books, David Bowie, playing god, Podcast, Short-story , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
The complete short story “The Man in the Mirror” from Mark’s 2018 short-story collection, ‘Playing God’, about a washed-up rock star, called Paul, who finds himself staring at his own reflection, as well as being given a glimpse into the extraordinary history and former identity of the mysterious “Man in White” whose reflection gives an insight into who he is, who he was, and why he does what he does – at the same time helping Paul to realise that he has more to live for than he knows. ‘Playing God’ is a collection of “Seven stories… Seven perspectives… Seven experiences… about One Man in Black, one Man in White… Seven morality tales of one immortal Rebel, Hero, Friend, Fan, Father, Son, Playing, God”. You can read Mark’s poetry on his website http://MarkThePoet.Me, and you can purchase all of Mark’s books of poetry, short-story anthologies, and novellas on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3HjAJMC

Short story: “The Man in White” (2018) by Mark Hastings

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The complete short story “The Man in White” from Mark’s 2018 short-story collection, ‘Playing God’ about a young man who finds himself single and down on his luck on New Years Eve, who encounters a mysterious Man in Black/Man in White who gives the young man answers to his questions about why things happens the way that they happen, and who gives the young man an opportunity to change his life for the better. ‘Playing God’ is a collection of “Seven stories… Seven perspectives… Seven experiences… about One Man in Black, one Man in White… Seven morality tales of one immortal Rebel, Hero, Friend, Fan, Father, Son, Playing, God”. You can read Mark’s poetry on his website http://MarkThePoet.Me, and you can purchase all of Mark’s books of poetry, short-story anthologies, and novellas on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3HjAJMC

Short story: “The Man in Black” (2018) by Mark Hastings

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The complete short story “The Man in Black” from Mark’s 2018 short-story collection, ‘Playing God’ about a young woman called Layla whose life is changed from the moment that she watches a black cat be killed and then miraculously be brought back to life, as well as repeatedly encountering a mysterious “Man in Black” who bares a striking resemblance to the late great singer/songwriter David Bowie and who always seems to be at the right place at the right time when someone needs him. However, when Layla suffers a personal tragedy that the Man in Black is unable to do anything about, Layla starts to question who the “Man in Black” is and why he seemingly can not save everybody. ‘Playing God’ is a collection of “Seven stories… Seven perspectives… Seven experiences… about One Man in Black, one Man in White… Seven morality tales of one immortal Rebel, Hero, Friend, Fan, Father, Son, Playing, God”. You can read Mark’s poetry on his website http://MarkThePoet.Me, and you can purchase all of Mark’s books of poetry, short-story anthologies, and novellas on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3HjAJMC

Echoes and Reflections: “From Me to Us”

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In this episode, Mark reflects upon his literary journey from his first novel, ‘The Wolf In Me’ to one of his most recent books ‘The Wolf In You’ – essentially the beginning and the end of the main protagonist of the books of his literary world of stories: Olivia Hunter. Mark talks about and compares the experiences of writing a story that eventually becomes a book, which eventually continues into another story in another book, and how, over time, a share story universe can naturally come into being. Mark also talks about the equally valid and yet different experiences of reading a story by an author and listening to a story read by an author, and how rich and informative those experiences can be for readers, listeners, and authors also.

‘Playing God’ by Mark Hastings (2018) – audio book: The Man in Red – “No One Is Ever Alone”

Mark Hastings books, David Bowie, playing god, Podcast, Poetry, Short-story , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
In this episode, Mark recites the seventh and final story of his 2018 short-story collection, Playing God: ‘The Man in Red’ – “No One Is Ever Alone”, “About Playing God”, and the poems “Always the Starman” and “Hermes”. ‘Playing God’ is a collection of “Seven stories… Seven perspectives… Seven experiences… about One Man in Black, one Man in White… Seven morality tales of one immortal Rebel, Hero, Friend, Fan, Father, Son, Playing, God”. You can read Mark’s poetry on his website http://MarkThePoet.Me, and you can purchase all of Mark’s books of poetry, short-story anthologies, and novellas on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3HjAJMC

‘Playing God’ by Mark Hastings (2018) – audio book: The Man in Red – “Hermes”

Mark Hastings books, David Bowie, playing god, Podcast, Short-story , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
In this episode, Mark recites the seventh and final story of his 2018 short-story collection, Playing God: ‘The Man in Red’ – “Hermes”. ‘Playing God’ is a collection of “Seven stories… Seven perspectives… Seven experiences… about One Man in Black, one Man in White… Seven morality tales of one immortal Rebel, Hero, Friend, Fan, Father, Son, Playing, God”. You can read Mark’s poetry on his website http://MarkThePoet.Me, and you can purchase all of Mark’s books of poetry, short-story anthologies, and novellas on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3HjAJMC

‘Playing God’ by Mark Hastings (2018) – audio book: The Man in Red – “I Would Do Anything”

Mark Hastings books, David Bowie, playing god, Podcast, Short-story , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
In this episode, Mark recites the seventh and final story of his 2018 short-story collection, Playing God: ‘The Man in Red’ – “I Would Do Anything”. ‘Playing God’ is a collection of “Seven stories… Seven perspectives… Seven experiences… about One Man in Black, one Man in White… Seven morality tales of one immortal Rebel, Hero, Friend, Fan, Father, Son, Playing, God”. You can read Mark’s poetry on his website http://MarkThePoet.Me, and you can purchase all of Mark’s books of poetry, short-story anthologies, and novellas on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3HjAJMC