South Parks. Tales from the Southern Commons - Chris Roberts;Tim Bird

South Parks is a collection of twenty short stories set in, about or around a selection of South London open spaces

Each story is set in a different park or series of parks in South London. The subjects vary but there are a number that deal with folklore or even folk horror whilst many touch of the legends and stories south London's diverse communities have brought. Several contain no magical realist element at all but every one explores the joy and magic of the cities' open spaces. and how people interact with them.

Inside are talking statues, strange cults, pagan estate agents and a very wrong horse. There are foxes and a vengeful toilet goddess but also stories of love, friendship, family life and growing up. Find out about 'le marketing de Scooby Doo', Peckham Rye's gay cultural renaissance, who stole the soul of London and whether young Martisha gets it back. Meanwhile in Brockwell Park a song as old as time is sung again.

GT Jenny - A song as old as time sung again near Brixton Beach. La vie est un vieux copain de cabaret - le marketing de Scooby Doo. Going down to Liverpool in the morning - A tale of two-family reunions, you'd have to have a heart of stone not get properly dusty. Rent free in SW18 - Conspiracies thrive by the Wandle waterside free ride in Battersea - Wrong horses for courses. A Carnival Rocker - Who stole the soul of London and will young Martisha get it back? Died a goose of Southwark - Did she really die or is she still there? Thorns around England's rose - Strange goings on, on Plumstead Common. Shifting up my boots - Bare botanical tales from Walworth. Dying for a smoke - Joggers of the undead in the cemetery of Nunhead? Folklore of urban foxes - Just what is the sweetest truffle and will our foxy hero find it? The Groovy Gang - Young friends find a future and salvation in Dawson Hills. The great worm of the New Cross borders - A basilisk breeding program goes awry for Trisha and Saranda. Flush with success - A traditional tales of artistic endeavour and toilet deities. Ley of the land - Trackways of carnal desire around Greenwich Park. Burgess Park Balladeer - The armies of liberation sing their songs by the BMX track. It's beHind you -Oh dear my dear these deer cause fear. Hear I sit listening - A different take on the windy city in King Edward's Gardens. Ghost riders on the Rye - Peckham Rye's gay cultural renaissance Remembrance of times past - This may change some childhood memories, and not for the better.