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The Missionaries Paperback – October 31, 2016

by Owen Stanley (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars 99 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Paperback
  • Publisher: Castalia House (October 31, 2016)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 9527065941
  • ISBN-13: 978-9527065945
  • Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.4 x 8.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (99 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #433,463 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsModernity collides with tradition leading to hilarity
By Vanhelmont on June 25, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition
Elephant island in the South Pacific is the home of Morok tribes living their traditional lifestyle under an Australian colonial governor, but the missionaries of the title (United Nations variety) are on their way to free them from oppression and bring them into the modern world. Their arrival brings both hilarity and catastrophe. Subject matter and writing reminded me of Waugh's "Black Mischief," which I also highly recommend. Both books may (no, will) trouble the politically correct, but like Waugh in "Black Mischief," Stanley invites us to laugh at everybody, so there's equal opportunity. Also who shows more respect for the Moroks, the governor who takes time to understand them and lets them live as they please while moderating disputes and preventing things like canibalism, or the missionaries who are determined to drag them into a modernity they don't understand, and might not even want if they did.

Before the arrival of the missionaries Elephant Island is home to a variety of odd characters, both expatriot and aboriginal. Communication between the two groups in in Pidgin, and your visit to elephant Island will be more enjoyable if you can understand this interaction. "Belong" is a preposition like "of" or "for," so "Stanley's book" is "book belong Stanley," but don't let it worry you, there's not a lot, most of it's pretty obvious, and if you don't get the Pidgin you can get the meaning from the context. There's also Australian slang, and weights in stone, which all contributes to the atmosphere.

It'll probably be the funniest book you read all year.
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5.0 out of 5 starsFun
By Tom Bri on June 25, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition
First, let me say that I read this pre-release, a copy I received for free from the publisher.
This was a fun story, and I really enjoyed reading it. The author, Owen Stanley, writes in a rich, flamboyant style that I associate with the best early to mid 20th century writers, but without overdoing it and spoiling the story with grandiose verbage. This guy hit the sweet spot, reminding me of stories by H. Beam Piper.
The story itself tells a tale of woe befalling a small island country in the South Pacific, as it leaves rule by Australia and becomes a republic, under the ignorant and inept hands of UN bureaucrats. Mr. Stanley describes these do-gooders fumbles and failures with acid and cruelly accurate humor.
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5.0 out of 5 starsLaugh-out-loud funny
By Rawle N. Lucas on June 27, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
A clueless UN bureaucrat tries to modernize a remote tribe while an old colonial administrator opposes him. The way the bureaucrat reinterprets everything to fit his academic theories will leave you rolling on the floor; it's like the guy couldn't see what was in front of him.
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5.0 out of 5 starsAn Amazing and Hilarious Old Fashioned Adventure Story
By Cataline Sergius on June 25, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition
Missionaries is both a rollicking rip roaring old fashioned great white hunter adventure as well as hilariously stinging modern satire.

If L. Rider Haggard, Rudyard Kipling and James Clavell had decided to collaborate on a book The Missionaries would be the result.

This story is skillfully constructed. The tone is consistent and builds steadily to climax that I didn’t quite predict. That’s good because there’s nothing worse then an ending you saw coming all along.

There is a skillful mixture poetic description that paints a vivid and flourishing portrait of life on Elephant Island and is ably counterbalanced by larger then life characters...as well some lower then life characters, on display here. In my time I’ve known people like all of them. If you've lived a quiet life, allow me to assure you, these are all real people.

The Missionaries takes place on Elephant Island. An Australian protectorate that Australia wants off the books. The Island is going to be Independent whether they like it or not. The Moroks who inhabit Elephant Island would have been surprised to hear that anyone besides them owned it in the first place.

“Roaring” Roger Fletcher is the Australian Royal Magistrate in name and local king in function. The native Morok peoples are convinced that he is the incarnation of their chief god Takime. He lives rough as he wishes and enjoys the Morok’s love and respect, their roast pork and their svelte women. He carefully manages local disputes using trial by combat as a way to keep murder, rape and cannibalism within acceptable limits.

The Moroks have their own culture and are rather fond of it.

The problem is that the UN has decided that they won’t be allowed to keep it.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsHitch Hikers Guide meets social justice warriors in a United Nations 3rd world development project
By Cheddarman on June 27, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
A former island outpost of the British Empire then Australia is to transition from rule by "old school realist" colonial officials to independence. A group of idealistic but hopelessly naive UN administrators come in to administer the change in government. Hilarity ensues due to clashes of culture and world views. This is the first book Douglas Adams (Hitch Hikers Guide fame) would have written if he were a United Nations filed worker in the 3rd world or a Peace Corps volunteer.
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5.0 out of 5 starsThe Missionaries by Owen Stanley
By bearspaw on June 27, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition
This novel resurrects a style of story telling that
l thought was long ago forgotten. Stanley ably puts together a tale that is more than just reminiscent of Maugham and Waugh. He beautifully creates characters that all of us recognize. From the savvey colonial officer to the naive " missionaries " the western characters are nicely developed. You have seen and enjoyed them in their roles many times. And Stanley's natives are clearly the product of his own experiences. His obvious knowledge of their culture is carefully on display here. Garang, the seer, is as fascinting a character as you will find anywhere. All in all this book has humour, adventure and exotic settings that anyone, not just lovers of this style, will thoroughly enjoy.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 starsEnjoyed

Funny and easy to read. Short and well written. Will look for more from this author. Good lesson about colonialism.

Published 3 days ago by Stephen
5.0 out of 5 starsI highly recommend it!

A hilariously biting satire of the United Nations international development industry and the mindless do-gooderism that it embodies. I highly recommend it!

Published 4 days ago by Ink and Cordite
5.0 out of 5 starsGreat entertaining read

This is a great parody on the stupidity of bureaucracy Very entertaining esp for anyone who know PNG Some very funny vignettes
Definitely not PC

Published 14 days ago by Pearstewks
3.0 out of 5 starsAmusing

Satirical view of UN attempts to "civilize" the natives on some island. The book is amusing, if a bit patronizing. Read more

Published 15 days ago by CarolinCLH
3.0 out of 5 starsThree Stars

An amusing read. Worth the time.

Published 1 month ago by MichW
5.0 out of 5 starsExcellent.

The Missionaries is a satire of the disconnect between 1st world do-gooders and the primitive societies they think they can help. Read more

Published 1 month ago by John R. Firneno
5.0 out of 5 starsBest book with cannibals I've read this year!

Thoroughly enjoyed the book. Once you get used to the strange names, the material makes for speedy, humor-filled reading. Read more

Published 1 month ago by Daniel R Tidwell
5.0 out of 5 starsIf only it were a bit longer.

A stunningly accurate depiction of a clash between modem feminized progressive culture and the reality of low technology at low I.Q. tribal society. Read more

Published 2 months ago by idprism
5.0 out of 5 starsHilarious

Good read, loved the wit and a plot where logical incoherence and cultural naivety meet their appropriate end. Well done!

Published 2 months ago by S. Chandler
5.0 out of 5 starsSuperb characters.

You can practically see the glint of insanity in the eyes of Stanley's questing naïfs. Meanwhile, the big man in charge of the island they're plaguing knows more about the hapless... Read more

Published 2 months ago by Amazon Customer

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