The Courage ConsortThe Courage Consort, possibly the seventh best known a cappella vocal ensemble in Britain, are given two weeks in a Belgian chateau to rehearse their latest commission, the monstrously complicated Partitum Mutante. But can the piece be performed? Does it matter that its composer is a maniac best known for attacking his wife with a stiletto shoe at the baggage reclaim of Milan airport? Can the five members of the Consort endure their own sexual

witnessing the clash of armies

the other stabbed through the heart

The third storyline is about the inhabitants of the Abbey and a threat to their safety

who are strange

Or is their purpose altogether more deadly than a trip to the blue movies

a dangerous mission far away from the girl he loves

the mime-lords and mime-queens of the city's gangs are invited to a rare meeting of the Unnatural Assembly

yet the stories within may appear shockingly familiar

Rooted as it is in the authors own disturbing experience of war in our time

Baldwin and Puttock learn that Moll was a pious girl

An action-packed and unique fantasy adventure

Samuel Hawley moves with his teenage daughter Loo to Olympus