Murdoch Stephens

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Murdoch Stephens (born 1981) is a New Zealand author, researcher and refugee advocate. He is founding editor of Lawrence & Gibson publishing and previously wrote under the name Richard Meros. [1] In 2013 he founded the Double the Refugee Quota campaign that led to the doubling of New Zealand's refugee quota in 2020. [2] [3]

Contents

Stephens was raised in South Otago [4] and attended South Otago High School, [5] before studying at the University of Otago. [6]

Advocacy and academic work

After living in Syria, prior to the Civil War, and finding a series of photos of Afghan refugees, Stephens began the Double the Quota campaign in 2013. [3] [7]

By the time of the 2017 election, the campaign had gained prominence with civil society, media and political parties. [8] His experience of the campaign was published as a book by Bridget Williams Books in 2018. [9] [10] Stephens also campaigned against race-based restrictions in New Zealand's refugee quota, [11] which were removed in late 2019. [12]

Stephens completed a PhD, which was published as an academic book in 2018. [13] He lectured at Massey University [12] before becoming a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Auckland's Centre for Asia Pacific Refugee Studies (CAPRS).

Fiction

As Richard Meros

Richard Meros is a pseudonym used by Stephens, as well as appearing as a character in another of his novels, released under the name Nestor Notabilis. [14] Prior to the revelation of his identity, it had been speculated that Meros' real persona was either Stephens, actor Arthur Meek or one of the other members of Lawrence & Gibson publishing. [15]

First published in 2005, On the Conditions and Possibilities of Helen Clark Taking Me as Her Young Lover , received favourable reviews in New Zealand [16] and international press. [17] The book, often shortened to OTC&POHCTMAHYL, asked why Helen Clark, the Prime Minister at the time would want a young lover and then why the young lover would be Meros. The book is a work of metafiction as it concludes that the greatest likelihood of Meros being taken as a young lover would be if he wrote a book on the conditions and possibilities of being taken as a young lover. [18] The Guardian described it as 'decidedly lascivious' [17] and the NZ Listener called it a 'mock philosophical treatise' before praising it as 'the underground publishing hit of the decade'. [18]

The book was reissued and adapted into a play of the same name in 2007, [19] touring nationally and was nominated for theatrical performance of the year. [20] For his role as Meros, Arthur Meek was awarded the most promising male newcomer of 2008 at the Chapman Tripp Awards. [21] In 2015, the book was once again adapted into a play that substitutes Hillary Clinton for Helen Clark. [22]

In total, Stephens has released eight books under the Meros pseudonym through Lawrence & Gibson in New Zealand, including novels and political/cultural satire, though none have achieved the success of On the conditions and possibilities of Helen Clark taking me as her Young Lover. [23] [24] These other books include two adapted for theatre, both of which toured widely:

As Meros he has also written for a wide range of publications in New Zealand from current affairs magazine NZ Listener [31] and daily newspaper the Dominion Post to arts publications White Fungus [32] and Pantograph Punch. [33] In 2015, he was a recipient of Eleanor Catton's Horoeka Grant. In response he wrote the essay 'New Bourgeoizealand'. [34]

As Murdoch Stephens

In 2020, he released his first novel under his own name, Rat King Landlord, with Lawrence & Gibson. [35] The book was well received featuring on best of the year lists [36] and was subsequently praised as "last year's surprise literary hit". [37] The novel led to some public commentary on the problems with New Zealand's housing market, [38] [39] and a 2023 partnership with Renters United to re-release ten thousand copies of the novel in tabloid format with launches and events around the county. [40] [41]

In 2022 he released Down from Upland, which was long-listed for the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction, Ockham New Zealand Book Awards 2023. [42] [43] Writing in Landfall, Craig Cliff, said:

Just as the content of the novel revolves around maturity, how teenagers seek it and Millennial parents shirk it, Down from Upland feels like a confident stride towards a new, fully-fledged form for Murdoch Stephens. [44]

In addition to being an author he maintains his role of an editor at Lawrence & Gibson publishing [45] and regularly writes for a range of news media including the Spinoff [46] and Stuff. [47]

Selected publications

Novels

As Murdoch Stephens:

As Richard Meros:

Non Fiction books

Essays

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References

  1. ↑ Catherall, Sarah (5 August 2022). "Inventing a new name helped author Murdoch Stephens with writer's block". Stuff. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  2. ↑ "New Zealand to raise refugee quota in 2020". The Guardian. Australian Associated Press. 19 September 2018. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  3. 1 2 Lang, Sarah (14 September 2015). "What drives refugee campaigner Murdoch Stephens?". Stuff. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  4. ↑ Stephens, Murdoch (28 December 2021). "Murdoch Stephens essay: Just a couple of Haybales, all summer long". Stuff. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  5. ↑ Stephens, Murdoch (7 June 2022). "Reads like teen spirit: Murdoch Stephens introduces his new novel". The Spinoff. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  6. ↑ Francis, Oscar (6 May 2023). "Book highlights renting horrors". Otago Daily Times Online News. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  7. ↑ "Murdoch Stephens: Fate of refugees shouldn't be a lottery". NZ Herald. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  8. ↑ "Political Roundup: Increasing the refugee quota to 60,000". NZ Herald. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  9. ↑ Mulligan, Jesse (9 August 2019). "Double the Quota: How to campaign". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  10. ↑ Stephens, Murdoch (2018). Doing Our Bit: The Campaign to Double the Refugee Quota. Wellington, New Zealand: Bridget Williams Books. doi:10.7810/9781988545233. ISBN   9781988545233.
  11. ↑ Stephens, Murdoch (28 May 2019). "A short history of New Zealand's racist refugee policy". The Spinoff. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  12. 1 2 Graham-McLay, Charlotte (4 October 2019). "Under Pressure, New Zealand Ends a Refugee Policy Branded Racist". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  13. ↑ Stephens, Murdoch (2018). Critical Environmental Communication: How Does Critique Respond to the Urgency of Climate Change?. USA: Lexington. ISBN   978-1-4985-7087-9.
  14. ↑ Stephens, Murdoch (14 July 2020). "Meros is dead. Long live Murdoch". The Spinoff. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  15. ↑ "Playing Favourites with Richard Meros". Radio New Zealand. 16 November 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  16. ↑ Somerset, Guy (2005) "Review" Dominion Post, August
  17. 1 2 "Shortcuts". The Guardian. 21 June 2005. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  18. 1 2 "Mystery man – Uncategorized – The Listener". Listener.co.nz. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  19. ↑ Laurie Atkinson (2008) Slick, wicked poke at politics, Dominion Post(reprint in Theatreview.co.nz), 17 January
  20. ↑ "New Zealand Theatre: theatre reviews, performance reviews". Theatreview.org.nz. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  21. ↑ "Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards – 2008". Chapmantripptheatreawards.org.nz. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  22. ↑ "Exploring possibilities". Otago Daily Times. 25 May 2015. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  23. ↑ "lawrence and gibson publishing collective". lLawrenceandgibson.co.nz. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  24. ↑ "Landfall Review Online: Generation Xperimental". landfallreview.com. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  25. ↑ "Free-entry 'Play' earns theatre awards". Otago Daily Times. 12 December 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  26. ↑ "New Zealand Theatre: theatre reviews, performance reviews". Theatreview.org.nz. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  27. ↑ "lawrence and gibson publishing collective: Richard Meros". Lawrenceandgibson.co.nz. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  28. ↑ "Privatising Parts by Richard Meros and Getting Under Sail by Brannavan Gnanalingam review – Books – The Listener". Listener.co.nz. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  29. ↑ Burgess, Malcolm (2011) 'Small and Cheekily Formed' Dominion Post, 11 May.
  30. ↑ "New Zealand Theatre: theatre reviews, performance reviews". Theatreview.org.nz. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  31. ↑ "'Give me back my sandals' – Travel – The Listener". Listener.co.nz. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  32. ↑ "A stone's throw from Afghanistan". Stuff. 8 December 2010. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  33. ↑ Stephens, Murdoch. "Writing on the Wall? Fascism and Antifa Presence on the Streets of Eastern Europe". Pantograph Punch. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  34. ↑ "'New Bourgeoizealand' by Richard Meros | the Lancewood Foundation".
  35. ↑ Adams, Josie (16 August 2020). "My flatmate, the rat". The Spinoff. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  36. ↑ "Book review - Best of 2020 - New Zealand books". RNZ. 26 January 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  37. ↑ Newton, Dileepa Fonseka and Kate (26 January 2021). "Rents soar after Covid-19 freeze ends". Stuff. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  38. ↑ "Rent spike after Covid-19 freeze lifted". RNZ. 28 January 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  39. ↑ Borissenko, Sasha. "New Zealand: The struggle to find a 'decent home'". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  40. ↑ Books, The Spinoff Review of (16 February 2023). "Rat King Landlord: Why Renters United is releasing a free edition of the cult novel". The Spinoff. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  41. ↑ Stephens, Murdoch (7 June 2023). "Taking the Rat King on tour". Overland literary journal. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  42. ↑ Mabey, Claire (2 February 2023). "Behold: The longest Ockham New Zealand Book Awards longlist... ever!". The Spinoff. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  43. ↑ "Sexual harassment, the novel". Newsroom. 2 June 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  44. ↑ "The Kids are Alright, For Now". Landfall. 31 August 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  45. ↑ "Murdoch Stevens - Behind the Scenes of a Publishing House". RNZ. 28 February 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  46. ↑ Stephens, Murdoch. "Murdoch Stephens". The Spinoff. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  47. ↑ "How I write: Murdoch Stephens and the soundtracks to his books". Stuff. 3 May 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  48. ↑ "On the birth of TEZA". Letting Space. 21 November 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  49. ↑ "New Bourgeoizealand". Horoeka Reading. 5 August 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
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