Pobby and Dingan live in Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, the opal capital of Australia. They are friends with Kellyanne Williamson, the daughter of a miner: indeed only she can see them. Pobby and Dingan are imaginary. Ashmol Williamson, Kellyanne's brother thinks his sister should grow up and stop being such a fruit loop - until the day when Pobby and Dingan disappear. As Kellyanne, grief-stricken, begins to fade away, Ashmol recruits the whole town in the search for Pobby and Dingan. In the end, however, he discovers that only he can find them, and he can only find them if he too begins to believe they are real.

'Intensely moving and brilliantly realised - a pocket masterpiece' Observer

About the Author
Ben Rice was born in Devon in 1972. He read English at Newcastle University and Wadham College, Oxford. Pobby and Dingan was awarded the Somerset Maugham Award in 2001 as well as being shortlisted for the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize. He lives in London.

Reviews
Quirky, moving and completely unexpected. It will charm all but the most dedicated cynic * Sunday Telegraph *
From its bold premise to its brave ending, Pobby and Dingan is full of surprises * The Times *
Quirky, moving and completely unexpected. It will charm all but the most determined cynic * Daily Telegraph *
With Pobby and Dingan, Ben Rice makes a strong claim to be a leader of the new generation. This novel marks one of those debuts that may well turn out to have been of the greatest significance -- Robert McCrum * Observer *
A delicate fable about faith-it shows the search for the impossible to be both touching and necessary * The Sunday Times *


Awards
Short-listed for Mail on Sunday / John Llewellyn Rhys Prize 2001.



Book Information
ISBN 9780099285625
Author Ben Rice
Format Paperback
Page Count 160
Imprint Vintage
Publisher Vintage Publishing
Weight(grams) 117g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 11mm