Micromega Publications

28/11/2025

Join us for the launch of...

The Last Pope Book 1: The Spiral Prophecy
Author: Shivani Bhugwandin

What happens when faith is engineered...and the divine becomes data?

Set in the shattered world of 2147 A.D., The Last Pope transports readers into a Vatican sealed off after the catastrophic Synaptic Purge, where miracles are monetised, faith is rationed, and divine power is traded as currency through “Indulgence Credits.”

Beyond its fortified borders, the Outer World pulses with resonance technologies that merge science and spirit, advancements the Vatican brands as heresy.

At the heart of this fractured future stand two brothers: Cassian, a forbidden scribe imprisoned for documenting uncomfortable truths, and Cassiel, a gifted Spiralkin whose glyph-wielding abilities align him with the underground rebels known as the Children of Illaria.

As prophecy awakens and rebellion ignites beneath marble floors, their destinies spiral toward a truth the Vatican can no longer contain.

When ancient glyphs stir and the long-lost Spiral Prophecy begins to unfold, a battle for humanity’s soul erupts—forcing every character to confront a single, timeless question: What remains of the sacred when institutions lose their way?

Blending futuristic mysticism, political tension, and profound spiritual inquiry, The Last Pope is both a gripping dystopian, sci-fi fantasy story and a mirror held up to our own evolving consciousness. Inspired by the symbolic richness of Dan Brown and the visionary depth of Margaret Atwood, this story challenges readers to rediscover the resonance within themselves

A Story Recognised. A Voice Transformed.
The world of The Last Pope was first born as a short story that went on to win nationally at the Curro Create annual creative writing competition, marking the beginning of an extraordinary new chapter for its author.

Celebrated writer, editor, and mentor Karin Schimke personally encouraged Shivani to expand the piece into a full series, guiding her over six intensive creative sessions. Under this mentorship, the story evolved into the powerful novella series launching today.

About the Author
Shivani Bhugwandin is a South African educator, storyteller, and spiritual seeker whose work explores the crossroads of faith, consciousness, and the human condition. Her writing speaks to those standing at the threshold of a new awareness - those ready to question, awaken, and remember.

26/11/2025

Kiru Naidoo’s latest book, Durban Indians will be launched at the Books and Chai Festival on Sunday, 30 November at the Umhlanga Apart Hotel.

The following is the foreword written by Selvan Naidoo…

Picking up Durban Indians is like opening a packet of Simba chips. No sooner have you had one bite, you want to reach for another. That addiction lies in Kiru's irreverent writing style.

Like a good biryani, he has an uncanny knack of mixing wit, fact, fiction, mischief, history and an inquisitive ear with a wicked imagination to dish up something sumptuous. His stories are all grounded in his lived experience as the archetypal Durban Indian on the one hand and a contrived English sophistication on the other. His prose is attractive in its simplicity and its brevity.

The culture of reading has waned the world over. The first thing we pick up in the morning is our cellphone. Too few pick up a book and among those who do, there is often little time to read a full length offering. Kiru's stories are shorter than the conventional short story genre pioneered by his inspirations Saki, Tagore, Wodehouse, Naipaul, Gordimer, Bessie Head, Anita Desai, Mariama Bâ and Ronnie Govender.

A thousand words by Kiru can be read on the toilet seat in the morning. A book left without a bookmark can be picked up at any point and one doesn't miss a thing unlike if one were reading a novel.

In this instance he has spurned the temptation of the frightful weight and bulk of his bestselling memoir, Made in Chatsworth, for a slim, uncluttered, easy reading volume. You will be left wanting more like that packet of salt and vinegar.

Selvan Naidoo, Great-great-grandson of Camatchee descended from the SS Truro in 1860.

24/11/2025

Each year, Dr Nanda Soobben illustrates and publishes a unique calendar that has become a true collector’s item.

Reflecting on his work, Dr Soobben says, “I have been highlighting great women in this country because of the stupidity of men. Every time I draw a cartoon, it’s usually about some foolish man! At last, there is a man who is brave and honest - someone standing up against corruption. I am paying tribute to Mkhwanazi and his courageous stand. It’s because of him that we now have a commission exposing powerful politicians in this country. The calendar is called "The Brave, The Truth and The Corrupt."”

The 2026 edition will be officially launched at the Books and Chai Festival on Sunday, 30 November at the Umhlanga Apart Hotel.

Don’t miss the chance to get your personally signed copy!

23/11/2025

Professor Kiren Thathiah's novel, Sezela - A Season in the Sun - will be launched on Sunday, 30 November at the Books & Chai Festival.

The following is a brief excerpt of the foreword by Professor Rajend Mestrie:

"Kiren Thathiah writes of teenage life, love and rivalries, of their hopes and fears, and their individuality amidst the common bonds of place and community. He recaptures the innocence and insouciance of youth, despite the challenges of the times. Mandela is still in jail, white hegemony is sealed but challenges are emerging. Soweto has erupted, and a few university students from Durban are bringing back home talk of standing up for one’s rights and tales of resistance. This novel goes beyond the genre of romance in a political setting. Thathiah brings to bear his expertise in Art (as an artist and Professor of Fine Art) and the multicultural possibilities it offered in the 1970s. The sub-tale of René, the young Afrikaans artist, the gifted outsider who remains an outsider is a compelling one. The insider/outsider dichotomy becomes a nuanced theme involving a range of characters as the novel progresses.

There are several things about this novel that make it stand apart from the novellas that have merged in post-plantation KwaZulu-Natal. One is the easy way the past is remembered and lived out in the present. Thathiah makes a convincing case for the centrality of small town, barrack-based (or partly-based) culture in experiencing the past of indenture, that has indeed become fashionable to remember and honour in the big cities today. I particularly like the motif and metaphor of journeys in the novel. There are the daily journeys of the high-school children on the rickety buses from Sezela to Umzinto to face irksome teachers and figures of authority. There are train journeys to Durban to connect with the broader and more modern theatre of relatives, work and education. These journeys take on a wider significance, straddling the different space-time worlds of the big city and the small barracks-town, the plantation ethos of indenture and the modern present in which the sugar mill still grinds.

And if you’re looking for a good re-living of young love amidst an epigraphic background of song verses from the sixties and seventies, this novel is for you..."

If you are unable to attend the launch, the book is available from www.madeindurban.co.za

20/11/2025

Prof Chats Devroop Live in Concert - a fundraiser for the 1860 Heritage Centre.

Tickets R100 from www.madeindurban.co.za

During a lecturing session at the University of the Witwatersrand in 1998, the then acting Head of Music, Prof Kathy Primos, introduced Chats Devroop as a 21st Century musician. Primos went on the explain to her students that given South Africa's music history, it is difficult to find an individual that successfully simultaneously straddles so many areas of music - Music Technology, Music Education, Musicology, World Music, Performance and Research - "Chats Devroop is a man from the future".

Prof Chats Devroop stands as one of South Africa’s most dynamic and versatile musical figures - a rare artist who effortlessly bridges Music Technology, Music Education, Musicology, World Music, Performance and Research. His journey is not just a testament to talent, but to resilience in a country where musicians often had to fight for survival under oppression and discrimination.

With South Africa’s transition to democracy, Devroop and many of his peers finally stepped into a landscape where their dreams could take full shape. His mission became clear: to rebuild, to restore, and to use music as a tool for cultural renewal and youth empowerment.

“For me, music is the blood that flows through my veins,” he says. “Growing up in an abnormal society, I chose to develop holistically across all disciplines so I could better understand and communicate this art form - and help young people realise a better future while honouring our rich cultural legacy.”

This concert is a celebration of a life dedicated to mastery, mentorship, and musical excellence.

Join us for an unforgettable evening as Prof takes us on a musical journey displaying his passion by using various instruments from saxophones to a range of flutes.

11/11/2025

Prof Chats Devroop Live in Concert

During a lecturing session at the University of the Witwatersrand in 1998, the then acting Head of Music, Prof Kathy Primos, introduced Chats Devroop as a 21st Century musician. Primos went on the explain to her students that given South Africa's music history, it is difficult to find an individual that successfully simultaneously straddles so many areas of music - Music Technology, Music Education, Musicology, World Music, Performance and Research - "Chats Devroop is a man from the future".

Prof Chats Devroop stands as one of South Africa’s most dynamic and versatile musical figures - a rare artist who effortlessly bridges Music Technology, Music Education, Musicology, World Music, Performance and Research. His journey is not just a testament to talent, but to resilience in a country where musicians often had to fight for survival under oppression and discrimination.

With South Africa’s transition to democracy, Devroop and many of his peers finally stepped into a landscape where their dreams could take full shape. His mission became clear: to rebuild, to restore, and to use music as a tool for cultural renewal and youth empowerment.

“For me, music is the blood that flows through my veins,” he says. “Growing up in an abnormal society, I chose to develop holistically across all disciplines so I could better understand and communicate this art form - and help young people realise a better future while honouring our rich cultural legacy.”

This concert is a celebration of a life dedicated to mastery, mentorship, and musical excellence.

Join us for an unforgettable evening as Prof takes us on a musical journey displaying his passion by using various instruments from saxophones to a range of flutes.

04/11/2025

16/08/2025

Eduvos Durban International Book Fair programme for today.