     “In his latest book, a novel adaptation of his mid-70s screenplay Morningstone, Pike’s observant eye narrative transforms the original story into a hotbed of 21st century action, sitting somewhere between David Essex’s ‘spoils of rock ‘n’ roll’ par excellence Stardust, and the rites, intrigue and horror of The Wicker Man.
     Changeling’s Return tells the tale of protagonist Morgen, a fledgling kitchen porter turned rock ‘n’ roll singer, turned seismic household name, on the eve of an adventurous European concert tour, but instead of kicking back at a pre-arranged press party with the rest of his band (Beantown Home Cookin’), Morgen takes a hired sporty two-seater for a spin with catastrophic consequences. Leaving the wreck in a ditch, Morgen makes his weary way to the nearby hamlet of Morningstone where he encounters villagers lost in an insular world with no phone signal, an overworked auto mechanic, an ‘obligatory’ schoolmaster, a stone circle, and a host of witchy supporting characters seemingly drawn from a Shakespearean fantasy. First things get a bit trippy, and then there’s this whopping epiphany, resulting in a Brian Wilson-tinged re-awakening dividing band mates and managers with Morgen’s music and lyrics taking an overtly environmental direction.
     “Featuring a handy accompanying soundtrack CD of Pike’s music, re-imagined to compliment the updated story, this is a joyful little pairing.