Richard Flowers

"Dr Gray, is a professor in the engineering department here at the Void University; Peta Quinn is a student in the computer sciences department. They have a particular proposal to make.

"We all want to believe in Magic," muttered Mr Monkfish. "And stories are magic."

A woman called Charity Smith. A young black woman, of seemingly poor prospects, not pretty, not educated, not rich, not connected, who was offered a deal.

Who was this Monkfish?

Space: a colourful CGI image of nebulae in reds and purples and planets in greens and blues. A caption reads: "Ten thousand years ago".