‘For proof of God just open your eyes.’ so thinks Hemid, an old Kurdish shepherd, as he surveys the wild beauty of the Elburz Mountains of northern Iran. But he can’t foresee how the Shah’s ambitious program to modernize Iran, followed by the tumultuous Islamic revolution, will impact on he and his loved ones, putting them all through ordeals requiring incredible courage and endurance. In The Temple of the Magic Rats, the story of the suffering of the Kurds is unexpectedly intertwined with the lives of two young Australian brothers charged with designing a spectacular exhibit for an international trade fair in Tehran. The design and development of this trail-blazing pavilion is itself a saga that strains participants and relationships to the fullest. How these two worlds and cultures meet makes for a fascinating and gripping story.