Monday, October 13, 2014

Table of contents - "The Year's Best Australian Fantasy and Horror 2013" edited by Liz Grzyb & Talie Helene

As June came and go, with the initial release date of “The Year’s Best Australian Fantasy and Horror” fourth volume passing together with it without any news whatsoever about the 2013 collection, I was afraid that this excellent anthology had the faith of other several short fiction venues I loved. I understand that short fiction market is a very difficult one, such stories are harder to sell than novels, but I am still deeply saddened when these hardships lead to the disappearance of magazines or anthology series, such as “The Year’s Best Australian Fantasy and Horror”, excellent sources of wonderful stories and opportunities of discovering new, talented writers. With not only June passing by, but also July, August and September, in the face of “The Year’s Best Australian Fantasy and Horror” ceasing its existence my sadness turned into resignation, only to lead to a heightened joy when news of the fourth volume’s release finally broke forth. Delayed for quite a bit it is a relief to learn that “The Year’s Best Australian Fantasy and Horror 2013” is going to be released by Ticonderoga Publications in late November this year, it is a joy to see another strong line-up assembled the editors Liz Grzyb and Talie Helene, with my favorites Kaaron Warren, Deborah Biancotti and Angela Slatter making another appearance on this annual series of anthologies, and an absolute delight to discover that this wonderful, yearly collection of Australia’s and New Zealand’s finest short stories will add at least three more volumes to the four already published. For me these are as many reasons for celebration, because I do believe it would have been a shame to see this amazing series of year’s best anthologies going into oblivion.

“Disciple of the Torrent” by Lee Battersby (Tales of Australia: Great Southern Land)
“All the Lost Ones” by Deborah Biancotti (Exotic Gothic 5 Vol I)
“Camp Follower” by Trudi Canavan (Fearsome Journeys)
“Glasskin” by Robert G. Cook (Review of Australian Fiction Vol 5 #6)
“The Ways of the Wyrding Women” by Rowena Cory Daniells (One Small Step)
“The Sleepover” by Terry Dowling (Exotic Gothic 5 Vol II)
“After Hours” by Thoraiya Dyer (Asymmetry)
“A Castle in Toorak” by Marion Halligan (Griffith Review #42)
“The Boy by the Gate” by Dmetri Kakmi (The New Gothic)
“Harry's Dead Poodle” by David Kernot (Cover of Darkness Magazine)
“Black Swan Event” by Margo Lanagan (Griffith Review #42)
“Poppies” by S.G. Larner (Aurealis #65)
“La Mort d'un Roturer” by Martin Livings (This is How You Die)
“Caution: Contains Small Parts” by Kirstyn McDermott (Caution: Contains Small Parts)
“The Ninety Two” by Claire McKenna (Next)
“The Nest” by C.S. McMullen (Nightmare Magazine)
“By Bone-Light” by Juliet Marillier (Prickle Moon)
“Old Souls” by David Thomas Moore (The Book of the Dead)
“The Oblivion Box” by Faith Mudge (Dreaming of Djinn)
“Sticks and Stones” by Ryan O'Neill (The Great Unknown)
“Almost Beautiful” by Angela Rega (Next)
“The Raven and Her Victory” by Tansy Rayner Roberts (Where Thy Dark Eye Glances: Queering Edgar Allan Poe)
“On the Wall” by Nicky Rowlands (Next)
“The Silence of Clockwork” by Carol Ryles (Conflux 9 Convention Programme)
“Flight” by Angela Slatter (Once Upon a Time: New Fairy Tales)
“Bowfin Island” by Anna Tambour (Caledonia Dreamin')
“Born and Bread” by Kaaron Warren (Once Upon a Time: New Fairy Tales)
“Hell is Where the Heart is” by Janeen Webb (Next)

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