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This All Come Back Now
The first-ever anthology of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander speculative fiction – written, curated, edited and designed by blackfellas, for blackfellas and about blackfellas. In these stories, ‘this all come back’: all those things that have been taken from us, that we collectively mourn the loss of, or attempt to recover and revive, as well as those that we thought we’d gotten rid of, that are always returning to haunt and hound us.
Some writers summon ancestral spirits from the past, while others look straight down the barrel of potential futures, which always end up curving back around to hold us from behind. Dazzling, imaginative and unsettling, This All Come Back Now centres and celebrates communities and culture. It’s a love letter to kin and country, to memory and future-thinking.
Some writers summon ancestral spirits from the past, while others look straight down the barrel of potential futures, which always end up curving back around to hold us from behind. Dazzling, imaginative and unsettling, This All Come Back Now centres and celebrates communities and culture. It’s a love letter to kin and country, to memory and future-thinking.
350 pages, Paperback
First published May 3, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
May 17, 2022
This was a quite brilliant collection of speculative fiction (mostly short stories but some excerpts from novels) by indigenous Australian writers. There was a variety of themes and styles, some science fiction, some ghost or spirit stories, some horror, and some much harder to classify, for the most part extremely enjoyable (as with all anthologies there’s always a story or two that doesn’t hit the mark, with this reader anyway, and there were couple I didn’t really understand or didn’t get what the author was trying to say). My favourite stories were ‘Snake of Light’ by Loki Liddle, ‘Your Own Aborigine’ by Adam Thompson, ‘Myth This!’ By Lisa Fuller and ‘When From’, a brilliant time travel story by Merryana Salem. An excellent read.
May 8, 2022
I was thrilled to see that This All Come Back Now included work from some of my favourite local writers – including Evelyn Araluen and Alison Whittaker – as well as a bunch of new-to-me names. I was truly captivated by Ellen Van Neerven’s Water, and I found Adam Thompson’s Your Own Aboriginie brilliantly unsettling in the lead-up to the federal election. As with so many of the stories in this collection, it wasn’t far enough beyond the pale for comfort.
My full review of This All Come Back Now is available via Keeping Up With The Penguins.
My full review of This All Come Back Now is available via Keeping Up With The Penguins.
July 6, 2022
This was a mostly interesting and mixed selection of short speculative fiction by Australian Aboriginal writers. As with any such collection, the quality varies, some excellent stories and ideas here, some mostly unintelligeable for me without being able to consult with a Koori as to what was supposted to be going on.
Some stories resonated with me to varying degrees; Five Minutes by John Morrissey, Water by Ellen van Neerven, Myth This by Lisa Fuller, Lake Mindi by Krystal Hurst, Clatter Tongue by Karen Wylde, Dust Cycle by Alexis Wright, Snake of Light by Loki Liddle and In His Father's Footsteps by Kalem Murray, but many fell flat for me.
Some horror, some aliens, but mostly environmental bleak futures. A library ebook. 3.5
Some stories resonated with me to varying degrees; Five Minutes by John Morrissey, Water by Ellen van Neerven, Myth This by Lisa Fuller, Lake Mindi by Krystal Hurst, Clatter Tongue by Karen Wylde, Dust Cycle by Alexis Wright, Snake of Light by Loki Liddle and In His Father's Footsteps by Kalem Murray, but many fell flat for me.
Some horror, some aliens, but mostly environmental bleak futures. A library ebook. 3.5
December 6, 2022
Another brilliant anthology of the work of indigenous writers. I'm very glad I found this. It's a great introduction to the work of Aboriginal writers of speculative fiction. I've never read anything quite like these stories, I feel like they reflect the difference between Aboriginal and Western culture and world view very well.
I think everyone should read this book, it's that good and important.
I think everyone should read this book, it's that good and important.
May 5, 2024
This All Come Back Now is a short story collection by indigenous Australian authors. The stories were all very different yet they had the common element of talking about home and identity. This was a bit of a mixed bag for me - some I despised and some I really loved, but it was a very cool read nonetheless (and the cover is so gorgeous!) (yes, this is me again reading books because of their covers, I need help).
My favorite stories were the more sci-fi leaning ones (mostly dystopia):
Your Own Aborigine by Adam Thompson in which the Australian government enacts a new bill and aborigines only get welfare if they are sponsored by someone. This is the kind of story you could discuss for hours, I wish this had ten more pages or was a novella.
Nimeybirra by Laniyuk which has someone writing letters from our future in which indigenous people all around the world are taking their land back, it was a very good analysis of how indigenous communities have gone through so much and wether getting their land back would be enough. It includes a very raw, introspective talk about the need for retribution and how, in a way, it’s not what’s right.
In His Father’s Footsteps by Kalem Murray and Myth This! by Lisa Fuller were kinda cool, but they were very similar so I don’t think it was right to put them one after the other. Both stories are about indigenous parents in the woods with their kids and respecting what lives/resides there, and the consequences of not doing it.
Some of the stories that are objectively good but I didn’t love are Five Minutes by John Morrissey which starts with a cool concept but it tried to be many things. It’s about a man thinking of a story about aliens destroying Australia and letting indigenous people five extra minutes to say goodbye to each other before they are killed, but it’s also about work, social interactions, and family, a weird mix. Water by Ellen Van Neerven is about a new type of human-plants discovered in Australia and a woman of indigenous descent being the Cultural Liaison Officer, it just didn’t do anything for me but I can see people loving it. (I also think it was a take on medical experiments on Australian Aborigines but maybe I’m wrong about that?). And lastly, When From by Merryana Salem which I could tell was good but I HATE time traveling.
As I already said, this was a mixed bag. Some stories I didn’t like because I didn’t particularly like the writing style or structure and some I didn’t quite follow. I have the feeling some stories were part of a bigger thing and they were just ‘cut and paste’ because I felt I lacked vital information or context? (or am I dumb?). Everything ghosty/dystopian-ish I liked the best because those are the genres I enjoy, but if you like these genres and books featuring mobs, violence, time travel (ugh), and scratching at what it means to be human, you’ll like this.
Bits I highlighted:
(Your Own Aborigine - Adam Thompson)
I’m going to use your money to buy beer and smokes when my royalty cheques run out. We get those monthly, you know, from the mines near our community where they diggin’ up all our country. We can’t go there anymore cos there’s a big fence. You took our land. Reckon it’s fair enough you buy me a beer.
—
(Five Minutes - John Morrisey)
… people love pointless, aimless stories about trauma, as if trauma had sufficient meaning in itself. I don’t know why – it seems to me there is enough pain in the world, and we can at least invent new kinds of misery to entertain ourselves.
—
(Nimeybirra - Laniyuk)
I want justice. I want retribution. I want vengeance. I want the ugly. I want the wrong. I want an appeasement only known through reciprocity. I want an eye for an eye. I want death and destruction and burning. My body craves the power to decimate. My heart desperately wants to know the satisfaction of a win. My mind, scrambling to find a way out of this maze of white supremacy and colonialism.
And yet my spirit tells me of something else.
My favorite stories were the more sci-fi leaning ones (mostly dystopia):
Your Own Aborigine by Adam Thompson in which the Australian government enacts a new bill and aborigines only get welfare if they are sponsored by someone. This is the kind of story you could discuss for hours, I wish this had ten more pages or was a novella.
Nimeybirra by Laniyuk which has someone writing letters from our future in which indigenous people all around the world are taking their land back, it was a very good analysis of how indigenous communities have gone through so much and wether getting their land back would be enough. It includes a very raw, introspective talk about the need for retribution and how, in a way, it’s not what’s right.
In His Father’s Footsteps by Kalem Murray and Myth This! by Lisa Fuller were kinda cool, but they were very similar so I don’t think it was right to put them one after the other. Both stories are about indigenous parents in the woods with their kids and respecting what lives/resides there, and the consequences of not doing it.
Some of the stories that are objectively good but I didn’t love are Five Minutes by John Morrissey which starts with a cool concept but it tried to be many things. It’s about a man thinking of a story about aliens destroying Australia and letting indigenous people five extra minutes to say goodbye to each other before they are killed, but it’s also about work, social interactions, and family, a weird mix. Water by Ellen Van Neerven is about a new type of human-plants discovered in Australia and a woman of indigenous descent being the Cultural Liaison Officer, it just didn’t do anything for me but I can see people loving it. (I also think it was a take on medical experiments on Australian Aborigines but maybe I’m wrong about that?). And lastly, When From by Merryana Salem which I could tell was good but I HATE time traveling.
As I already said, this was a mixed bag. Some stories I didn’t like because I didn’t particularly like the writing style or structure and some I didn’t quite follow. I have the feeling some stories were part of a bigger thing and they were just ‘cut and paste’ because I felt I lacked vital information or context? (or am I dumb?). Everything ghosty/dystopian-ish I liked the best because those are the genres I enjoy, but if you like these genres and books featuring mobs, violence, time travel (ugh), and scratching at what it means to be human, you’ll like this.
Bits I highlighted:
(Your Own Aborigine - Adam Thompson)
I’m going to use your money to buy beer and smokes when my royalty cheques run out. We get those monthly, you know, from the mines near our community where they diggin’ up all our country. We can’t go there anymore cos there’s a big fence. You took our land. Reckon it’s fair enough you buy me a beer.
—
(Five Minutes - John Morrisey)
… people love pointless, aimless stories about trauma, as if trauma had sufficient meaning in itself. I don’t know why – it seems to me there is enough pain in the world, and we can at least invent new kinds of misery to entertain ourselves.
—
(Nimeybirra - Laniyuk)
I want justice. I want retribution. I want vengeance. I want the ugly. I want the wrong. I want an appeasement only known through reciprocity. I want an eye for an eye. I want death and destruction and burning. My body craves the power to decimate. My heart desperately wants to know the satisfaction of a win. My mind, scrambling to find a way out of this maze of white supremacy and colonialism.
And yet my spirit tells me of something else.
November 27, 2022
I was excited to receive This All Come Back Now as I am currently studying Indigenous Australian studies at Uni. This collection of short stories by First Nations Australians contained many different genres and some very enjoyable and unusual stories. Definitely a mixed bag! Thanks to Better Reading for my preview copy.
August 3, 2022
I almost never read anthologies because I don’t tend to enjoy them. But this was an anthology of First Nations Speculative Fiction so I of course had to read it. And I am so glad I did, this was incredible. What a collection. I really want to commend the editor, Mykaela Saunders, on the ordering of these stories, this book flowed together thematically absolutely phenomenally.
From near futures, far futures, horror, aliens, ghosts, there is a real mix of stories in here but all have such a beautiful connection to country and culture that made this such a special reading experience. If I did have to choose favourites, some of my top stories were:
- John Morrissey’s Five Minutes, a clever and witty story about a government worker/scifi writer and killer centipedes
- Samuel Wagan Watson’s Closing Time, a haunting ghost story set during the covid lockdowns
- Lisa Fuller’s Myth This! An atmospheric horror filled story about generational knowledge and monsters in the mountains
- Merryana Salem’s When From, a time-travel story that examines the horror of Hollywood from an Indigenous lens
- Ellen van Neerven’s Water, a story about the relationship between a plantperson and human
But honestly, there are so many more I also enjoyed so much, this is a fabulous collection and I want every single person I know to read it.
Content warnings: violence, death, blood and gore, sexual harassment, racism, slurs, homophobia, colonisation, war, genocide
From near futures, far futures, horror, aliens, ghosts, there is a real mix of stories in here but all have such a beautiful connection to country and culture that made this such a special reading experience. If I did have to choose favourites, some of my top stories were:
- John Morrissey’s Five Minutes, a clever and witty story about a government worker/scifi writer and killer centipedes
- Samuel Wagan Watson’s Closing Time, a haunting ghost story set during the covid lockdowns
- Lisa Fuller’s Myth This! An atmospheric horror filled story about generational knowledge and monsters in the mountains
- Merryana Salem’s When From, a time-travel story that examines the horror of Hollywood from an Indigenous lens
- Ellen van Neerven’s Water, a story about the relationship between a plantperson and human
But honestly, there are so many more I also enjoyed so much, this is a fabulous collection and I want every single person I know to read it.
Content warnings: violence, death, blood and gore, sexual harassment, racism, slurs, homophobia, colonisation, war, genocide
May 25, 2022
This collection gave a stunning voice to the land, and all the beauty in the cultures that are so deeply connected to it. Each of these stories had so much heart, even in the varying genres that made up this collection. Mykaela Saunders explains in the overture that they pieced together this collection much like one would piece together a mixtape or playlist: there’s a clear beginning, middle, and ending. The writers chosen to make a contribution to this anthology of First Nations speculative fiction were each talented in their own right, and each explored similar themes of family, connection to land and culture, love, horror and all of the things have been, will be, and could have been in this country. Particular stories that stand out are those by Loki Liddle, Adam Thompson, John Morrisey, Merryana Salem and Ellen van Neerven, almost all of whom have a backlog of writing that I will undoubtedly be reading from. This was such a gorgeous collection I was given the privilege to read from, and I will recommend this to anyone willing to expand their reading tastes!
June 30, 2023
I'm not the target audience for this book. However, I would recommend reading it. There are a lot of rich, interesting stories included in this anthology. Like any anthology, not every story was to my liking, but there are many outstanding pieces included.
October 20, 2022
3.5
"Myth This!" by Lisa Fuller ★★★★
"Jacaranda Street" by Jasmin McGaughey ★★★
"When From" by Merryana Salem ★★★½
"An Invitation" by Timmah Ball ★★★★
"Water" by Ellen van Neerven ★★★
"Terranora" by Mykaela Saunders ★★★
"Myth This!" by Lisa Fuller ★★★★
"Jacaranda Street" by Jasmin McGaughey ★★★
"When From" by Merryana Salem ★★★½
"An Invitation" by Timmah Ball ★★★★
"Water" by Ellen van Neerven ★★★
"Terranora" by Mykaela Saunders ★★★
September 10, 2024
This All Come Back Now is a gorgeous, rich anthology of First Nations speculative fiction, with stories spanning the full speculative fiction spectrum, from horror, to sci-fi, to dystopia, to works that defy categorisation altogether.
In His Father’s Footsteps, Myth This!, Snake of Light, Your Own Aborigine, When From, and Water were my favourites.
In His Father’s Footsteps, Myth This!, Snake of Light, Your Own Aborigine, When From, and Water were my favourites.
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May 31, 2022When it was first released in 1986, Don Featherstone’s satirical documentary Babakiueria (say it aloud) offered a portrait of everyday life in 1980s Australia, prodded and poked at like some unusually baffling anthropological exhibit. The presenter, Michelle Torres, observes the obscure customs and rituals – TV dinners, Kellogg’s breakfasts – of a white suburban middle-class family. “I’ve always been fascinated by white people,” Torres deadpans to the camera. “The evidence of their culture is all around us.”
This inversion of the familiar – alienating the taken-for-granted aspects of that which is “all around us” – constitutes a major aspect of speculative fiction’s raison d’��tre. The term itself is a catch-all for various forms of writing: horror, sci-fi, fantasy, utopias, dystopias, alternative histories. The approach it offers is well suited to some Indigenous writers, for whom almost every taken-for-granted already feels like an inversion of the familiar: land theft euphemised as “settlement��, justice denied as a utopian pipe-dream.
Speculative fiction occupies a precarious place in Australia’s literary landscape. Many of This All Come Back Now’s selections first appeared in mainstream literary journals, or in books marketed as “literary”, rather than anything explicitly billed as speculative. It’s worth remembering that even Gerald Murnane’s novels The Plains and Landscape with Landscape – books rarely considered as examples of sci-fi or speculative fiction – were initially published by Norstrilia Press, a sci-fi and fantasy publisher. (They were part of their “Slipstream” series, whose name, a play on “mainstream”, featured works that incorporated sci-fi elements without slavishly hewing to “genre” conventions.)
Read on: https://www.smh.com.au/culture/books/...
This inversion of the familiar – alienating the taken-for-granted aspects of that which is “all around us” – constitutes a major aspect of speculative fiction’s raison d’��tre. The term itself is a catch-all for various forms of writing: horror, sci-fi, fantasy, utopias, dystopias, alternative histories. The approach it offers is well suited to some Indigenous writers, for whom almost every taken-for-granted already feels like an inversion of the familiar: land theft euphemised as “settlement��, justice denied as a utopian pipe-dream.
Speculative fiction occupies a precarious place in Australia’s literary landscape. Many of This All Come Back Now’s selections first appeared in mainstream literary journals, or in books marketed as “literary”, rather than anything explicitly billed as speculative. It’s worth remembering that even Gerald Murnane’s novels The Plains and Landscape with Landscape – books rarely considered as examples of sci-fi or speculative fiction – were initially published by Norstrilia Press, a sci-fi and fantasy publisher. (They were part of their “Slipstream” series, whose name, a play on “mainstream”, featured works that incorporated sci-fi elements without slavishly hewing to “genre” conventions.)
Read on: https://www.smh.com.au/culture/books/...
June 29, 2022
There are some outstanding stories in this collection, which showcases the diversity and depth of speculative fiction being produced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander authors. A number of the contributions are reprinted - from longer works, other anthologies and Overland - but they take new life in this collection, repositioned as part of a rich sf world, rather than marketed as literary fiction (it is an advance of sorts that First Nations authors are now shelved in literary, rather than "Aboriginal" sections, but the audience is not bigger). So while I realised I had already encountered around half of the entries, I was surprised by how much I got out of the re-read (special shout out to Adam Thompson's Your Own Aborigine which was just as cutting as I remembered, Alison Whittaker's the centre and Ellen van Neervan's Water). There isn't a weak entry here - I mean, there are stories for varying tastes, of course, but the decision to allow a variety of work has solidified it. Of those I hadn't read, Karen Wyld's Clatter Tongue, Merryana Salem's When From (a classic twist story) and Saunders' own entry stood out.
May 30, 2022
This is the first-ever anthology of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander speculative fiction.
And it is quite a fascinating collection of stories. If, like me, you have had only a small introduction to Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander history and their fascinating story telling then I cannot emphasise enough the value of this book. A beautifully put together snippet of First Nations writing combining ancestral spirits, futuristic tellings, and a history rich in it's beauty and belief.
The introduction by Mykaela sets out to explain the importance of this collection. A mixed tape of historical and current significance that will continue to educate me and which has given me more amazing Australian authors to look out for.
A big thankyou ❤ to @betterreadingau and @uqpbooks for gifting me this beautiful book.
Published 2022.
And it is quite a fascinating collection of stories. If, like me, you have had only a small introduction to Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander history and their fascinating story telling then I cannot emphasise enough the value of this book. A beautifully put together snippet of First Nations writing combining ancestral spirits, futuristic tellings, and a history rich in it's beauty and belief.
The introduction by Mykaela sets out to explain the importance of this collection. A mixed tape of historical and current significance that will continue to educate me and which has given me more amazing Australian authors to look out for.
A big thankyou ❤ to @betterreadingau and @uqpbooks for gifting me this beautiful book.
Published 2022.
May 28, 2022
Previewing this anthology was an absolute privilege. It is a weird and wonderful, thought-provoking collection of a fascinating range of stories, featuring both ancient lore and futuristic technology in scenarios designed to make us wonder “what if?” And I sure DID wonder – many times! Several of the featured authors deal evocatively, yet sensitively with the deep and continued effects of colonisation on both the land and its traditional owners. My personal favourite was “Water” by Ellen van Neerven, a sensual exploration of an inter-species relationship. I have since discovered that this is an abridged version of a previously published novella, so am looking out for that now. Highly recommended for anyone looking for something more meaningful than escapist “popcorn for the brain”. Thank you, Better Reading, for the preview copy.
November 28, 2022
Full of magical realism, Blak futurism, and insight into how the world can work better than it does, along with ideas about what’s wrong. I picked this up in Australia as a way of understanding current First Nations cultural commentary and learning a bit about a very different way of being in the world. I appreciated how much this pushed my imagination and my heart.
January 4, 2023
my favourite stories:
in his fathers footsteps - kalem murray
myth this! - lisa fuller
snake of light - loki liddle
your own aborigine - adam thompson
an invitation - timmah ball
water - ellen van neerven
in his fathers footsteps - kalem murray
myth this! - lisa fuller
snake of light - loki liddle
your own aborigine - adam thompson
an invitation - timmah ball
water - ellen van neerven
June 25, 2022
I've decided that speculative fiction does not suit my personality. Found this book a huge struggle to read and finish
Want to read
August 31, 2023This book is very much written by and for Indigenous/First Nations folks in what is now called Australia. Was excited to see this recommended by a number of authors I follow on Twitter (X). I read a story every few days as my brain has a hard time with anthologies - brain damage sucks.
December 18, 2023
The stories that were good were incredible. A first of its kind, this short story anthology paves the way for other collections of speculative fiction. I especially enjoyed Myth This, Snake of Light, Your Own Aborigine and Purple Plains.
May 23, 2022
This All Come Back Now is an anthology of First Nations speculative fiction. It says so on the wonderful cover. A cover I can’t stop gazing into. Each time I look I see a new figure, or a new planet. It’s mesmerising. As are the stories themselves.
I’ve never heard the genre “Speculative Fiction” before, and assumed it would be the “what ifs” style of story. And it is, but also the “what is and always has been”.
There are recurring themes of time, land and family. There are ghost stories, fantasy, surrealism, magical realism and good old Sci Fi, with aliens. Something for everyone.
Each tale has sprung from the heart of Australia, a place that has been creating stories forever.
5 stars for me.
Thanks to Better reading for the copy of This All Come Back Now, for review.
This All Come Back Now is published by UQP.
I’ve never heard the genre “Speculative Fiction” before, and assumed it would be the “what ifs” style of story. And it is, but also the “what is and always has been”.
There are recurring themes of time, land and family. There are ghost stories, fantasy, surrealism, magical realism and good old Sci Fi, with aliens. Something for everyone.
Each tale has sprung from the heart of Australia, a place that has been creating stories forever.
5 stars for me.
Thanks to Better reading for the copy of This All Come Back Now, for review.
This All Come Back Now is published by UQP.
June 1, 2022
This All Come Back Now
An Anthology of First Nations Speculative Fiction
Edited by Mykaela Saunders
I enjoyed reading this beautiful book celebrating First Nations culture and communities and shall share it with friends.
A wonderful anthology of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. A collection of short stories and novellas covering a variety of genres.
Thank you to Better Reading for the opportunity to preview this book.
An Anthology of First Nations Speculative Fiction
Edited by Mykaela Saunders
I enjoyed reading this beautiful book celebrating First Nations culture and communities and shall share it with friends.
A wonderful anthology of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. A collection of short stories and novellas covering a variety of genres.
Thank you to Better Reading for the opportunity to preview this book.
August 31, 2023
I would actually rate this 3.5.well written and thought provoking, but most of the stories are more on the literary end of specfic than is to my personal taste. Well worth a read though.
May 23, 2022
This All Come Back Now is an anthology of First Nations speculative fiction. It says so on the wonderful cover. A cover I can’t stop gazing into. Each time I look I see a new figure, or a new planet. It’s mesmerising. As are the stories themselves.
I’ve never heard the genre “Speculative Fiction” before, and assumed it would be the “what ifs” style of story. And it is, but also the “what is and always has been”.
There are recurring themes of time, land and family. There are ghost stories, fantasy, surrealism, magical realism and good old Sci Fi, with aliens. Something for everyone.
Each tale has sprung from the heart of Australia, a place that has been creating stories forever.
5 stars for me.
Thanks to Better reading for the copy of This All Come Back Now, for review.
This All Come Back Now is published by UQP.
I’ve never heard the genre “Speculative Fiction” before, and assumed it would be the “what ifs” style of story. And it is, but also the “what is and always has been”.
There are recurring themes of time, land and family. There are ghost stories, fantasy, surrealism, magical realism and good old Sci Fi, with aliens. Something for everyone.
Each tale has sprung from the heart of Australia, a place that has been creating stories forever.
5 stars for me.
Thanks to Better reading for the copy of This All Come Back Now, for review.
This All Come Back Now is published by UQP.
May 3, 2022
This collection feels like an urgent, genre-widening addition to the growing world of spec fic and it is absolutely a definitive anthology of Indigenous works therein. Spend some time understanding the importance of some of the contributions and you'll realise you're holding a collection of the best - from the world's very first Indigenous spec fic writings right up to critical new additions. This anthology has gems throughout it, but it's so meticulous and grand in its scope. Favourites include John Morrissey's dark, hilarious tale, Ellen van Neerven's rich sci fi world and Saunders' own beautifully written, gently future-tinged contribution. This work will stand the test of time, and both spec fic and Indigenous fiction worlds benefit greatly from its existence.
December 26, 2022
I finished this months ago and I am still thinking about it. One story in particular has a hold on my mind in the best way. If you appreciate speculative fiction, sci-if, etc. READ THIS.
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
February 21, 2024Muyum, a Transgression by Evelyn Araluen: skipping this one; writing style didn’t work for me and left me confused.
Clatter Tongue by Karen Wyld: Wow, I loved this one. It reminded me of the fairytale with the sisters who open their mouths and have gems/bugs fall out, while this one was all the trauma and horrors that had been experienced by Treanna’s ancestors falling out of her until she was able to be unburdened (but not forgetting).
Closing Time by Samuel Wagan Watson: this one’s weird with an ephemeral quality to the writing, like living in the reality of c19 pandemic is a bad dream. Very weird.
In His Father’s Footsteps by Kalem Murray:
Clatter Tongue by Karen Wyld: Wow, I loved this one. It reminded me of the fairytale with the sisters who open their mouths and have gems/bugs fall out, while this one was all the trauma and horrors that had been experienced by Treanna’s ancestors falling out of her until she was able to be unburdened (but not forgetting).
Closing Time by Samuel Wagan Watson: this one’s weird with an ephemeral quality to the writing, like living in the reality of c19 pandemic is a bad dream. Very weird.
In His Father’s Footsteps by Kalem Murray:
August 11, 2023
This came out last year, and I only found out about it this year... oops; not sure how I missed it (especially given its Aurealis Award!). Available from UQP.
The first all-Indigenous Australian speculative fiction anthology! Exciting that it exists; disappointing that it took until 2022 for it to exist. Oh, Australia.
First, how glorious is that cover? It's so vibrant and exciting.
The editor, Saunders, gives a really interesting intro to the anthology. I go back and forth on whether I read intros to anthologies; sometimes they seem like placeholders, and sometimes they give a wonderful insight into the process. This is the latter (although I did skip the last few pages, where Saunders discussed the stories themselves; I don't like reading that until after I've read the stories myself. YMMV). The comparison of an anthology with a mixtape has given me all sorts of things to think about. There's also a brief discussion of First Nations' speculative fiction - that it exists despite what a cursory overview of the Australian scene might tell you - as well as that insight into the creative process. This is one introduction that was definitely worth reading.
The stories themselves are hugely varied; this is not a themed anthology, like Space Raccoons, but instead is tied together by the identity of the authors. That means there's experimental narratives and straightforward linear ones; recognisably gothic, science fiction, and fantasy stories; and other stories that refuse to fit neatly into categories. As with all such anthologies, I didn't love every story; I have limited tolerance for surrealism, as a rule - it just doesn't work for me, but I know it does for others. Some of these stories, though, will sit with me for a long time. Karen Wyld's "Clatter Tongue," John Morrissey's "Five Minutes," Ellen van Neerven's "Water," just as examples - they're profound and glorious.
I love that this anthology exists. I'm torn between hoping there can be more books like this - because featuring Indigenous perspectives and writing in a concentrated way is awesome, showcasing the variety of stories and voices - and hoping that the authors featured here will also be published in other anthologies, and magazines, and have their novels published, as well. Maybe that's not a binary. Maybe we can have both. That would be nice.
The first all-Indigenous Australian speculative fiction anthology! Exciting that it exists; disappointing that it took until 2022 for it to exist. Oh, Australia.
First, how glorious is that cover? It's so vibrant and exciting.
The editor, Saunders, gives a really interesting intro to the anthology. I go back and forth on whether I read intros to anthologies; sometimes they seem like placeholders, and sometimes they give a wonderful insight into the process. This is the latter (although I did skip the last few pages, where Saunders discussed the stories themselves; I don't like reading that until after I've read the stories myself. YMMV). The comparison of an anthology with a mixtape has given me all sorts of things to think about. There's also a brief discussion of First Nations' speculative fiction - that it exists despite what a cursory overview of the Australian scene might tell you - as well as that insight into the creative process. This is one introduction that was definitely worth reading.
The stories themselves are hugely varied; this is not a themed anthology, like Space Raccoons, but instead is tied together by the identity of the authors. That means there's experimental narratives and straightforward linear ones; recognisably gothic, science fiction, and fantasy stories; and other stories that refuse to fit neatly into categories. As with all such anthologies, I didn't love every story; I have limited tolerance for surrealism, as a rule - it just doesn't work for me, but I know it does for others. Some of these stories, though, will sit with me for a long time. Karen Wyld's "Clatter Tongue," John Morrissey's "Five Minutes," Ellen van Neerven's "Water," just as examples - they're profound and glorious.
I love that this anthology exists. I'm torn between hoping there can be more books like this - because featuring Indigenous perspectives and writing in a concentrated way is awesome, showcasing the variety of stories and voices - and hoping that the authors featured here will also be published in other anthologies, and magazines, and have their novels published, as well. Maybe that's not a binary. Maybe we can have both. That would be nice.
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December 24, 2022Only read a selection of these stories, so I'm not leaving a rating (even though I enjoyed what I did read of it).
This is a really unique and interesting collection from some of Australia's leading and most interesting literary voices at the moment (e.g. Evelyn Auraluen, Ella van Neerven, Alison Whitaker) that is absolutely worth a read. Speculative fiction has never been a genre I'm not well versed in, but the Aboriginal perspective (which assumes a far more spiritual and empathetic lens when approaching this genre) these stories are written from really engaged me, and many of the stories are in my favourite form of spec-fic: alternative worlds or what-ifs that are utilised for darkly comic, satirical purposes. As noted by Saunders in the introduction, the other highly refreshing and unique angle to this collection (aside from it spotlighting an historically overlooked literary voice) is that these stories are written for Aboriginal rather than Western audiences, never feeling the need to explicate on their symbolism for our benefit; there is a palpable sense of these stories relishing their full autonomy away from pressures to acquiesce to Western expectations.
My favourites were actually a double-feature from two authors I was unfamiliar with: "Your Own Aborigine" by Adam Thompson and "Five Minutes" by John Morrisey. Both of these are brilliant pieces of satire which use their interesting premises in truly thought-provoking ways. Morrisey's in particular had me (in addition to admiring its clever meta construction and interesting, unsettled, and unpredictable protagonist) reflecting a great deal on its many themes around ethical storytelling (I think more elevated horror fans should heed Morrisey's comment on grief not being innately deep) and the complex brushing of historical trauma.
I also found Auraluen's contribution to be very interesting (mainly through its formal experimentation, seeming to omit indefinite articles throughout it) and immersive although I must admit that much of the meaning of this piece flew over my head due to my unfamiliarity with the cultural symbols being employed.
This is a really unique and interesting collection from some of Australia's leading and most interesting literary voices at the moment (e.g. Evelyn Auraluen, Ella van Neerven, Alison Whitaker) that is absolutely worth a read. Speculative fiction has never been a genre I'm not well versed in, but the Aboriginal perspective (which assumes a far more spiritual and empathetic lens when approaching this genre) these stories are written from really engaged me, and many of the stories are in my favourite form of spec-fic: alternative worlds or what-ifs that are utilised for darkly comic, satirical purposes. As noted by Saunders in the introduction, the other highly refreshing and unique angle to this collection (aside from it spotlighting an historically overlooked literary voice) is that these stories are written for Aboriginal rather than Western audiences, never feeling the need to explicate on their symbolism for our benefit; there is a palpable sense of these stories relishing their full autonomy away from pressures to acquiesce to Western expectations.
My favourites were actually a double-feature from two authors I was unfamiliar with: "Your Own Aborigine" by Adam Thompson and "Five Minutes" by John Morrisey. Both of these are brilliant pieces of satire which use their interesting premises in truly thought-provoking ways. Morrisey's in particular had me (in addition to admiring its clever meta construction and interesting, unsettled, and unpredictable protagonist) reflecting a great deal on its many themes around ethical storytelling (I think more elevated horror fans should heed Morrisey's comment on grief not being innately deep) and the complex brushing of historical trauma.
I also found Auraluen's contribution to be very interesting (mainly through its formal experimentation, seeming to omit indefinite articles throughout it) and immersive although I must admit that much of the meaning of this piece flew over my head due to my unfamiliarity with the cultural symbols being employed.
February 4, 2023
Muyum: A Transgression - solid 5, the standout of this collection. Araluen uses lyricism and religious/spiritual faith to subvert the Western notion of museums and replace them with a return to the traditional knowledges of her (or the character's) Nation.
Clatter Tongue, Jacaranda Street- 1. Confusing, insubstantial and didn't resonate with me.
In His Father's Footsteps: 3 - Took a surprisingly graphic turn at the end. A good father-son story.
Myth This! - Another 'monster in the night' with some good family moments. 3
Snake of Light - 4. Another standout, about a protector/guardian spirit. Mind-bendy and well written.
Your Own Aborigine - 1 - Too on the nose.
Five Minutes - DNF. It felt phoned in, a failed attempt to be meta.
Old Uncle Sir - confusing again, had no idea WTF was going on.
Closing Time, The Kadaitcha Sung, The Centre, An Invitation, An Invitation, Dust Cycle, Terranora - skipped or DNF
The Purple Plains - another 5. Full of shades of light and dark. Made me emotional for an uncolonised Australia.
Nimeyberra- I'm probably not the target audience for this, so I won't rate it. Lovely prose, but too confusing for me.
When From - 2. This one didn't land for me - again, it felt like a concept with not much development.
Water - Ellen van Neerven 3. Intriguing concept with an interesting romantic/sexual relationship.
Lake Mindi - 4. Evocative description of a journey to find water and healing.
After the End of their World - 3. after The Purple Plains, this was underwhelming and didn't stick in my mind.
Protocols of Transference - I liked the basic concept but the execution was underwhelming.
Cons: I was expecting Black Mirror alternate world-type SFF from this book. It was a bit disappointing because so much of the spec fic element consisted of either spiritual beliefs or vague, mysterious things that go bump in the night. I mean, the religion/mythology aspect was fantastic; don't get me wrong. I just wouldn't personally categorise it as SFF. It was also a bit disappointing that so many of these were extracts from novels instead of short stories in their own right.
Pros: Lots of religion/spirituality, beautiful evocations of life in the bush.
Clatter Tongue, Jacaranda Street- 1. Confusing, insubstantial and didn't resonate with me.
In His Father's Footsteps: 3 - Took a surprisingly graphic turn at the end. A good father-son story.
Myth This! - Another 'monster in the night' with some good family moments. 3
Snake of Light - 4. Another standout, about a protector/guardian spirit. Mind-bendy and well written.
Your Own Aborigine - 1 - Too on the nose.
Five Minutes - DNF. It felt phoned in, a failed attempt to be meta.
Old Uncle Sir - confusing again, had no idea WTF was going on.
Closing Time, The Kadaitcha Sung, The Centre, An Invitation, An Invitation, Dust Cycle, Terranora - skipped or DNF
The Purple Plains - another 5. Full of shades of light and dark. Made me emotional for an uncolonised Australia.
Nimeyberra- I'm probably not the target audience for this, so I won't rate it. Lovely prose, but too confusing for me.
When From - 2. This one didn't land for me - again, it felt like a concept with not much development.
Water - Ellen van Neerven 3. Intriguing concept with an interesting romantic/sexual relationship.
Lake Mindi - 4. Evocative description of a journey to find water and healing.
After the End of their World - 3. after The Purple Plains, this was underwhelming and didn't stick in my mind.
Protocols of Transference - I liked the basic concept but the execution was underwhelming.
Cons: I was expecting Black Mirror alternate world-type SFF from this book. It was a bit disappointing because so much of the spec fic element consisted of either spiritual beliefs or vague, mysterious things that go bump in the night. I mean, the religion/mythology aspect was fantastic; don't get me wrong. I just wouldn't personally categorise it as SFF. It was also a bit disappointing that so many of these were extracts from novels instead of short stories in their own right.
Pros: Lots of religion/spirituality, beautiful evocations of life in the bush.
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