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The Best Australian Stories

The Best Australian Stories 2014

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In The Best Australian Stories 2014, author Amanda Lohrey selects the outstanding short fiction of the year. Featuring a diverse selection, with new and innovative voices alongside the established and familiar, this anthology celebrates the craft of storytelling and the perfect short story.

288 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2014

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About the author

Amanda Lohrey

27 books129 followers
Amanda Lohrey is a novelist and essayist. She was educated at the University of Tasmania and Cambridge. She lectured in Writing and Textual Studies at the Sydney University of Technology (1988-1994), and since 2002 at the School of English, Media Studies and Art History at the University of Queensland in Brisbane.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
Profile Image for Angela Meyer.
Author 22 books199 followers
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November 16, 2014
Disclaimer: I have a story published in this anthology. Cross-posted from literaryminded.com.au.

I've really enjoyed reading this year's Best Australian Stories (which includes my story 'Too Solid Flesh', originally published in Island 137). One commonality I found between the stories, which reminded me of the power of fiction (what it can do), was an emotional complexity that can only be 'shown', not explained. For example, in Julienne van Loon's 'Bring Closer What is Left to Come' there is a moment where the protagonist, a married woman who desires her colleague, thinks she sees her crush from behind on the stairs:

'and she watched the way he walked and the desire sparked in her so fast and so quick it was almost painful to keep walking...'

But by the end of the paragraph she sees the man she desires in the office and realises that the person on the stairs had been someone else. The protagonist's feelings are not elaborated upon and the reader takes on the complex emotion of such a case of mistaken identity. There is also a minor epiphany that occurs regarding the directionless surge of the woman's desire. And this is only one moment.

The story is framed by the woman's cycling commute to and from work. Time shifts, and there are references to speed, the bike in time: descending, airborne, stuck. The structure relates to the woman's psychological state, but there is ambiguity: again, making the story emotive rather than explanatory.

In the beginning, the reader is at a distance from the woman as the woman herself is from others and from herself; the reader is then drawn in closer but the constant shifts indicate uncertainty (which relates to us: we cannot really know what we want, we are caught up in desire, we will have moments of pedaling backwards). I can see why editor Amanda Lohrey opened the anthology with this powerful story.

There are so many that stood out for me, but two that have resonated in particular are 'The Panther' by David Brooks and 'The Green Lamp' by Leah Swann, which follow each other in the book. I loved 'The Panther', which is about a panther in a painting that becomes real for the writer in the story. There's a mood hanging over this story: elegant, haunting; a lounging loneliness. And it's unashamedly self-conscious. The ending produced in me a shivery thrill.

Swann's 'The Green Lamp' is a genuine and empathetic story which captures in micro a contemporary masculinity. It's about a young tradie who gets laid off and takes a job in a pizza shop. He lives with an older, intellectual woman. At one point he blunders when something happens to a young women he works with. Throughout, the reader has access to his thoughts, and they reveal a curious and poetic soul who is unable or reluctant to articulate his deeper self. They also reveal someone-in-becoming; through these small experiences in the narrative he is finding out what he thinks and feels. And relevant to the contemporary climate there is a complex mix of arousal, self-loathing, knowing, not knowing, wanting and not wanting. Besides this excellent study of character, the story overall reminds the reader that you never truly know what is happening in someone else's head.

I won't mention every story but there were so many that gave me shivers or that I found myself thinking about hours or days afterwards. From the sense of uneasy desire in Lucy Neave's 'The Horse Hospital in Dubai' to the overanalysis of self (to the obliteration of self) in Nicola Redhouse's 'This is Who You Are. You'll See'. Claire Corbett's story-essay 'Snake in the Grass' is rich—a story in which you can wallow. Fiona Place's 'Now I See' lingers long due to its deliberate calm execution.

Kate Elkington's 'The Interpreter' is deft, moving, and sneaks up on you. Arabella Edge's 'The Peacock' is a great lesson in giving the reader 'just enough'. The peacock at the centre of the story is a symbol—something about the way we attach/what we are attached to, in a crisis and more broadly in our lives. JYL Koh's 'Civility Place' is a welcome foray into the speculative/surreal: Richard Yates meets Philip K Dick, about the inescapability of commerce. Ryan O'Neill's 'The Stories I Read as My Mother Died' definitely gave me shivers. It explores the different ways emotion is expressed, and inadequacies of language (what can be told and what can't, having words but having none). Kirsten Tranter's 'Pet Name' is a story about curiosity (the curiosity itself revealing layers about the character) and is fascinating and alive. Don't read 'Blood and Bone' by Lisa Jacobson if you have to do anything afterwards, it's absolutely weighed down with grief. So beautifully sad.

Lohrey has pulled together a very strong anthology with much emotional resonance.
Profile Image for A. Dawes.
186 reviews65 followers
September 13, 2016
Overall 4.5*

I'm an avid fan of the short story and this anthology deserves its title of 'Best'. These stories capture the everyday moments in life, although a few take us further than this. I won't say that I loved every one but overall most have lingered on in my memory, which is what great stories do. I was surprised by the amount of second person narratives as I have a natural aversion to the form as I hate being told what I'm doing at the best of times - and if I don't connect immediately to the story I find myself getting upset too quickly. I'll try to give a rundown below with brief thoughts on most of the stories. An excellent anthology and the best of the best here - and there are many - are up there with the very best I've ever read.

5* Bring Closer What is Left to Come by Julienne Van Loon
Felt almost like a memoir. Deals with lust and connection and disconnection. While not an easy read due to its structure of moving back and forth from cycling to the story, it is innovative and original - and if you persist, you'll find it very rewarding. I preferred this to Van Loon's Vogel Prize winning Road Story and hope to read Van Loon's novella, Harmless soon.

3* The Coffee Table by Shaun Presott
A nice story revolving around a coffee table. Good rather than great.

3.5* The Horse Hospital in Dubai
Read like the title too. An interesting drama set in a horse hospital in Dubai. Very good in parts - a little 'soapie' at times.

5* Submerging by Anthony Panegyres
One of a few, like Ellington, Smith, Krien, Edge and Brooks', that moves beyond the 'smaller story'. Two Polynesian boys are raised by their Grandfather on an island gradually submerging both literally and metaphorically. Cultural loss, longing to escape, longing to maintain tradition and culture, coming of age, and the realities of island life are all explored here. A realistic look too at climate change and a very clever metaphor when the boy himself is caught - won't give it away though. Excellent.

2* This is Who You Are You'll See by Nicola Redhouse
Voice just didn't suit me.

4.5* Mrs Sunshine. Strong story.

2* Snake in the Grass by Claire Corbett
Again the voice just didn't suit me. Know many reviewers here have loved it. Not overly interested in the POV - felt like a children's story.

1.5* Blue People by Adam Narnst. Blue and bleh.

3.5* Now I See by Fiona Place. Another strong story.

5* The Interpreter by Kate Ellington.
All so topical with our current disgraceful policy regarding refugee centres. This cleverly explores issues of refugees with a tragic tale of the relationship between a translator and a refugee. An exceptional story, which doesn't sugar coat either side. I felt that this and Smith's, Krien's, Panegyres' and Edge's stories all tackled relevant and significant issues and as a result all four have stayed with me more so.

4.5* The Peacock by Arabella Edge
Another superb story that really captures the Australian landscape and modern Australian identity. Takes us through the highly topical issue of dealing with a bushfire - amongst other things. Great read.

4* What I Didn't Put in My Speech by Claire Aman
Clever, cynical and humorous. Dealing with family relationships and very well structured and written. An enjoyable, touching story.

4.5* Too Solid Flesh by Angela Meyer.
I read a Meyer story a few years back (I think about a goldfish and a man on the train) and it was pretty dreadful, so I wasn't looking forward to this story when I arrived at it. Yet this tale of a daughter and Mother is another story that truly justifies its place here. Perhaps a little exaggerated or cliched in terms of the mother's former glamorous lifestyle, this story still manages to deliver. A well told story. And I've learnt a valuable lesson in terms of my reading habits about writers evolving. Very impressed.

1* Civility Place by JYL Koh.
Don't know why but I really struggled through this one for a while and eventually just gave up.

4.5* Something Special, Something Rare by Rebekah Clarkson.
Captures place and character and age extremely well. Vivid, humorous, and moving. The portrayal of a young boy in relation to the setting along with his family is first rate.

3.5* The Stories I read as My Mother Died by Ryan O'Neil.
A man's love for reading intertwined with his mother dying. O'Neil, as always, delivers. Thought it a little too alike in structure to some of his other stories. But I'm an admirer of his work. If you're a newcomer to O'Neil I think you'll view it as a superb story.

5* Sugar Bag Dreamin Country by Mark Smith
A compassionate cop up in the rough Top End, takes Jimmy, a seemingly unruly and drunk Aborigine, to where he needs to deal with his 'sorry business'. It's a superb tale as it doesn't sugar coat anything. The cop has power and then loses it in Jimmy's Aboriginal homeland. Fantastic look at many issues - even touches on how the changes in civil liberties in the late 60s, although well-meaning and necessary, didn't always favour all of the Indigenous Community. Jimmy was one of the stockmen forced to forge out a new identity. Courageous story. Excellent.

5* Flicking the Flint by Anna Krien
This opens superbly with the brutal father's habits when smoking. Like the flint in his hand this oppressive father is always at a violent explosion point. The mother has been cowered into submission and the son, which the story revolves around, is humiliated and isolated by this bastard of a dad. Unfortunately, this story relates to the rising issue in Australian society - that of domestic violence. Krien's writing is superb, and although this is a dark story, her voice provides for some humorous moments. A must read. Savage, hypnotic, superbly written and replete with meaning.

4.5* The Panther by David Brooks
Liked this because it was the only dark fantasy in the anthology. A dark puma from an artwork, comes hauntingly into a man's life both in a metaphorical and physical sense. Full of intrigue. Certainly one of the most gripping stories here.

3.5* The Green Lamp by Leah Swann
A tradie turned pizza shop worker's troubles in life. This story has a classic Australian city feel about it. Thought the ending let it down but I loved the relationships between the older woman he lives with and the younger woman in the pizza joint. Very good story.

3* Pet Name by Kristen Tranter
An intriguing premise and fascinating set up. Wanted so much more form the latter part of this story. Initial scenes make it still worth the time.

3.5*Just Like Us by Melanie Joosten
Likable story on the cynical, more humorous side of an odd situational story. Liked it.

3* Blood and Bone by Lisa Jacobsen
A man returns to the family home as his dad is no longer able to complete a task. Simple but solid story to end on.

Thumbs up for these Aussie stories!



1 review
April 7, 2016
Plenty to love about this one. Julienne Van Loon's story was confusing but worth it, Anthony Panegyres brings climate change stories to a new height, Anna Krien's strory of domestic violence will have you gripped, Smith's story brings a courageous light to Indigenous - White issues and Brooks' story will have you intrigued throughout. Most were good but these were exceptional 5 star stories.
Profile Image for Lisa.
173 reviews13 followers
February 27, 2016
I enjoyed every story in this anthology, that's why I've given it five stars. Amanda Lohrey should be congratulated on the selections made. Each of the twenty-three stories held their own beside one another. A fine collection of short fiction by talented Australian writers. Take the time to read this one.
Profile Image for Anna.
297 reviews19 followers
March 20, 2016
Out of 23 short stories 20 were rubbish, and 3 were just bearable enough to justify the reading time.
It was a curious read, but I really hope they're not the BEST Australian stories.
Profile Image for Anne Green.
664 reviews16 followers
June 25, 2018
Reading this anthology raises questions (yet again) about the arbitrariness of "best" as a classification. "Best" obviously according to the editor and compared to others that didn't make the cut (or didn't even get read), but it's hard not to think of all the many excellent stories that don't make these collections. However out of this selection the standard was generally quite high in terms of skill. In terms of appeal, it's always got to be subjective. One story stood out for me head and shoulders above the rest and that was "Bring Closer What is Left to Come" by Julienne van Loon. I loved the abstract, ambiguous voice and the subtle, lyrical style. It seems the perfect way to write about illicit desire. I also loved "What I Didn't Put in My Speech" by Claire Aman and "The Stories I Read as My Mother Died" by Ryan O'Neill.
Profile Image for D'face.
565 reviews6 followers
July 9, 2017
A great collection of contemporary Australian short fiction, some cracker stories here.
Profile Image for Alex.
324 reviews
May 18, 2021
Highlights are Lisa Jacobson's 'Blood and Bone', Kirsten Tranter's 'Pet Name', Rebekah Clarkson's 'Something Special, Something Rare' and JYL's 'Civility Place'.
Profile Image for Chloe.
116 reviews
August 30, 2022
Reinvigorated my love of short stories! Found this book in a street library, will definitely keep an eye out for other years 'best Australian stories'.
12 reviews4 followers
June 20, 2015
I can't add much more to the reviews posted here already (and clearly, there's no accounting for taste!) other than to say I detected a strong thread of despair, hopelessness, and hardship running through many of the stories in this collection. The corporate rat-race looms in Julienne Van Loon's "Bring Closer What Is Yet To Come", and rears up as an ongoing phantasm in J.Y.L. Koh's "Civility Place." Dead-end jobs, unemployment, and economic hardship form the backdrops to "Blue People" (Adam Narnst), "Something Special, Something Rare" (Rebekah Clarkson), and "The Green Lamp" (Leah Swann.) Then, of course, there is the grief and loss contained within "The Stories I Read As My Mother Died" (Ryan O'Neill) and "Blood and Bone" (Lisa Jacobsen), as well as the awful domestic menace and victimhood in "Flicking the Flint" (Anna Krien.)

These aspects of the human condition are, of course, absolutely worthy of expression, and provide much scope for dramatic tension. My experiencing them in such concentration as I read the stories left me wondering whether they signify, collectively, the times we live in, or Amanda Lohrey's sensibilities as a selector/editor, or my own sensibilities as a reader. Perhaps it's a combination of all three.

Naturally, I have my own favourite pieces from the collection, but all of the stories deserve to be included. Each of them communicates deep human significance, and many of them are exemplars of characterisation, language, or sheer stylistic originality. I highly recommend this collection for all devotees of shorter narrative fiction.
Profile Image for Guy Salvidge.
Author 15 books41 followers
July 16, 2016
I enjoyed probably 50% of the stories here. As a writer I feel most affinity with someone like Julienne van Loon: her story was among my favourites. I still like 'Submerging' - my second reading of it, since I read it when it was in Overland. I enjoyed Kate Elkington's 'The Interpreter', Claire Aman's 'What I Didn't Put in My Speech', Ryan O'Neill's 'The Stories I Read When My Mother Died' and Leah Swann's 'The Green Lamp'. Quite a few of the others didn't resonate with me for whatever reason!
Profile Image for Nic.
281 reviews18 followers
January 8, 2015
I quite liked this book of short stories, there were 14 stories that I liked and 9 that I didn't... not a bad ratio for a book of short stories. However the last half of the book definitely contains better stories than the first half, so much so that I nearly put it down after the first 4 stories. But it definitely has some great stories towards the end, so stick in there.
Profile Image for Kerry.
266 reviews
July 13, 2015
This had some cross over with the collection "Something Special, Something Rare" including that title story, but this collection is a touch stronger. One of the top stories of the collection comes from David Brooks, "The Panther."
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews