Aurealis #77

by Michael Pryor (Editor, Contributor), Simon Petrie (Contributor), Rebecca-Anne C. Do Rozario (Contributor)

The first issue in Aurealis' 25th year, Aurealis #77 is a feast of the eerie, the unsettling and the other side of ordinary. 'Like a Boojum' by Simon Petrie takes us to a world where the exotic is familiar and the familiar is not to be trusted. 'The Death of Glinda, the Good Witch' by Rebecca-Anne C Do Rozario probes and questions until reality itself is in question. Lachlan Walter's exploration of the often troubling amalgamation of SF movies and Western movies is illuminating and fun, while our regular roll-out of reviews has some important pointers to good SpecFic reading.

Genres: Fantasy

ebook

First published February 8, 2015

About the author

Michael Pryor's bio
Check out my Fantasy podcast, 'The World Below the War in the Heavens' wherever you get your podcasts!

I was born in Swan Hill, Victoria. I spent my childhood in country Victoria and Melbourne before moving to Geelong at the age of 10. I lived in Geelong until I went to university in Melbourne after secondary school.

I currently live in Melbourne. I’ve worked as a drainer’s labourer, a truck driver, a bathroom accessories salesperson, an Internet consultant, a Multimedia Developer, a Publisher, in a scrap metal yard and as a secondary school teacher. Whew.

I’ve taught English, Literature, Drama, Legal Studies and Computer Studies.

I've published over thirty-five novels and more than sixty of my short stories have appeared in Australia and overseas in publications such as Overland and the New South Wales School Magazine. My writing moves from literary fiction to genre Science Fiction to slapstick humour, depending on my mood.

I’ve been shortlisted eleven times for the Aurealis Award for Speculative Fiction, and have also been nominated for a Ditmar award. My short stories have twice been featured in Gardner Dozois’ ‘Highly Recommended’ lists in The Year’s Best Science Fiction and The Year’s Best Fantasy. Nine of my books have been CBC Notable Books, I’ve been longlisted for a Golden Inky and I’ve been shortlisted for the WAYBRA Award. I’ve also twice won the Best and Fairest Award at West Brunswick Amateur Football Club.

My reviews tend toward the three word style of the trenchant critic, N. Molesworth.

Reviews

[Lynxie · Rating 2 out of 5]

'Like a Boojum' by Simon Petrie takes us to a world where the exotic is familiar and the familiar is not to be trusted.

I suppose this could be true, it was a rather lengthy look into an alien world and what 'if looks could kill' could mean. The idea was a good one, but I fear the amount of background provided was a little too heavy for the idea in my opinion.

The writing is quite intelligent, certainly aimed at the educated reader primarily because of the science involved, and while the writing itself was good, I just felt the story became a bit lost in all the science and background information.

'The Death of Glinda, the Good Witch' by Rebecca-Anne C Do Rozario probes and questions until reality itself is in question.

I found this to be rather boring. Set in an old folks home for the cast of 'The Wizard of Oz' the story itself was a little lost on me, perhaps it was because I was bored... perhaps it's because I have no great love for The Wizard of Oz? I don't know, but it wasn't Aurealis' best.

The artwork and reviews are to Aurealis' normal standards. I quite like the cover.

Overall, my 2 stars is because the writing was pretty good, but the content just fell flat for me.