Flock: First Nations Stories Then and Now

by Ellen van Neervan (Editor)

This wide-ranging and captivating anthology showcases both the power of First Nations writing and the satisfaction of a good short story. Curated by award-winning author Ellen van Neerven, Flock roams the landscape of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander storytelling, bringing together voices from across the generations. Featuring established authors such as Tony Birch, Melissa Lucashenko and Tara June Winch, and rising stars such as Adam Thompson and Mykaela Saunders, Flock confirms the ongoing resonance and originality of First Nations stories.

This project is supported by the Copyright Agency's Cultural Fund.

Genres: Short Stories, Australia, Anthologies

255 pages, Paperback

Published May 4, 2021

Reviews

[Rachel]

3.5 stars!

This was a broadly enjoyable book of short stories which I picked up becuase I'd enjoyed van Neerven's other work in Throat (an anthology of poems). The book pulls together fifteen or so different short stories by various First Nations writers - from relatively well-known authors like Tara June Winch and Tony Birch to unknown but emerging First Nations writers, poets and screenwriters.

Let me just say, this book deserves every bit of attention it can get - it's not just something worth reading for NAIDOC week. It deserves to be read and appreciated by every Australian. It blended my own understanding of general "Australian" culture with a deeper First Nations understanding of country, and its stories ranged from deeply cultural reflections on Noongar country (in Western Australia) to short little conversations about queerness in the modern day. Each story was refereshing in its own way, and it made the short stories feel complete as an anthology curated by van Neerven.

It was a privilege reading these stories. I felt the writing was sometimes a bit hit-and-miss, but ultimately there were enough hits to make me appreciate it on the whole. Not to mention all of the important things I've learned about First Nations people by my reading of it.

[Charlotte]

My favourite stories were River Story by Mykaela Saunders and Each City by Ellen Van Neervan. Stepmother by SJ Norman, Galah by Melanie Saward and Born, Still by Jane Harrison also really stuck with me. An overall great collection of First Nations Australian stories!

[Anna Miller]

I couldn’t put this down- I reread many of the stories and really enjoyed how the narratives poured into one another, it is an excellently curated anthology.

[Rachel]

3.5 Stars. Some interesting short stories in this collection ☺️

[Mark Spence]

Quite strong and gripping overall, some seriously good stuff here

[Jaq]

Excellent collection. Will recommend it to teachers.