New Australian Fiction 2021

by Rebecca Starford (Editor), Bryant Apolonio (Contributor), Alice Bishop (Contributor)

Genres: Short Stories, Australia

224 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2021

About the author

Rebecca Starford is the author of Bad Behaviour, a memoir about boarding school and bullying. The book was optioned for television by Matchbox Pictures and aired in Australia on STAN, as well as streamed through more than 20 other countries across the world.  Rebecca's first novel, The Imitator, was published in Australia, and in the United States, Canada, the UK and South Africa under the title An Unlikely Spy.  

She is also the co-founder and publishing director of Kill Your Darlings, and has previously worked for Text Publishing and Australian Book Review. Originally from Melbourne, Rebecca currently lives in France.

Reviews

[Jaclyn]

There are some wonderful stories in this varied and engaging collection.

[Hamad AlMannai · Rating 3 out of 5]

NAF is an annual anthology collection by Kill Your Darlings. Kill your Darlings is an 'eclectic and vibrant' magazine that champions independent early-career Australian writers. Edited by Rebecca Starford, it is a great destination to find on the rise writers and interesting essays and lit commentary.
I enjoyed reading this short story collection, even though I'm partial to long-form.

[Mandy Partridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of new fiction tackles the big issues, but with enough great characters and places to soften the blow. Georgia White looks at lesbian motherhood and paedophilia. Mykaela Saunders examines racism and it's effect on Aboriginal people, past and present. Lauren Aimee Curtis looks back fondly at European tourism; while Ben Walter flashes forward to Tasmanian disaster tourism. Scott Limbrick flashes further forward to a new kind of epidemic. James Noonan contrasts cold gay New York with rural Australia on fire. Daley Rangi gives us a window into the Trans Pacific Islander experience. Other short fiction looks at shallow relationships, slacker dads, rural depression and suicide.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an epic collection! I read the first story in this book and it was SO GOOD that I put it down and immediately emailed the writer to tell her how wonderful I thought it was. 😂👏

ALL the writing here is so tight - with not a single word wasted. Some of the sentences were so clever that I had to just stop and appreciate them for a bit. 🙏 Short stories are just such an art form and it was an absolute joy to read from front to back. 🥰

Being Australian fiction, lots of it referenced places I know and could really feel as I read. There were also a lot of situations, relationships and dynamics that I recognised from my own experience of life. I’m so impressed with the way all of these authors were able to perfectly distil the drama and despair of everyday life.

Absolutely recommend, a must have addition to the shelf (or towering bedside table stack). Grateful for some time between patients to finish the last bit at work tonight!

⏳ Good book for times when you can’t focus for a whole novel.
📝 Useful for aspiring writers
🎁 Would make a great gift

[Harrison Vesey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fantastic compilation of talented new short story writers from across Australia. Definitely some names to watch here over the coming years. If I had one complaint it’s that there seemed to be less diversity in genre compared to the 2020 edition.

[Leigh Briar · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent and evocative collection of stories. Personal favourites were 'Frequencies' by Anith Mukherjee, 'Resource Management' by Mykaela Saunders, 'Morningside' by James Noonan, and 'Takatāpui' by Daley Rangi.

[Ayesha · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5) Pretty decent. A lot of these stories don’t really do it for me, although there are some highlights. My favourite is ‘Takatāpui’ by Daley Rangi — really raw and hits like a punch to the gut. The turn of phrase in this is terrific and almost feels reminiscent of Irvine Welsh.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 overall. some of the stories were outstanding, others, not so much!

[Lula Belle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some enjoyable reads here and some weaker ones, which felt a bit sameish. Particularly liked 'Flaring Out' - the most imaginative take on the pandemic I've read.

[Hannah Cp · Rating 4 out of 5]

My personal favourites were the stories by James Noonan, Scott Limbrick and Eliza Henry-Jones.