Year's Best Aotearoa New Zealand Science Fiction & Fantasy, Volume III

by Marie Hodgkinson (Editor), Jack Remiel Cottrell, Melanie Harding-Shaw

The third volume in an annual anthology series celebrating the strength and diversity of SFF writing from Aotearoa New Zealand.

Table of Contents:

New Zealand Gothic, by Jack Remiel Cottrell
Synaesthete, by Melanie Harding-Shaw
Kōhuia, by T Te Tau
Death confetti, by Zoë Meager
For Want of Human Parts, by Casey Lucas
How To Get A Girlfriend (When You’re A Terrifying Monster), by Marie Cardno
Salt White, Rose Red, by Emily Brill-Holland
Florentina, by Paul Veart
Otto Hahn Speaks to the Dead, by Octavia Cade
The Waterfall, by Renee Liang
The Double-Cab Club, by Tim Jones
Wild Horses, by Anthony Lapwood
You and Me at the End of the World, by Dave Agnew
The Secrets She Eats, by Nikky Lee
How To Build A Unicorn, by AJ Fitzwater
Even the Clearest Water, by Andi C. Buchanan
You Can’t Beat Wellington on a Good Day, by Anna Kirtlan
The Moamancer (A Musomancer short story), by Bing Turkby
They probably play the viola, by Jack Remiel Cottrell
Crater Island, by P.K. Torrens
A Love Note, by Melanie Harding-Shaw
The Turbine at the End of the World, by James Rowland

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction

230 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 31, 2021

Reviews

[Kab · Rating 3 out of 5]

"New Zealand Gothic" by Jack Remiel Cottrell ★★★
"Synaesthete" by Melanie Harding-Shaw ★★★
"Death confetti" by Zoë Meager ★★★
"How To Get A Girlfriend (When You’re A Terrifying Monster)" by Marie Cardno ★★★
"Salt White, Rose Red" by Emily Brill-Holland ★★★
"You Can’t Beat Wellington on a Good Day" by Anna Kirtlan ★★★
"They probably play the viola" by Jack Remiel Cottrell ★★★

[MH · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like the previous versions, this is "pretty av", as we say in Kiwiland, with stories that range from "OK" to "a bit shit". The OK ones included "Kōhuia" (which is SF of NZ, rather than just by an NZer), "The secrets she eats" (a weird west fairy tale), "The Waterfall" (environmental dystopia), "The Double-Cab Club" (cli-fi, but not depressing), and "Even the Clearest Water" (more faeries). Things I did not like: the flash fiction and most of the horror. As with the previous edition, if this is the best short fiction NZ SF has to offer, then it is obvious why so few people read it.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid collection. Nothing to taxing, just some good Sci Fi and Fantasy short stories. For those worried that they may get lost in local and cultural references I'm happy to report only one story is hard to get in to but even this didn't affect the enjoyment of the overall story.
The top 3 highlights in this are:

Otto Hahn Speaks To The Dead by Octavia Cade - The only out and put horror story in the collection, a historical one to boot. Very atmospheric WW1 ghost story.
The Secrets She Eats by Nikky Lee - Excellent wild west urban fantasy story. If this doesn't turn into a series I'd be amazed. Probably the best story in the collection.
How To Get A Girlfriend (When You're A Terrifying Monster) by Marie Cardno - Part eldrich horror, part romance, part urban fantasy. This one again felt like a series starter that I'd be happy to read more of.

The 1st book in this series I've picked up but regardless to say I'll be picking up the rest. Marie Hodgkinson has put together an exceptional collection well worth your time.

[Andy Hickman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Year’s Best Aotearoa New Zealand Science Fiction & Fantasy. Volume III
Exceptional! Original!
(My story-by-story review yet to come.)

New Zealand Gothic, by Jack Remiel Cottrell
Synaesthete, by Melanie Harding-Shaw
Kōhuia, by T Te Tau
Death confetti, by Zoë Meager
For Want of Human Parts, by Casey Lucas
How To Get A Girlfriend (When You’re A Terrifying Monster), by Marie Cardno
Salt White, Rose Red, by Emily Brill-Holland
Florentina, by Paul Veart
Otto Hahn Speaks to the Dead, by Octavia Cade
The Waterfall, by Renee Liang
The Double-Cab Club, by Tim Jones
Wild Horses, by Anthony Lapwood
You and Me at the End of the World, by Dave Agnew
The Secrets She Eats, by Nikky Lee
How To Build A Unicorn, by AJ Fitzwater
Even the Clearest Water, by Andi C. Buchanan
You Can’t Beat Wellington on a Good Day, by Anna Kirtlan
The Moamancer (A Musomancer short story), by Bing Turkby
They probably play the viola, by Jack Remiel Cottrell
Crater Island, by P.K. Torrens
A Love Note, by Melanie Harding-Shaw
The Turbine at the End of the World, by James Rowland

[Matthew Bartlett · Rating 2 out of 5]

A largely very dark collection. Our country is in a bad way if this is the best of our future imaginary.

[Psyckers · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent collection of stories that will bend your mind, sometimes in dystopian and macabre ways, but always thought provoking and fun throughout.
This collection certainly shows how New Zealand Authors can create worlds that are unique and interesting, but also thoroughly 'Kiwi' in the story elements.