I was ‘gobsmacked’–as they say here in Australia–to find out that Dreaming in the Dark made the final ballot for the World Fantasy Award. My congratulations to all the wonderful contributors who gave wings to this anthology. And my congratulations to all the other finalists on the ballot!
Here’s the link:
http://www.locusmag.com/News/2017/07/world-fantasy-award-nominees/
I’ve just seen the limited edition, slip-cased Dreaming in the Dark…and it looks beautiful! My compliments to Pete and Nicky Crowther and the PS team in England!
This photo taken with my trusty iPhone:
The Melbourne launch of Dreaming in the Dark will take place at the Continuum 13 National Science Fiction Convention at 6:00 pm at the Jasper Hotel, 489 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne. I can promise everyone a great time…and our authors will be there to read and sign books. Oh, and I just may do some schtick <Grin>. Join us for a drink and nibbles!
Congratulations to James Bradley! His fabulous Dreaming in the Dark story “Martian Triptych” has been selected for inclusion in the prestigious The Best Australian Stories 2016.
The good folks at Dymocks Brisbane will be hosting the launch of Dreaming in the Dark on Thursday, December 8th at 6:00 pm. Dreaming is a showcase anthology of Australian speculative fiction, fantasy, and horror. To quote Locus Magazine:
“Dreaming in the Dark will especially appeal to two groups of readers–those who love words themselves, and those who want an enticing sampler of work by some of Australia’s most talented working writers.”
I’ll be doing some master of ceremonies schtick, and Dreaming in the Dark contributors Paul Brandon, Kirstyn McDermott, Jason Nahrung, Janeen Webb, and Kim Wilkins will be giving some short (and spectacular) readings.
Paul and his wonderful Aria-finalist partner Sarah Calderwood have also graciously agreed to provide a few songs (and some sophisticated sound equipment).
So…sign up and help us celebrate this fabulous volume of “impressive prose, sometimes precise and measured, sometimes poetic” (Locus). Come and help us celebrate this first book from PS Australia! Click on the url below for details:
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/dreaming-in-the-dark-book-launch-tickets-29396355290
Dreaming in the Dark, the first volume in the new PS Australia line, will be out in November; and here’s a sneak peek of the cover:
Our Table of Contents:
Welcome to the Golden Age:
An Introduction of Sorts—Jack Dann
Sing, My Murdered Darlings—Sean Williams
Falling Angel—Paul Brandon
Martian Triptych—James Bradley
Northerner’s Farewell—Rjurik Davidson
Midnight in the Graffiti Tunnel—Terry Dowling
A Right Pretty Mate—Lisa L. Hannett
Eromon No More—Jason Nahrung
Luv Story—Kim Westwood
The Luminarium Tower—Sean McMullen
Neither Time Nor Tears—Angela Slatter
His Shining Day—Richard Harland
The Liquid Palace—Adam Browne
Heat Treatment—Venero Armanno
Snowflakes All the Way Down—Rosaleen Love
Served Cold—Alan Baxter
The Dog Who’d Been Dead—Anna Tambour
Fade to Grey—Janeen Webb
All those Superpowers and What Are They Good For?
—Garth Nix
Burnt Sugar—Kirstyn McDermott
In Hornhead Wood—Kim Wilkins
Moonshine—Simon Brown
And as I wrote in the introduction:
It’s said that one of the characteristics of a good editor is the ability to read out of his or her comfort zone. Well, I can only say that every story in this volume is here because it made me nervous, made me laugh, scared me, made me think, reconsider, or just plain blew me away: i.e. knocked me out. And many of these stories are definitely out of my comfort zone. My response: ‘Oh, joy!’
Not one of the stories was bought (yes, authors need to be paid!) because the author had a big name or because the volume was light on a particular subgenre or because I had to meet a word count. If I couldn’t get the stories, then I’d wait until I did. No conciliation, no accommodation, no concession. Well, okay, I lied: I did have to make one accommodation: I had a word limit. I couldn’t buy the universe. But I sure as hell tried to buy the best of it!
Dreaming in the Dark can be pre-ordered HERE.
More Dreaming news as it happens…