Aurealis #45

By Chimaera Publications

Aurealis, the Australian magazine of fantasy and science fiction, has been publishing continuously since 1990, but this issue is its first e-publication. Aurealis #45, edited by Dirk Strasser, features the return of the legendary bunyipslayer in a brilliant story by Lachlan Huddy, a harrowing fairy tale from Aimee Smith, and an interview with Glenda Larke, as well as reviews, news and more.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Chimaera Publications
• Release date: Sep 26, 2011
• ISBN: 9780975214398

Chimaera Publications

Chimaera Publications, the owner of Aurealis magazine, the Aurealis book imprint and the Aurealis Awards, has been publishing fantasy, science fiction and horror since 1990.

Book preview

AUREALIS #45

Exploring New Worlds

Edited by Dirk Strasser and Carissa Thorp

Published by Chimaera Publications at Smashwords

Copyright of this compilation Chimaera Publications 2011

Copyright on each story remains with the contributor.

EPUB version ISBN 978-0-9752143-9-8

CHIMAERA PUBLICATIONS

Smashwords Edition License Notes

Thank you for downloading this free ebook. Although this is a free book, it remains the copyrighted property of the publisher and authors, and may not be reproduced, copied and distributed for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy at Smashwords.com, where they can also discover other works by the publisher and Aurealis authors. Thank you for your support.

Hard copy back issues of Aurealiscan be obtained from the Aurealiswebsite:

www.aurealis.com.au

Contents

From the Cloud – Dirk Strasser

The Bunyipslayer and the Bounty Hunter – Lachlan Huddy

One Hundred Years – Aimee Smith

Breakfast with Glenda Larke – Crisetta MacLeod

Reviews

Carissa's Weblog – Carissa Thorp

Credits

From the Cloud

Dirk Strasser

If you are reading this, we have both entered a new world. This is the first epublication of Aurealis magazine. It's been 21 years, almost to the day, since Stephen Higgins and I published the very first issue. For over 20 years Aurealis has been trapped inside the physical world of hard copy. Up until issue #44, the magazine has been confined by paper pages and the three dimensions of the book format. Now we've escaped. And there's no going back. We believe a publication devoted to fantasy and science fiction should be at the forefront of change. So here we are. Right on the edge. Helping create a new type of speculative fiction magazine. If you've enjoyed Aurealis in the past, we trust you'll find the same devotion to quality and commitment to supporting new authors. If you have just discovered Aurealis, then we have achieved our aim of showcasing new fantasy and science fiction to the widest possible audience.

It's been a tradition for Aurealis editors to use the heading 'From the bunker' when talking directly to our readers in our monthly ebulletin AurealisXpress. Though we all loved the job, there was always a sense that we were stuck somewhere, under siege from the demands of a paper magazine, doing our best but with only vague hopes of one day being able to stick our heads up and coming out from under. With this first issue of the new world Aurealis, we are merging AurealisXpress and Aurealis magazine with what will become a monthly emag that combines the quality new fiction and non-fiction of Aurealis with the up-to-date reviews and information of AurealisXpress. We would like to acknowledge Stuart Mayne who edited Aurealis from issue #37 to #44. His fine work has enabled us to launch Aurealis as an epublication, and works which he selected will appear over the first four issues.

In this issue we feature the return of the legendary bunyipslayer in a brilliant story by Lachlan Huddy, a harrowing fairy tale from Aimee Smith, and an interview with Glenda Larke. We also introduce our v-view concept—book reviewing done via video clips—and our feedback survey where you can tell us instantly what you like and don’t like. We are no longer in the bunker; from now on we'll be speaking to you 'From the cloud'.

Thank you for joining us as we explore these new worlds. Let's see what lies glittering ahead.

Back to Contents

The Bunyipslayer and the Bounty Hunter

Illustration by Andrew Saltmarsh

The Bunyipslayer and the Bounty Hunter

Lachlan Huddy

Mount Isa. A dying town in a dying country. Fine. He was easy around decay. Prospero came to the main thoroughfare at dusk. The first thing he noticed stood at street's end, a corral with a herd of animals he'd only ever seen in the wild. He squinted at their doggish faces, thin arms and thick haunches. Soon he recalled the name: kangaroos. Some breeds, Prospero'd heard, could be ridden—these looked big enough. Good. He'd lost his horse to snakebite on the road here. Seemed like everything that slithered, swam, loped or crawled in this damn country was out to kill you. To his right were shops and houses and an old theatre, to his left a two-story building with a sign: The Red Earth Hotel. 'Ah,' he said, and went inside. It was crowded at this hour, full of young men and far fewer women. She was easy to spot tending bar: blonde, green-eyed, very pretty. Prospero strolled up and waited.

Finally she approached him. 'What'll you have?'

Prospero smiled. 'Your boyfriend.'

The barmaid paused, then sighed theatrically. 'Got jack of this a while ago, mate.'

'Of what?'

She snorted. 'Random pricks asking about the bunyipslayer. You reckon my answer'll change? He just passed through last year. We're not together. I don't know where to find him.'

'Oh, I ain't going looking, honey pie; he's coming to me. Hear you got a way to call on him.'

'You heard wrong.'

'Liar.'

She shook her head, looking past him, and nodded curtly in his direction. 'Bye,