Aurealis #164

By Stephen Higgins (Editor)

Aurealis has been publishing fantastic new fiction for over thrity years. We are constantly presenting new, fresh writers and ideas to a world wide audience. As well as fiction, each issue has provocative articles, reviews and stunning artwork. Some of the world's best writers have appeared in our pages. Aurealis is published ten times a year (February to November) and each issue delivers something special. Subscribe today and do not miss an issue!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Chimaera Publications
• Release date: Sep 8, 2023
• ISBN: 9781922471307

Book preview

AUREALIS #164

Edited by Stephen Higgins

Published by Chimaera Publications at Smashwords

Copyright of this compilation Chimaera Publications 2023

Copyright on each story remains with the contributor

EPUB version ISBN 978-1-922471-30-7

ISSN 2200-307X (electronic)

CHIMAERA PUBLICATIONS

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the authors, editors and artists.

Hard copy back issues of Aurealis can be obtained from the Aurealis website: www.aurealis.com.au

Contents

From the Cloud—Stephen Higgins

The Cost of Living—Daniel Matters

The Song of Circles—Josephine Sarvaas

Accidents Will Happen—Connor White

An Introduction to Dr Nikola, Guy Boothby’s Infamous Invention—Gillian Polack

The X-Files and Technology-Based Horror—From the 90s to Now—Claire Fitzpatrick

Return to The Etched City: The Twenty Year Anniversary of KJ Bishop’s Weird Epic—Emmet O’Cuana

Reviews

Next Issue

Submissions to Aurealis

Credits

From the Cloud

Stephen Higgins

After a while, you need some new blood in your To Be Read pile. I’ve been skimming through all of the usual sites to find new books by new authors. Like just about everyone else, I’ve downloaded a lot of excerpts and opening chapters and I’ve discovered two things: many authors are aware of the fact that many readers download the opening chapter of a novel and they have, understandably, amped up the excitement level of their openings. The other thing I’ve discovered is that many authors are not aware that many readers download the opening chapter of a novel and they proceed in a stately manner to slowly reveal their characters, setting and various plot elements.

There is no rule to this of course. Some people just have a style that lends itself to the slow reveal, and others like to jump in bots and all, as it were. Many years ago I taught creative writing in a TAFE college. I researched a lot and applied many of the lessons I’d learned whilst reading the Aurealis slush pile. Recently I was asked to talk to a group of high school students who were undertaking a creative writing class. I recalled that one of the best pieces of advice I imparted when I taught ages ago was to strike out the first paragraph of a short story. Often this is just the writer settling down to write and getting their mind in gear. And given the fact that writers are loathe to discard any hard won material, the dodgy opening often gets left in to the detriment of the story.

The result is that I have tons of sample chapters on my iPad. Sometimes I revisit these sample chapters and sometimes I really like them, so maybe I wasn’t in the right frame of mind for the sample the first time I tried it. I guess sample chapters are not a good indicator for me. So my next tactic is to try review sites.

I haven’t decided if the best approach is to read the one star reviews first to find out what is wrong with a book, or to read the five star reviews to discover what works. Or is it best to read the three star reviews in the hope of getting balanced viewpoints? And then one can turn to trusted reviewers who seem to share the same tastes in books. But a reviewer can only review so many books and, besides, if I want something different, perhaps I need to look to different people to recommend books. It’s the same with friends. Some friends will recommend a book because they know my tastes. But that doesn’t take into account the fact that my reading habits are jaded.

Of course, I also read the reviews here in Aurealis and I’ve found some good new authors there. I must admit I was a bit afraid I’d reached the age where it is hard to surprise me. My sense of wonder has been worn out. Happily, however, this is not the case. I’m often surprised by some of the short fiction we publish, so that’s not the base problem. Maybe the real problem is that I have read so many authors. The search continues.

PS I found a new author I like.

All the best from the cloud!

Stephen Higgins

Editor: Stephen Higgins

Stephen has been interested in science fiction for ages and has written a few stories for Aurealis in the past. Lately he has been creating a lot of music. You can hear his music on Spotify, iTunes, Bandcamp and Soundcloud and all of the other usual places you get your music. You can find out more at www.stephenhigginsmusic.com.

Associate Editor: Scott Vandervalk

Scott Vandervalk has been a freelance editor for over 10 years, with projects ranging across the globe, from educational textbooks to novels, short stories, roleplaying games and boardgames, amongst other types of text. Scott has previously worked in science and education support, both of which have led to editing projects related to those fields. When not editing, Scott can also be found dabbling in gardening, cooking, writing or designing and playing games. Scott currently serves on the committee of the Bendigo Writers’ Council. Website: scottvandervalk.com.

Back to Contents

The Cost of Living

Daniel Matters

The sun beats down through grey smog as Loreal and I make our way along the beach. The sand mixes with the dark pigment of fresh ashfall and the copper murk of the ocean’s waves. Scattered across the shore, dragged in by the nightly tide, is a veritable smorgasbord. Shopping bags flitter like extinct birds. Plastic bottles roll like tumbleweeds. Shards of glass shimmer like veins of gems.

Each of us is pushing a wheelbarrow, silver and sturdy. City issue. We both stop periodically, bending down to extract the valuable harvest. Our ticket to a better life.

Letting out a dry cough, my gaze falls on the bay beyond. On the other side amid a haze of fog are the silver towers of the City. The pinnacle of civilisation. It’s why we scrapped and saved to rent this stretch of beach. Not only can we gaze upon the last great metropolis, but the filth that comes from it allows us to prove ourselves. The piles of old chip packets, the bushels of rotting fruit, the wealth of rusty iron.

When our loads are full, we make our way back through