19 speculative tales of radical futures.

These stories explore meteorological, agricultural and biological technologies, alternative histories, arcologies and communes, the beauty in flooded cities, innovations in cross-continental travel, animals on the verge of extinction, androids, reality tv shows, new food sources, environmental refugees, blurring the divide between humans and animals, and above all, friendship, family and love.

Ecopunk! 19 optimistic tales selected by two award-winning editors, showing how humanity can survive and flourish, despite the looming uncertainty from climate change. The incredible line-up includes some of Australia’s best science fiction writers:

• Adam Browne, “The Radiolarian Violin”
• Matthew Chrulew, “Future Perfect”
• Emilie Collyer, “From the Dark”
• Jason Fischer, “Milk and Honey”
• Tom Guerney, “The Mangrove Maker”
• Claire McKenna, “Mr. Mycelium”
• R. Jean Mathieu, “The City Sunk, the City Risen”
• D.K. Mok, “The Wandering Library”
• Jason Nahrung, “The Today Home”
• Ian Nichols, “First Flight”
• Shauna O’Meara, “Island Green”
• Rivqa Rafael, “Trivalent”
• Jane Rawson, “The Right Side of History”
• Jane Routley, “The Scent of Betrayal”
• Andrew Sullivan, “The Butterfly Whisperer”
• Janeen Webb, “Monkey Business”
• Corey J. White, “Happy Hunting Ground”
• Tess Williams, “Broad Church”
• Marian Womack, “Pink Footed”

17 tales of real women and unreal worlds.

Speculative fiction stories about female characters who are strong in many different ways. There may be futuristic or fantastic settings, but one thing remains the same: resourceful, resilient women who are committed to doing what is needed, no matter what the cost.

• Cherith Baldry, “Star Bright”
• Jenny Blackford, “The Sorrow”
• Kay Chronister, “Dustbowl”
• Stephanie Gunn, “Broken Glass”
• Kathryn Hore, “Generation Zero”
• Kathleen Jennings, “A Hedge of Yellow Roses”
• Faith Mudge, “Blueblood”
• T R Napper, “The Silica Key”
• Rivqa Rafael, “Function A:save(target.Dawn)”
• Alter S. Reiss, “Catalysis”
• Jane Routley, “Barista”
• Cat Sparks, “Veteran’s Day”
• Kyla Ward, “Cursebreaker: The Mutalibeen and the Memphite Mummies”
• Marlee Jane Ward, “Clara’s”
• Susan Wardle, “A Truck Called Remembrance”
• Janeen Webb, “A Wondrous Necessary Woman”
• Eleanor R Wood, “The Fruits of Revolution”

Book 3 of the Chronicles of Dion

Winner of the Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Novel 1999

In search of her missing niece Dally, Dion arrives in luxurious Akieva, the glorious and corrupt capitol of decadent Aramaya. Here, at the dazzling court of the handsome young emperor, Dion discovers her niece trapped in the web of necromancy and deceit hiding within the magnificent Winter Palace. But Dion’s arch enemy lurks at the center of the web, Bedazzer, the ruthless demon who has vowed to possess her-no matter the cost. In the ensuing deadly conflict, Dion must confront the dark secrets of her own heart and the mighty evil concealed in those around her.

Book 2 of the Chronicles of Dion

Winner of Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Novel 1998

Reunited with the family she left behind as a child, Dion finds her cherished homeland of Moria overrun by marauding Witch Hunters and dreaded Fire Angels. She soon realizes that she must use her awesome powers to help save her land and its people from the crushing grip of the Great Destroyer. Finding herself thrust into a morass of court intrigue, political conspiracy, and furious passion, Dion is forced to confront the deadly, seductive world of demons. Ultimately it is her strength of will, and the pure heart and bravery of the man she loves which will serve as her only weapons against the arch necromancer who would make her his queen.

Book 1 of the Chronicles of Dion

Provincial and naive — and the most powerful mage in the realm –young Dion is an innocent adrift in a world of intrigues and treacheries, with foul, hungry demons lurking just beyond its borders. And now she has been called upon to serve her Duke’s favorite mistress: the extraordinary Kitten Avignon, Our Lady of Roses.

For the mesmerizing courtesan is a woman in dire jeopardy, stalked by a fearsome necromancer who will not sleep until his beautiful prey suffers horribly and is destroyed. And with Evil’s night approaching, shielding the Lady and herself from harm will require every ounce of a power Dion is only beginning to recognize and fear — a great gift suddenly imperiled by blossoming womanhood…and dangerous desire.

Collects 33 stories of horror and dark fantasy that acknowledge the undead as ineradicable members of Australian society. The best selections twine the vampire incursion with Australian history, as in Shona Husk’s “Mutiny on the Scarborough,” whose vampire narrator reveals himself to have been one of the earliest convicts transported Down Under. Angela Slatter’s “Sun Falls,” about a luckless vamp dependent upon his smart-aleck human slave, and “The Tide,” a multi-authored story that charts vampires’ rise from second-class citizen to the nation’s ruling elite, mix horror with humor.

The stories

• “The Tide”, Martin Livings and friends*
• “Mutiny on the Scarborough”, Shona Husk
• “Sun Falls”, Angela Slatter
• “Such is Life”, Jeremy Sadler
• “Apologetoi”, Chris Lawson
• “Punishment of the Sun”, Alan Baxter
• “Red Delicious”, Felicity Dowker
• “Just a Matter of Economics”, Yvonne Eve Walus
• “Quarantine”, Patty Jansen
• “Out of the Grave”, Amanda Pillar
• “Desert Blood”, Marty Young
• “Thin Air”, Simon Brown
• “Kissed by the Sun”, Jodi Cleghorn
• “Bats”, Jane Routley
• “Black Heart”, Joanna Fay
• “Renfield’s Wife”, Damon Cavalchini
• “Listening to Tracy”, Jen White
• “Breaking the Drought”, Jay Caselberg
• “Children of the Cane”, Jason Nahrung
• “The Sea at Night”, Joanne Anderton
• “Sky in the Morning”, Sonia Marcon
• “Taking it for the Team”, Tracie McBride
• “All that Glisters”, Pete Kempshall
• “The Rider”, Martin Livings
• “Vitality”, George Ivanoff
• “Coming Home”, Kathryn Hore
• “The Little Red Man”, Ray Gates
• “Deathborn Light”, Helen Stubbs
• “The Life Stealer”, Donna Maree Hanson
• “Behind the Black Mask”, Jacob Edwards
• “Interview with the Jiangshi”, Anne Mok
• “White and Red in the Black”, Lisa L Hannett
• “Lady Yang’s Lament”, Penelope Love

*Carol Ryles, Lezli Robyn, Kaaron Warren, Patty Jansen, Alan Baxter, Devin Jeythurai, Felicity Dowker, Andrew J McKiernan, Gillian Pollack, Chuck McKenzie