Before diving into a new anthology of short stories there’s always a moment of hesitation or doubt, when the fear of the unknown briefly takes hold and you wonder about the quality of the stories inside. And given that many of the contributors listed on the back of the book are new to publication, any such anxieties would be justified. Fortunately, while this is quite an eclectic collection-not only in the varied subject matter of the stories, but also with the inclusion of new voices alongside published veterans-there are enough good stories to make it worth the purchase. Unsurprisingly, it’s the stories of the veterans that really shine through here, with both Cate Kennedy’s story of a farmer’s wife, and Max Barry’s rather disturbing story of a new father coming to terms with his child both definite highlights. Other notable stories include Paddy O’Reilly’s surreal but strangely mesmerising story which is (possibly) about the end of the world, and Melissa Beit’s excellent tale of a visitor to a mysterious island, somewhat reminiscent of The Wicker Man and marred only by a rather abrupt ending. Ultimately, this book is going to appeal to those with an interest in Australian writers or who enjoy reading short stories.

Stuart Dunstan is a bookseller at Borders Brisbane

Tags: aviva tuffield