The Year's Best Australian Fantasy and Horror 2013 Read online

  The Year’s Best Australian Fantasy & Horror

  ~ 2013~

  The Fourth Annual Collection

  for

  Chuck Chainey-McKenzie

  (L.G.)

  For Adam Calaitzis

  (T.H.)

  The Year’s Best Australian Fantasy & Horror 2013

  edited by Liz Grzyb & Talie Helene

  Published by Ticonderoga Publications

  Copyright (c) 2014 Liz Grzyb & Talie Helene

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise) without the express prior written permission of the copyright holder concerned. The acknowledgements constitute an extension of this copyright page.

  Introduction copyright (c) 2014 Liz Grzyb & Talie Helene

  “The Year in Fantasy” copyright (c) 2014 Liz Grzyb

  “The Year in Horror” copyright (c) 2014 Talie Helene

  A Cataloging-in-Publications entry for this title is available from The National Library of Australia.

  ISBN 978–1–921857–72–0 (hardcover)

  978–1–921857–73–7 (trade paperback)

  978–1–921857–74–4 (ebook)

  Ticonderoga Publications

  PO Box 29 Greenwood

  Western Australia 6924

  Australia

  www.ticonderogapublications.com

  10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

  Contents

  The Year In Review, Liz Grzyb & Talie Helene

  Caution: Contains Small Parts, Kirstyn McDermott

  Born and Bread, Kaaron Warren

  The Sleepover, Terry Dowling

  Black Swan Event, Margo Lanagan

  Hell Is Where The Heart Is, Janeen Webb

  Bowfin Island, Anna Tambour

  A Castle In Toorak, Marion Halligan

  The Silence of Clockwork, Carol Ryles

  The Raven and her Victory, Tansy Rayner Roberts

  Almost Beautiful, Angela Rega

  Sticks and Stones, Ryan O’Neill

  After Hours, Thoraiya Dyer

  The Boy by the Gate, Dmetri Kakmi

  The Ways of the Wyrding Women, Rowena Cory Daniells

  Old Souls, David Thomas Moore

  Poppies, S.G. Larner

  The Ninety-Two, Claire McKenna

  The Oblivion Box, Faith Mudge

  Harry’s Dead Poodle, David Kernot

  The Camp Follower, Trudi Canavan

  Disciple of the Torrent, Lee Battersby

  Flight, Angela Slatter

  La Mort d’un Roturier, Martin Livings

  On the Wall, Nicky Rowlands

  All the Lost Ones, Deborah Biancotti

  Glasskin, Robert G. Cook

  The Nest, C.S. McMullen

  By Bone-Light, Juliet Marillier

  About The Contributors

  Recommended Reading List

  Australian & New Zealand Fantasy & Horror Awards

  About The Editors

  Acknowledgements

  The Year In Review

  Liz Grzyb & Talie Helene

  The Year In Fantasy

  Jonathan Strahan has had another successful year. He was nominated for a Hugo Award for Best Editor, Short Form and the Locus Award for Best Editor, and was awarded the Peter McNamara Convenors’ Award for Excellence at the Aurealis Awards. His anthologies were nominated for a World Fantasy Award, a Locus Award and an Aurealis Award, and his The Coode Street Podcast was nominated for a Hugo Award and a Ditmar.

  Australians were very well represented at the Hugo Awards this year, with Strahan’s shortlisting for the Best Editor, and no less than four Australian or Australian-involved podcasts being nominated for Best Fancast.

  Kaaron Warren and Angela Slatter had stories included in Paula Guran’s Once Upon a Time: New Fairy Tales. Angela Slatter had a prolific year of international publications, being involved with Stephen Jones’ Fearie Tales, The British Fantasy Society Horror Anthology and The Dark magazine, among others.

  Thoraiya Dyer and Joanna Fay were two Australian authors included in Josie Brown’s Daughters of Icarus: New Feminist Science Fiction and Fantasy anthology this year, from Pink Narcissus Press.

  Alan Baxter had his short story “Not the Worst of Sins” published in Beneath Ceaseless Skies magazine. Anna Tambour’s “Marks and Coconuts” was published in Postscripts 30/31. Ian McHugh placed The Canal Barge Magician’s Number Nine Daughter” in Clockwork Phoenix 4.

  Gerry Huntman published “Dom and Gio’s Barber Shop” in Lovecraft Zine #21, The Cutpurse from Mulberry Bend” in Penny Dread Tales III, and “In Arcadia” in Catharine May’s The Dark Bard.

  Lisa Hannett also placed a number of stories with international markets, such as “Another Mouth” in The Dark magazine, “The Coronation Bout” in Electric Velocipede.

  Peter M Ball published “From Tuesday to Tuesday” in Daily Science Fiction. Tansy Rayner Roberts wrote “The Minotaur Girls” in Glitter & Mayhem. Trudi Canavan published “Camp Follower” in Jonathan Strahan’s Fearsome Journeys.

  Notable Novels

  Harper Collins supported Australian fantasy to a great extent this year, with many authors beginning or continuing series. Kylie Chan began her Chinese mythology-inspired Celestial Battle series with Dark Serpent, which was nominated for the Norma K. Hemming Award. Jennifer Fallon released the third book in her epic fantasy Rift Runners series, Reunion. Another Chinese link for Harper Collins this year was Traci Harding’s Dreaming of Zhou Gong, which is set in ancient China. This is the first book in her new sf/fantasy Timekeepers series, which was voted in the “50 Books you Can’t Put Down” get reading campaign. Duncan Lay continued from his 2012 novel Bridge of Swords with Valley of the Shields, the second in his Empire of Bones series. Felicity Pulman’s A Ring Through Time is a young adult historical novel which was shortlisted for the Davitt Awards Best Young Adult Novel. Jo Spurrier’s Black Sun Light My Way is the second instalment of her Children of the Black Sun series, and KJ Taylor continued her Risen Sun series with The Shadowed Throne.

  Escape Publishing, the digital imprint of Harlequin Australia, has really expanded their Australian speculative romance offerings this year. Ros Baxter began her Aegira Chronicles with the quirky and very readable mermaid romance Fish Out of Water, Sarah Belle released fantasy romance Hindsight and Jennifer Brassel produced Secret Reflection. Jenny Brigalow started her young adult paranormal Nightshifters series with The Children of the Mist. Shannon Curtis began her fairy story-inspired Once Upon a Crime series with Enamoured. Alexis Fleming released the saucy paranormal Hidden Fire, and Juliet Madison published her time-travel fantasy romance Fast Forward. Nicola E. Sheridan released the erotic magical fantasy novel A Warlord’s Lady, and Rebekah Turner continued her Chronicles of Applecross series with the second book, Chaos Bound. Jacquie Underdown had two magic realism romance books published with Escape this year: Beautiful Illusion and The Paler Shade of Autumn.

  Pan Macmillan released the second in Juliet Marillier’s excellent young adult Shadowfell series, Raven Flight, which won the Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best Youth Novel, and was nominated for the Tin Duck for Best Long Work. Jay Kristoff continued his Lotus War series with Kinslayer. Kristoff’s Lotus War novella “The Last Stormdancer” won the Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Short Story.

  Momentum Books, th
e digital imprint from Macmillan, have continued to support Australian fantasy authors, bringing out a number of titles this year. Notables include Chris Matthews’ debut novel, coming-of-age story Mudlark, and Adina West’s Dark Child: The Awakening, which was released as five novella-length episodes before the omnibus edition was published in June. Momentum also published Dirk Strasser’s Eclipse, the third title in his Ascension series, as well as re-releasing the first two titles in the series, Zenith and Equinox, which were originally published by Pan Macmillan.

  Berkley Books continued publishing Australian and New Zealand paranormal romance. Kylie Griffin brought out the third in her demonic Light Blade series, Allegiance Sworn, which won the Australian Romance Readers Association Favourite Sci Fi, Fantasy or Futuristic Romance Award. Erica Hayes also released the second in her Seven Signs series, Redemption, following fallen angel Japheth and vampire Rose. New Zealand paranormal powerhouse Nalini Singh continued both of her series with Berkley this year, with Guild Hunter #6, Archangel’s Legion and Psy/Changeling #15, Heart of Obsidian, which won the Australian Romance Readers Association Favourite Paranormal Romance Award. Singh also released three novellas set in her two paranormal worlds with Berkley, as well as a collection of her Psy/Changeling novellas and shorts, Wild Invitation.

  Random House has had a lot of success with their Australian authors this year, with Allyse Near’s Fairytales for Wilde Girls winning Best Young Adult Novel and nominated for Best Horror Novel in Aurealis Awards, and being shortlisted for the Inky Award, as well as for the Norma K. Hemming Award. Charlotte McConaghy began her young adult romantic fantasy Chronicles of Kaya series with Avery. Michael Pryor continued his young adult magical realism Extraordinaires series with The Subterranean Stratagem.

  Allen & Unwin continued to support young adult fantasy series, publishing the first two new series. Amie Karfman and Meagan Spooner’s sf/fantasy trilogy Starbound began with Aurealis Award-winning and Inky shortlisted These Broken Stars, and the first of Marianne Curley’s new Avena series, Hidden, was released, featuring a stolen angel. Julie Hunt released her Children’s Book Award-shortlisted novel Song for a Scarlet Runner, which was also shortlisted for an Aurealis Award for Best Children’s Book. Garth Nix & Sean Williams brought out their third Troubletwisters title, The Mystery of the Golden Card.

  Angry Robot continued to feature Australasian names, releasing Lee Battersby’s sequel to The Corpse-Rat King: The Marching Dead, which was nominated for Best Horror Novel at the Aurealis Awards. New Zealand author Freya Robertson began her Elemental Wars series with the Sir Julius Vogel Best Novel Award-winning Heartwood.

  Clan Destine Press published three Australian novels in the fantasy genre this year. Patricia Bernard began her young adult fantasy series M’dgassy Chronicles with Legend of the Three Moons. Dean J Anderson brought out steamy action paranormal Unnaturals, and Cheryse Durrant began her young adult paranormal Heart Hunters series with The Blood She Betrayed.

  Hachette Australia released fantasy thriller Lexicon from Max Barry, which won Best Science Fiction Novel and was shortlisted for Best Fantasy Novel in the Aurealis Awards. M.K. Hume completed her pre-Arthurian Merlin’s Prophecy series with Web of Deceit. Ian Irvine completed his Tainted Realm trilogy with Justice.

  Fablecroft continued their focus on novels this year by releasing the long-awaited third in Tansy Rayner Roberts’ young adult Mocklore Chronicles, Ink Black Magic, which was shortlisted for the Aurealis Best Fantasy Novel. Fablecroft also re-released the first two volumes of the Mocklore Chronicles, Splashdance Silver and Liquid Gold, as ebooks.

  Through 47 North, Amazon’s speculative fiction imprint, Mark Barnes brought out two volumes from his Echoes of Empire fantasy trilogy: The Garden of Stones and The Obsidian Heart.

  Penguin digital imprint Destiny Romance released two speculative romances by their Australian authors, Peta Crake’s paranormal Revelry and Bernadette Rowley’s fantasy The Lady’s Choice.

  Rowena Cory Daniells concluded her epic King Rolen’s Kin series with King Breaker, published by Solaris Press. Robert Hood’s horror/fantasy novel Fragments of a Broken Land: Valarl Undead was released from Borgo Press (an imprint of Wildside Press), winning the Ditmar Award for Best Novel.

  Tartarus Press published Nike Sulway’s fantasy/science fiction novel Rupetta, which won the James Tiptree, Jr. Award, the Norma K. Hemming Award and was shortlisted in the Aurealis Awards for Best Science Fiction Novel, and the Crawford Memorial Award.

  Garth Nix’s amusing magical romance Newt’s Emerald was released through Jill Grinberg Literary Management, and was shortlisted for Best Fantasy Novel in the Aurealis Awards. Joanna Fay continued her Siaris Quartet with the second book, Reunion, and the third, Vow’s Answer, through Musa Publishing. Vow’s Answer was nominated for a Tin Duck Award for Best Professional Written Work.

  Neil Cladingboel released the final novel of his Erebus Equilibrium series, Beloved Sons, through his publishing house, Equilibrium Books. Equilibrium Books also released Karina McRoberts’ first instalment of her Chelandra trilogy, Chelandra.

  Crimson Romance, an e-publishing imprint of F+W Media, released TF Walsh’s paranormal Cloaked in Fur. Prolific erotic fiction author Christina Phillips had two new speculative novels released through Ellora’s Cave this year, the fantasy romance Betrayed (Forbidden Book 3) and the paranormal Bloodlust Denied. Christian Baines released his gay paranormal romance The Beast Without through Interactive Press.

  Bec McMaster released two steampunk paranormal romances in her London Steampunk series with Sourcebooks this year: My Lady Quicksilver and Heart of Iron. She also self-published Tarnished Knight. NZ author Summer Wigmore had her Sir Julius Vogel Award-nominated novel The Wind City published by Steam Press.

  Grant Wales brought out a Noah’s Ark retelling, Man After His Kind through Dragonfall Press. Shimmer by Jennifer McBride & Lynda Nixon is a young adult novel about a teenaged genie, released by Fremantle Press. Natasha Ewendt published her vampire novel This Freshest Hell through Lacuna Publishing. Kylie Sheaffe and Mel Tescho released inspirational fantasy romance Believe with Soul Mate Publishing.

  Many self-published novels are starting to win awards and being included in shortlists. In the Sir Julius Vogel Awards shortlist in New Zealand, three out of the six shortlisted novels are self-published, and in the Aurealis Awards in Australia, three of the six “book” categories included a self-published book, and two awards were won by self-published works. As the information for the introduction was being collated this year, another interesting phenomenon was noted: that a large number of self-published works were listed as published by a company which turned out to be made up of the author. While there obviously continues to be a stigma attached to self-published works for this to occur, it seems that the awards are beginning to reflect more of an open door to non-traditionally published works.

  Mitchell Hogan published his own novel A Crucible of Souls, which took out Best Fantasy Novel in the Aurealis Awards.

  Andrea Host was another self-published author who made waves in the awards this year, with her novels Hunting, which was shortlisted in the Aurealis Awards for Best Young Adult Novel, and Bones of the Fair.

  Two self-published titles were shortlisted for the Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best Novel. Sam J. Charlton’s Palâdnith Chronicles Book 1, Journey of Shadows, and Sharon Hannaford’s third instalment in her paranormal Hellcat series, A Cold Day in Hell, were on the shortlist.

  Collections

  Ticonderoga Publications took the lead again in the number of single-author collections published this year, edited by Russell B. Farr. Cat Sparks’ thought provoking science fiction collection The Bride Price won the Ditmar for Best Collection and also Best Short Story for the excellent story “Scarp”. Sparks was also nominated for Best Artwork in the Ditmars for her cover of this collection, which was nominated for Best Collection in the Aurealis Awards.

  Juliet Marillier’s collection Pricklemoon won the Tin Duck for Best Professio
nal Long Work, as well as being nominated for the Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best Collected Work and the Tin Duck for Best Edited Work. Stories from the collection won the Aurealis Award for Best Young Adult Short Fiction, the Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best Short Story, as well as being nominated for the Ditmar and Tin Duck Awards. Even the cover art by Pia Ravenari was nominated for two awards.

  Kim Wilkins’ The Year of Ancient Ghosts was shortlisted for the Aurealis Award for Best Collection, and the title story won Best Horror Short Fiction as well as being shortlisted for Best Young Adult and Best Fantasy Short Fiction in the same awards. The story was also shortlisted for Best Novella or Novelette in the Ditmars.

  Jason Fischer’s Everything is a Graveyard has many fantasy elements, but the stories sit squarely in the horror genre. Steven Utley’s final collection, Invisible Kingdoms is another collection with elements of fantasy, this time more in the science fiction realm.

  Twelfth Planet Press has continued to produce outstanding boutique collections from big names in Australian speculative fiction. Alisa Krasnostein edited two collections this year, Thoraiya Dyer’s Asymmetry and Kirstyn McDermott’s disturbing Caution: Contains Small Parts. Both collections were nominated for Best Collected Work in the Ditmars and Best Collection in the Aurealis Awards. McDermott’s collection was nominated for Best Long Fiction in the Chronos Awards. “The Home for Broken Dolls” won Best Novella or Novelette in the Ditmar Awards, as well as “What Amanda Wants” being in the shortlist for the same award. “The Home for Broken Dolls” was also nominated for the Best Horror Short Fiction Award in the Aurealis Awards. Dyer had her own share of successes this year, with one of the stories fro her collection, “Seven Days in Paris”, being nominated for Best Science Fiction Short Story in the Aurealis Awards, and Best Short Story in the Ditmars. Amanda Rainey won the Tin Duck for her Twelfth Planet Press book covers.