Described in the introduction as 'a challenge to Australian authors to write a cliff-hanging, Australian-flavoured, action-packed adventure story for two protagonists, a story of the What If, What Now, And Then ... kind' (p.1).
Full table of contents:
Sulari Gentill, 'Catch a Fallen Star'.
Jason Nahrung, 'The Mermaid Club'.
Alan Baxter, 'Golden Fortune Dragon Jade'.
Jason Franks, 'Exli and the Dragon'.
Lucy Sussex, 'Batgirl in Borneo'.
Amanda Wrangles, 'Come Now Traveller'.
Evelyn Tsitas, 'Stealing Back the Relics'.
Peter M Ball, 'Deadbeats'.
Narrelle M Harris, 'Virgin Soil'.
Dan Rabarts, 'Tipuna Tapu'.
Kat Clay, 'In the Company of Rogues'.
Sophie Masson, 'The Romanov Opal'.
Tor Roxburgh, 'The Boudicca Society'.
Emilie Collyer, 'The Panther's Paw'.
Tansy Rayner Roberts, 'Death at the Dragon Circus'.
Set in near-future Australia, 'Catch a Fallen Star' traces a country that has swung far to the political right, where conservatism is used to quell any resistance.
Source:
'Story behind the Story', Feathers of the Firebird, 10 January 2017. (https://firebirdfeathers.com/2017/01/10/story-behind-the-story-4-and-then-authors-on-their-contribution/)
Jason Nahrung describes the story as 'the second of my short stories starring detective Shane Hall and her accidental partner Manasa Chalmers as they negotiate a paranormal Brisbane. This one draws on a memory of how one of my favourite venues in the city was gentrified, as well as looking for an idea of mermaids different to the fairy tale.'
Source:
'Story behind the Story 1', Feathers of the Firebird, 6 January 2017. (https://firebirdfeathers.com/2017/01/06/story-behind-the-story-and-then-authors-on-their-contributions/)
'The Jade Dragon protected Long-En for centuries – until it was taken.
'When the Jade Dragon is stolen from the temple in the quiet village of Long-En, the locals are stunned. The very idea of such a theft is unimaginable. And without the protection of the powerful icon, what awful fate might befall the peaceful hamlet?
'Two young cousins, Li Yong Fa, a martial monk recently returned from years of training at the Shaolin Temple, and Li Zi Yi, a potent geomancer, team up to track down the thief, recover the priceless statue, and return it safely to Long-En. Little do they know how far afield they will be taken, and what dangers they will face in strange and inhospitable lands, before they even get close to their goal.'
Source: Publisher's blurb.
Two prisoners–one human and one non-human–attempt to escape the space prison of a galactic empire.
Source:
'Story behind the Story 2', Feathers of the Firebird, 7 January 2017. (https://firebirdfeathers.com/2017/01/07/story-behind-the-story-2-and-then-authors-and-their-contribution/)
In 19th-century Melbourne, Cato (a shapeshifter) and Moran (a magic-user) undertake dark magic–but are their reasons also dark?
Source:
'Story behind the Story 3', Feathers of the Firebird, 9 January 2017. (https://firebirdfeathers.com/2017/01/09/story-behind-the-story-3-and-then-authors-on-their-contribution/)
Tansy Rayner Roberts describes the story as 'about a pair of retired assassins and siblings-of-choice who run away from their violent profession and end up joining a circus full of dragons… only to have their old and new worlds collide all over again.'
Source:
'Story behind the Story 1', Feathers of the Firebird, 6 January 2017. (https://firebirdfeathers.com/2017/01/06/story-behind-the-story-and-then-authors-on-their-contributions/)
