Cirrus@Austlit

'Unlimited Futures is an anthology of Own Voice speculative fiction from 21 emerging and established First Nations writers and Black writers, reflecting visionary pasts, hopeful futures and the invisible ties between First Nations people and People of Colour.

'With works by Tuesday Atzinger, Flora Chol, Claire Coleman, Zena Cumpston, Lisa Fuller, Meleika Gasa-Fatafehi, Yirga Gelaw Woldeyes, Chemutai Glasheen, Genevieve Grieves, Rafeif Ismail, Ambelin Kwaymullina, Laniyuk, Maree McCathy Yoelu, Jasmin McGaughey, SJ Minniecon, Sisonke Msimang, Merryana Salem, Mykaela Saunders, Aïsha Trambas, Alison Whittaker and Jasper Wyld, this is an anthology of the tales they wish had existed when they were growing up in Australia.'

Source : publisher's blurb

'Two months ago, my paternal grandfather passed away. It was a Wednesday, usually my favourite day of the week — now always a reminder that it has been (x) days since he left us. The worst thing about grief is the forgetting: those split-second eternities when you are caught between dreaming and waking. Those moments in between heartbeats, as you draw in a breath, before it leaves your body with a sob. The space of a step when suddenly the weight of memories makes you stumble. I still forget there is a gaping hole in the universe in the shape of his smile.' (Introduction)
 

'After your world ended for the third time, you walked. The gold ring on your right hand heavy and the blue band around your left wrist even heavier. 'Rip-off fitbits' was how Intisar had described them three years ago, as the two of you sat on the couch in the living room of your then new apartment, staring down at your clasped black hands. You had made a joke about fashionable shackles then, because that's what you both did, joked and laughed when the reality became just a bit too much. Ten years ago you were both in your final year of high school, and the nation had voted on the humanity of people who loved like you - but these shackles came without a plebiscite...' (Publication abstract)

'For a child of diaspora, home is not a simple concept. How do you find your place as both a refugee and a settler on stolen land? And can you ever truly feel you belong anywhere?' (Introduction)

'Ways of Being Here features four stories by emerging writers Rafeif Ismail, Yirga Gelaw Woldeyes, Tinashe Jakwa and Yuot Alaak, winners of last year's 'Ways of Being Here' flash fiction competition, which was open to any writer of African heritage residing in Western Australia who had less than four published stories and/or articles. The stories featured are urgent, innovative, and inimitable, distinct voices that are easy to read, but hard to forget once you've entered their worlds, words, and thoughts.'