Cirrus@Austlit

'A winking gargoyle brought to Tasmania from dubious origins, A mysterious Antarctic research expedition leaves Hobart but doesn't seem to want to reach its destination, Noisy Tasmanian Devils at a remote campsite, Sinister black Currawong birds, A secret underwater cave at a popular tourist spot holds mysteries untold, The disappearance of Mount Kunanyi, A writer from overseas finds the Tassie writing retreat he's awarded reveals some secrets from his past, and puts his present in danger...

'All stories are set in Tasmania and written by Tasmanian-based authors or with a strong family connection.

'Providing all the ingredients for a dark journey into the imaginations of some of Tasmanias best dark fiction authors, Voume 1 of Dark Tas contains 7 short stories from 5 award-winning and emerging authors of dark fiction, offering a selection of styles and themes. It includes the Shirley Jackson Award-nominated/ shortlisted Novelette by Steve Dillon: Deeper, Darker Things.' (Publication summary)

'From the introduction by multiple award-winning author Kaaron Warren:

"Marty Young epitomizes the theory that horror writers are amongst the nicest people. He’s done enormous amounts for the Australian horror writing community and continues to do so. He represents a positive figure to me, a person who loves genre and believes in it.

All of this shines through his work. This collection is like a love story to horror, and it demonstrates his skill as an author, his great knowledge of the genre, and his abiding, deep humanity. Marty Young has a heart (and no, it doesn’t belong to that guy who went missing a year or so ago).

This might be a controversial take, but I think the best horror is a testament to the importance of relationships, of love, of caring, and of being a part of whatever community you inhabit in the best way you can. There are cautionary tales here where things go wrong, where selfish people cause damage and become monstrous. There are stories that cut open the guts and show us what really writhes within, stories that hit you at a body-horror level, making you question reality. Then there are the stories of true monsters."

Source : publication summary

'Eleven new stories from some of the best horror writers in Australia and New Zealand! Originally intended for launch at the Worldcon 2020 in New Zealand, which was badly affected by the current pandemic, the anthology presents an array of stories that can only really be set here in Australia/New Zealand. Written by authors who are either born or live here, providing an authentic view of really scary scenarios...  (Publication summary)

'Our second collection of terrifying tales set in the very near future... or perhaps it's already here? It's an infected apocalypse and we're all (alone) in it together! 100% of proceeds will go the Save the Children Response. Features short stories by: F. Paul Wilson - John Palisano - Mark Towse - R.J. Meldrum - Rebecca Fraser - Tabby Stirling - Pochassi - Patrick J. Gallagher - Paul Alex Gray - Claire Fitzpatrick - Tom Prince - Louise Zedda-Sampson - Brianna Courtney Bullen - T.C. Phillips - Edward Ahern - Calvin Demmer - Chris Mason - Catherine McCarthy - Brian Bowyer - Eugene Johnson - Shaun Taylor - Noel Osualdini - Irene Punti - Gerri Leen - Tracy Fahey - Eric J. Guignard - Yash Seyedbagheri - Steve Dillon.'

Source : publisher's blurb

'A collection of terrifying tales set in the very near future... or perhaps it's already here? It's an infected apocalypse and we're all (alone) in it together! 100% of proceeds will go the Save the Children Response. Features short stories by: Lisa Morton - Kevin J. Anderson - Lee Murray - Tabatha Wood - Ben Monroe - Peter Emmett Naughton - Dawn DeBraal - Carolyn Geduld - Steve Carr - Ingrid L. Taylor - Stephen Herczeg - Mark Cassell - Darren Todd - Kurt Newton - Jenean McBrearty - Marlin Bressi - Cory Swanson - Steve Dillon - Paul Moore and Eugene Johnson.'

Source : publisher's blurb

'The title says it all. Who would think love could be so… dangerous? A mix of poetry and short fiction – love found, love lost, love experienced in ways you never imagined. Weird and macabre, sometimes humorous, often terrifying, these tales – presented by an international line up of authors – will make your heart skip a beat. Each story is a dance with love, sometimes with death as its partner.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Our 3rd anthology of Halloween stories! The Seven Deadly Sins - for each of the sins we've gathered a crop of 7 stories of 700 words each, making a total of 49 treats! All proceeds go to Charity: Water.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'We all lose something… We lose many things during our time in this universe. From the moment we are born we start losing time, and loss becomes a part of our life from the beginning. We lose friends (both imaginary and real), loved ones, pets, and family. We gain stuff and lose stuff, from our socks to our money. We can lose our hope, sanity, passions, our mind, and perhaps even our soul! In the end when death finds us, we end up losing everything... Don’t we? "Tales of the Lost'' takes a dark look at the things we lose and the ghosts we struggle with.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Steve Dillon's second collection of weird fiction, short stories, and dark poetry.

'- Deeper, Darker Things: A Lovecraftian mystery set aboard a modern-day Antarctic expedition vessel as a young man tries to figure out why his brother committed suicide a year ago after returning from a similar expedition.

'- The Scary Man: A letter from a teenage girl to her mother, explaining how she feels about the shadows figure who comes to her at night.

'- The Marshmallow People: Recounts memories of a family summer camp gone tragically wrong.

'- The Floss Man: Tells of 2 young girls' and their disturbing encounter with a man who seems familiar.

'- Panopticon: Forewarns us of a dystopian future where all our needs are catered for, with sinister consequences, and a choice to be made when a mysterious box appears.

'- A Rapid Fingering: A haunted saxophone... and the strange effects on those who hear it or play it!

'- Bliss Pond: The tale of a schoolboy who is bullied by everyone because he's 'soft'.

'- All these and more original stories and poems new to this collection- Plus a selection of reprints of stories by Dillon, a couple with collaborators, and a second collection of dark poetry!'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'An international anthology of dark erotic drabbles (100 words) and double drabbles (200 words). Includes the novella 'Dolls' by the UK's Ramsey Campbell and other 'extras' including a couple of longer stories and some inter-related drabbles, plus some dark erotic illustrations! Definitely adult themed, not suitable for children! With illustrations and other extras including an article 'On Sex and Horror' and includes 10 drabbles/doubles by Steve Dillon, ex-President of the Australian Horror Writers Association and series editor of the Things in the Well series of anthologies, as well as stories from other award-winning writers! Also includes a discussion article by S.T. Joshi. on Ramsey Campbell's 'Scared Stiff' collection.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'A small-town secret unearths itself, a stone drives a madman onto the streets of Whitechapel, a man takes a new wife – and the ghost of her mother, a photo album sends a grieving man into a spiral of nightmares, a creature collects the last words of death-row inmates, an insomniac fights nocturnal evils, unaware of the evil within, and a widow has one final embrace with his long lost love...'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'A selection of short, scary stories by Melbourne dark fiction writer Noel Osualdini. This includes titles previously published in the ambitious anthologies, 'The Refuge Collection, Heaven to Some...' and 'The Refuge Collection... Hell to Others!' as well as stories printed in the acclaimed Things in the Well series of themed anthologies, and elsewhere. Also includes several new, as yet unpublished tales to make your toes curl.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Features novellas, short stories, and poems by Steve Dillon, former President of the Australian Horror Writers Association and editor and publisher of the Things in the Well series of anthologies.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'As far as our ‘Things in the Well’ series of anthologies go, this book marks a departure in that it’s the first – and sadly, perhaps the last – Sci-Fi anthology. And to complement this from one of the founding figures of modern science fiction, I’m delighted to have been able to include more ‘archetypes’ once more from Ramsey Campbell and Brian Lumley. To add to the list of the above-mentioned reprints, I was thrilled to receive – and read – some of the most exciting new dark Sci-Fi short stories I’ve ever read! - Steve Dillon, editor.'

(Source: publisher's blurb)

'Another bumper crop of Halloween short-fiction from the pumpkin-master himself, the Trickster! This, our second collection of themed tales, presents six new themes for 2018:- Halloween House, Pumpkin Head, Trick or Treat, Haunted Forests and Trees, Bob Apple, and Fancy Dress. 30+ short stories all between 666-1,000 words. All proceeds go to charity (Homeless Women's Shelters Ltd).'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Come closer. Take off your mask. No, wait... leave it on. I'd like to see who you're pretending to be, or who you think you are. There'll be time enough to find out who you really are later... much later. Like when you've seduced me to your bed, or lured me to my death, or... but wait! You're not planning any of those things, are you? Why, you're just frightened; hiding behind that rubber skin for fear of being mocked or hassled; or to blend in. Well now, let's peek at who you really are, shall we? Oh... Oh, it's you?! But I thought-'

Source: Publisher's blurb.