Cirrus@Austlit

'New Australian Fiction is a collection of eighteen stories from some of Australia's best and brightest writers of short fiction. Featuring stories from: Chloe Michele, Jack Kirne, Julie Koh, Craig Cormick, Andrea Gillum, Tony Birch, Laura Elizabeth Woollett, Josh Kemp, Zoë Bradley, Allee Richards, Khalid Warsame, Mikaella Clements, A.S. Patrić, Melanie Saward, Laura Elvery, Gretchen Shirm, Wayne Marshall, Anne Hotta.' (Publication summary)

'Dark as Last Night confirms, once again, that Tony Birch is a master of the short story. These exceptional stories capture the importance of human connection at pivotal moments in our lives, whether those occur because of the loss of a loved one or the uncertainties of childhood. In this collection we witness a young girl struggling to protect her mother from her father’s violence, two teenagers clumsily getting to know one another by way of a shared love of music, and a man mourning the death of his younger brother, while beset by memories and regrets from their shared past. Throughout this powerful collection, Birch’s concern for the humanity of those who are often marginalised or overlooked shines bright.'

Source : publisher's blurb