Aurealis #176

In a blockbuster issue to finish the year, Aurealis #176 has it all! Dirk Strasser asks whether the genres of historical fiction and fantasy are a natural fit. The short fiction offering opens with the visceral and immersive ‘Red Rain’ by John Ter Horst (illustrated by Emma Weakley), which grounds the reader in a sensory environment and ends with a thought-provoking and confronting conclusion. Matt Tighe’s intriguing ‘The Market of Loss’ (illustrated by Leah Clementson) features mother and daughter protagonists who suffer a great loss and may lose yet more. Stephen Higgins’ ‘Black Rock’ (illustration by Hannah Dunn) is a quirky and hard-to-classify piece of science fiction that will have you laughing out loud. This issue’s non-fiction features our annual Year’s Best recommendations from the Aurealis reviewing team led by Eugen Bacon, plus a batch of fresh reviews of the latest releases. Claire Fitzpatrick looks at the adaptations of speculative fiction and the rising popularity of anime in Australia. Lynne Lumsden Green continues her Pioneering SF Women series with a look at Connie Willis, while Annie Mills asks ‘What’s up with all the bug aliens, anyway?’. What are you waiting for?