Aurealis #76 by Stephen Higgins

Aurealis #76 Reviews

• 
  Lynxie

  Aurealis #76 was the last edition from 2014. It showcases the works of two Australian female authors, both of which were enjoyable, but for two completely different reasons.
  
  Meryl Stenhouse's No Home For Us is a great showcase for some strong female characters. Swashbuckling and sailing the seas, these lasses do pirating business with men and foes far greater. An awesome welcome to the edition, Meryl's story was a strong opener. I certainly would enjoy reading more in this world.
  
  
  Melanie Rees's shorter tale The Long Shadow was very, very Australian. Thrusting the reader into a remote farming community, the reader is taken along on a ride presented to them through the eyes of Jam, a young boy who watches shadows. A story with a far deeper message than what might initially come through, this story was also thoroughly enjoyable.
  
  The art in this edition was quite nice, though I'm not too sure what the thing on the cover is meant to be. I like how each short story has art done for it by an independent artist. It allows the authors to see just what their words create in the minds of another.
  
  Another good example of some local Aussie talent.
• 
  Kristian Thoroughgood

  Two great stories in #76 No Home For Us by M Stenhouse was an action-filled and quite grim fantasy-pirate tale (with a twist in the setting) and Melanie Rees wrote a rendingly sad story about rural Australian hardship & drought.
  
• 
  Matthew Morrison

  I rather enjoyed 'No Home for Us' by Meryl Stenhouse.
  
  I am a sucker for high sea adventure, and this modern day take with an old world fantasy twist worked for me.