AustLit

'In Hearts and Bones, director Ben Lawrence explores masculinity and trauma through the story of a war photographer befriending a South Sudanese refugee. He speaks here about how his experience of parenthood has influenced his work, and the parallels between himself and his father, director Ray Lawrence. “Through the period of writing Hearts and Bones and being involved in Ghosthunter, the idea of being a father, what it means to raise a young boy in this era, all became fascinating to me.” By Steve Dow.'

'Almost a Mirror, the second novel from Kirsten Krauth, is a dark and sticky trip to the post-punk music scene of Melbourne in the 1980s. Mona, Jimmy, Beñat, Kaz and Dodge – along with some Nick Cave cameos – orbit St Kilda’s Crystal Ballroom as the text spins and staggers between eras, moments and memories.' (Introduction)

'In this science-fiction thriller, Max Barry explores interplanetary travel, human–extraterrestrial close encounters and the relentless spin of warfare. Manned by a four-person crew, Providence Five is the latest warship that’s going into deepest, darkest space on a search-and-destroy mission. Typical of the genre, the enemy aliens in the novel are depicted as intelligent beings but are suitably heinous: nicknamed “Salamanders”, they live in hives and have “wide, lipless mouths … black, orblike eyes”, six limbs and a body of translucent resin. Their power lies in their teeming numbers and their cunning.'  (Introduction)

'No matter how hard Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his senior ministers try to ignore Malcolm Turnbull’s explosive memoir, it simply will not go away. And for that, the deposed PM is far from apologetic.'  (Introduction)