"Catabolic Magic" is a 2004 fantasy short story

Short story

A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...

 by Richard Harland

Richard Harland

Richard Harland Richard Harland Richard Harland (born 15 January 1947 in Yorkshire is an English fantasy and science fiction writer, living in New South Wales, Australia. He was born in 1947 in Huddersfield, United Kingdom and migrated to Australia in 1970...

.

Background

"Catabolic Magic" was first published in April 2004 in Aurealis

Aurealis

Aurealis is a Australian speculative fiction magazine published by Chimaera Publications. The magazine was launched in September 1990 to provide a market for speculative fiction writers, with a particular emphasis on raising the profile of Australian authors.In 1995 the magazine instituted the...

#32, edited by Keith Stevenson and published by Chimaera Publications

Chimaera Publications

Chimaera Publications is a publisher based in Mount Waverley, Victoria, Australia. The company currently publishes the speculative fiction magazine Aurealis as well as running the Aurealis Awards.-History:...

. It was published alongside five other stories by the authors Paul Haines, Stephen Dedman

Stephen Dedman

Stephen Dedman is an Australian author of dark fantasy and science fiction stories and novels.-Biography:...

, Sue Isle

Sue Isle

Sue Isle is the author of the Young Adult literature Fantasy novel Scale Of Dragon, Tooth Of Wolf and nonfiction children's book 'Wolf Children'....

, Tansy Rayner Roberts

Tansy Rayner Roberts

Tansy Rayner Roberts is an award-winning Australian fantasy writer. She holds a Bachelor of Arts , and completed a PhD in Classics in 2007, both from the University of Tasmania. Roberts's short stories have been published in a variety of genre magazines, including Andromeda Spaceways Inflight...

, and Brendan Duffy. "Catabolic Magic" joint-won the 2004 Aurealis Award for best fantasy short story

Aurealis Award for best fantasy short story

The Aurealis Awards are presented annually by the Australia-based Chimaera Publications and SpecFaction NSW to published works in order to "recognise the achievements of Australian science fiction, fantasy, horror writers"...

 along with Louise Katz

Louise Katz

Louise Katz is an Australian writer of fantasy and young-adult fiction.-Biography:Katz was born in Canberra, Australia and attended art school in Adelaide. In 1996 Katz' first book was released in Australia, entitled Myfanwy's Demon. In 2001 she released her second novel entitled The Other Face of...

' "Weavers of Twilight

Weavers of Twilight

"Weavers of Twilight" is a 2004 fantasy short story by Louise Katz.-Background:"Weavers of Twilight" was first published in 2004 in Agog! Smashing Stories, edited by Cat Sparks and published by Agog! Press...

" and was a short-list nominee for the 2005 Ditmar Award

Ditmar Award

The Ditmar Award has been awarded annually since 1969 at the Australian National Science Fiction Convention to recognise achievement in Australian science fiction and science fiction fandom...

for best Australian novella or novelette.