Terror Australis: Best Australian Horror
Encyclopedia
Terror Australis: Best Australian Horror (Sydney: Coronet, 1993) was Australia's first original mass-market horror anthology for adults. It was edited by Leigh Blackmore
. (It is technically preceded by Bill Congreve
's anthology Intimate Armageddons (MirrorDanse Books) (1992) - however, that book did not have mass market distribution). Terror Australis the anthology grew from the magazine Terror Australis
and drew on the talents of horror writers centred around Sydney's Gargoyle Club Horror Writers and Artists' Society; however it also featured many of Australia's big-name sf and horror writers. A companion volume of sf stories, Mortal Fire: Best Australian SF,edited by Terry Dowling
and Van Ikin
, was issued by Coronet the same year).
The quantity of internal artwork featured, designed to showcase horror work in art as well as fiction, made it something of an innovation amongst paperbacks of the time in Australia. Robert Bloch
, author of Psycho, called the volume "a landmark - a monument to the genre".
Leanne Frahm
's story from the anthology won the Ditmar Award
for Best Australian Short Fiction.
There was to have been a followup volume, however, Hodder & Stoughton (Coronet) were bought out by UK publisher Headline to form Hodder Headline, and the new owners did not take up the option for a continuing series.
Leigh Blackmore
Leigh David Blackmore is an Australian horror writer, critic, editor, occultist and musician. He served as the second President of the Australian Horror Writers Association . His work has been nominated twice for the Ditmar Award, once for fiction and once for criticism...
. (It is technically preceded by Bill Congreve
Bill Congreve
-Biography:Congreve's first work was published in 1987 with his short story "Collector" which was featured in the Summer 1986/1987 edition of Aphelion Science Fiction Magazine. In 1992 Congreve's first edited anthology was released by Five Islands Press, featuring a short story and introduction by...
's anthology Intimate Armageddons (MirrorDanse Books) (1992) - however, that book did not have mass market distribution). Terror Australis the anthology grew from the magazine Terror Australis
Terror Australis
Terror Australis: the Australian Horror and Fantasy Magazine was Australia's first mass market horror magazine. It succeeded the Australian Horror and Fantasy Magazine edited by Barry Radburn and Stephen Studach and was the first magazine of its kind in Australia to pay authors...
and drew on the talents of horror writers centred around Sydney's Gargoyle Club Horror Writers and Artists' Society; however it also featured many of Australia's big-name sf and horror writers. A companion volume of sf stories, Mortal Fire: Best Australian SF,edited by Terry Dowling
Terry Dowling
Terence William Dowling, born at Lystra Private Hospital , is an Australian writer, freelance journalist, award-winning critic, editor, game designer and reviewer...
and Van Ikin
Van Ikin
Van Ikin is an academic and science fiction writer and editor. He is Senior Lecturer in English at the University of Western Australia, and has acted as supervisor for several Australian writers completing their post-graduate degrees and doctorates - including science fiction and fantasy writers...
, was issued by Coronet the same year).
The quantity of internal artwork featured, designed to showcase horror work in art as well as fiction, made it something of an innovation amongst paperbacks of the time in Australia. Robert Bloch
Robert Bloch
Robert Albert Bloch was a prolific American writer, primarily of crime, horror and science fiction. He is best known as the writer of Psycho, the basis for the film of the same name by Alfred Hitchcock...
, author of Psycho, called the volume "a landmark - a monument to the genre".
Leanne Frahm
Leanne Frahm
Leanne Frahm is an Australian writer of speculative short fiction.-Biography:Frahm was born in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia in 1946. She received her first nomination for her work in 1978 when she was a finalist for the 1979 Ditmar Award for best fan writer. The following year she won the best...
's story from the anthology won the 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 Short Fiction.
There was to have been a followup volume, however, Hodder & Stoughton (Coronet) were bought out by UK publisher Headline to form Hodder Headline, and the new owners did not take up the option for a continuing series.
Contents
- Leanne FrahmLeanne FrahmLeanne Frahm is an Australian writer of speculative short fiction.-Biography:Frahm was born in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia in 1946. She received her first nomination for her work in 1978 when she was a finalist for the 1979 Ditmar Award for best fan writer. The following year she won the best...
, "Catalyst" - Terry DowlingTerry DowlingTerence William Dowling, born at Lystra Private Hospital , is an Australian writer, freelance journalist, award-winning critic, editor, game designer and reviewer...
, "The Daemon Street Ghost-Trap" - Paul Lindsey, "The Wolves Are Running"
- Sharon A. Hansen, "Chameleon"
- Eddie van Helden, "Mabuza's Plum"
- Dr John Hugoe-Matthews, "Hantu-Rimba"
- Louise M. Steer, "Losing Faith"
- Robert HoodRobert HoodRobert Hood is an American electronic music producer and DJ. He is a founding member of group Underground Resistance as a 'Minister Of Information' with Mad Mike Banks & Jeff Mills. He is often considered to be one of the founders of minimal techno....
, "Openings" - Guy BoothbyGuy BoothbyGuy Newell Boothby was an Australian novelist and writer.-Biography:Boothby was born in Adelaide, son of Thomas Wilde Boothby, who for a time was a member of the South Australian Legislative Assembly. Guy Boothby's grandfather was Benjamin Boothby , judge of the supreme court of South Australia...
, "Remorseless Vengeance" - Bryce J. StevensBryce J. StevensBryce John Stevens is a horror writer/artist.Between 1987 and 1992 he co-edited, , Terror Australis: The Australian Horror and Fantasy Magazine...
, "A Gift from Gehenna" - Kendall Hoffmann, "Johnny Twofeller"
- Steven PaulsenSteven PaulsenSteven Paulsen is a prize winning Australian writer of science fiction, fantasy and horror fiction whose work has been published in books, magazines, journals and newspapers around the world...
, "In the Light of the Lamp" - Chris G.C. SequeiraChris G.C. SequeiraChristopher Sequeira is a Sydney-based Australian writer and artist who works predominantly in the speculative fiction realm, especially with the horror, science fiction and mystery genres...
, "Feeling Empty" - Ann C. Whitehead, "The Nicholas Vine"
- Geoff O'Callaghan, "The Keeper"
- Rick KennettRick KennettRick Kennett is an Australian writer of science fiction, horror and ghost stories. He is the most prolific and widely-published author in Australia after Paul Collins, Terry Dowling and Greg Egan, with stories in a wide variety of magazines and anthologies in Australia, the US and the UK.His first...
, "Out of the Storm". An audio production of this story can be heard at: http://dunesteef.com/2011/03/14/episode-95-out-of-the-storm-by-rick-kennett/ - Sean Williams, "Twist of the Knife"
- Sheila Hatherley, "The Hut"
- Leigh BlackmoreLeigh BlackmoreLeigh David Blackmore is an Australian horror writer, critic, editor, occultist and musician. He served as the second President of the Australian Horror Writers Association . His work has been nominated twice for the Ditmar Award, once for fiction and once for criticism...
, "The Hourglass" - Michael Bryant, "A Dangerous Thing"
- Sue IsleSue IsleSue Isle is the author of the Young Adult literature Fantasy novel Scale Of Dragon, Tooth Of Wolf and nonfiction children's book 'Wolf Children'....
, "Makeover" - Dirk Strasser, "Dear Reader"
- Eddie van Helden, "The Vivisector"
- Cherry WilderCherry WilderCherry Wilder was the pseudonym of science fiction and fantasy writer Cherry Barbara Grimm, née Lockett, who was born in Auckland, New Zealand....
, "Anzac Day" - Bill CongreveBill Congreve-Biography:Congreve's first work was published in 1987 with his short story "Collector" which was featured in the Summer 1986/1987 edition of Aphelion Science Fiction Magazine. In 1992 Congreve's first edited anthology was released by Five Islands Press, featuring a short story and introduction by...
, "Red Ambrosia" - Stephen DedmanStephen DedmanStephen Dedman is an Australian author of dark fantasy and science fiction stories and novels.-Biography:...
, "Heir of the Wolf" - Greg EganGreg EganGreg Egan is an Australian science fiction author.Egan published his first work in 1983. He specialises in hard science fiction stories with mathematical and quantum ontology themes, including the nature of consciousness...
, "Neighbourhood Watch" - Bill Fewer, "Denials"