The Turning is a collection of short stories by acclaimed Australian author Tim Winton

Tim Winton

Timothy John "Tim" Winton , is an Australian novelist and short story writer.-Life:Winton was born in Perth, Western Australia, but moved at a young age to the regional city of Albany....

. It was published in April 2005 by Picador

Picador (imprint)

Picador is an imprint of Pan Macmillan in the United Kingdom and Australia and of Macmillan Publishing in the United States. Both companies are owned by Georg von Holtzbrinck Publishing Group....

. Many of the 17 short stories included interweave in their respective narratives, creating an intriguing and twisting central plot-line that generally centers around protagonist Vic Lang. Several recurring themes characterise the book, including sentimentality, regret, companionship and drugs. The collection was adapted into a play, The Turning

The Turning (play)

The Turning is a play written by Bill McCluskey, based on The Turning, a publication of connected short stories by Australian writer Tim Winton. It spans from 1970–2001 in Western Australia, covering much of the life of protagonist Vic Lang.-Synopsis:...

, for the 2008 Perth International Arts Festival.

Tim Winton emphasised the widespread influence of his adolescent life on his writing, referring to a childhood fascination with guns and his time spent in the cadets in a 2004 interview with Andrew Denton

Andrew Denton

Andrew Christopher Denton is an Australian television producer, comedian, Gold Logie-nominated television presenter and former radio host, and was the host of the ABC's weekly television interview program Enough Rope. He is known for his comedy and interviewing technique...

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The stories are:

1. "Big World"
2. "Abbreviation"
3. "Aquifer"
4. "Damaged Goods"
5. "Small Mercies"
6. "On Her Knees"
7. "Cockleshell"
8. "The Turning"
9. "Sand"
10. "Family"
11. "Long, Clear View"
12. "Reunion"
13. "Commission"
14. "Fog"
15. "Boner McPharlin's Moll"
16. "Immunity"
17. "Defender"

Winton writes in an extremely blunt yet sophisticated way. He is an avid user of visual and sensory imagery which involves the audience with each and every short story. Without exception, all the stories end in a prophetic manner, often with an ambiguous, haunting tone.

Awards and nominations

• Winner - 2005 Queensland Premier's Literary Awards, Best Fiction Book
• Winner - 2005 New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards, Christina Stead Prize
• Joint Winner - 2004 Colin Roderick Award
• Shortlisted - 2005 Inaugural Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award
• Commended - 2005 Commonwealth Writers Prize, South East Asia and South Pacific Region, Best Book