FLY SOUP

I'm playing Mass Effect Andromeda right now and while there are some similarities with previous ME games, Bioware have continued their trend toward partitioned open-world games which began with Dragon Age Inquisition (still my favourite game to date). The game is much less-linear than ME 1-3, offering literally hundreds of side and optional quests, giving the player more control over the order and manner in which events pan out. I'm not gonna lie. It took me a while to get into this game. After the first few hours I didn't really think I was going to enjoy this entry and nearly tossed it in. I'm glad to report I've moved on to happier parts of the game and now am enjoying it much more. I didn't want to write anything about my experience until I'd taken down one of the game's primary bosses (an architect) because I felt it was a little hard to comment until that point. Not my character but close enough - female with red hair. When I first c...

Aurealis #99 is out and it features a discussion between a geologist and a geographer (aka yours truly and the incredible Russell Kirkpatrick) about maps in fantasy novels. I really enjoyed writing this article with Russell for several reasons: first, I love maps and used do produce them as part of my job. Second, I like Russell and respect his work, and third, it's a super-interesting topic What I didn't realise when I first spoke to Russell about doing a piece together, was the depth of Russell's understanding of the politics and social infrastructure behind the act of creating a map. My experience of mapmaking has been limited to: 1) reproducing my favourite faux-medieval maps from movies and/or books via a combination of pain-staking precision and ad-hoc half-assery; and 2) the production of geological, geophysical and geochemical maps designed to aid in the discovery of economically viable mineral deposits. The two don't naturally go hand-in-ha...

Aurealis - The Magazine of Australian Fantasy and Science Fiction is celebrating its 100th issue in May with a one-time return to print! But that's not the only nod to its roots. Editors Dirk Strasser, Stephen Higgins and Michael Pryor have solicited new fiction from authors appearing in the very first issue, released back in 1990. And then there's my interview with Dirk about the evolution of the magazine over the 27 years since its modest launch, plus great editorials and reviews. So whether you're new to Aussie speculative fiction, a long-time fan hankering for a stroll down memory lane, or just someone wanting to get their hands on some great genre material, you can pre-order your copy here. Get to it!

Australian author Trudi Canavan won an Aurealis Award in 1999 with her first published story, Whispers of the Mist Children , and hasn’t looked back. The Black Magician Trilogy , her first fantasy series, garnered international acclaim and she has since written The Age of the Five and the Traitor Spy Trilogy, along with standalone novel The Magician’s Apprentice . Her last five books have been Sunday Times bestsellers in the UK. Following the release of Angel of Storms , the second instalment in her Millennium’s Rule series, Trudi spoke with Chris Large about the new book, her detailed world-building, and the ways in which her technique has been shaped over time by experience and injury. This interview first appeared in Aurealis #87. Hi Trudi, welcome to Aurealis. Your storytelling is very direct – written in plain speech with few flourishes or embellishments. Is this style something you work on through the drafting process, or does it come naturally? Early on in my writing ...

Sold my third superhero story a few weeks back to Meerkat Press! Their anthology, Behind the Mask , is scheduled for publication in May 2017 and will contain my story: Salt City Blue . I didn't write this piece specifically for the submission call but it is a very good fit.  The website blurb goes something like this: We’ve got stories about heroes and villains and sidekicks-in-training, with action, heroics and, yes, Spandex of almost every shape, size and color. But what captivated us most in each of these stories was the depth of the characters. The collection, which follows extraordinary individuals as they face ordinary challenges—celebrates the superhero genre but manages to push its boundaries as well. There are some fantastic authors involved in this project, including: Kelly Link Cat Rambo Seanan McGuire Lavie Tidhar Carrie Vaughn Sarah Pinsker Check out the full line-up here .

An Interview with Ann Leckie By Chris Large (First Appeared in Aurealis #86) Ann Leckie has worked as a waitress, a receptionist, a lunch lady and a recording engineer. She also happens to be the author of a little book called Ancillary Justice, which won not only a Hugo, but a Nebula and an Arthur C. Clarke Award as well. In 2014, her second book, Ancillary Sword was met with equal praise. Now, with the release of the third instalment in her Imperial Radch series, Ancillary Mercy, Ann speaks with Chris Large about perspective, the value of a good cup of tea, and most importantly of all, those pesky Presger and why we don’t see more of them. Hello Ann, and welcome to Aurealis. It’s great to have you here. Thanks! I'm glad to be here! As a thought exercise, the lack of gender cues in your Imperial Radch series can be a difficult concept to deal with at first. How have you found reader’s reactions to this device? I have been really surprised at some reactions...

Interview: Thoraiya Dyer By Chris Large Australian author Thoraiya Dyer spoke with me about her award-winning short story Wine, Women and Stars , her recent three book deal with Tor, the purpose of writing awards, and her no-holes-barred determination to put words to page. This interview first appeared in Aurealis #84. Welcome back to Aurealis Thoraiya, and a huge congratulations on winning your third Aurealis Award at the 2015 ceremony. You now have two awards for fantasy and a third for science fiction. In your own words you were ‘a bit weepy’ when you accepted the 2015 gong. What does it mean to you to win awards for your writing? I guess it depends on how confident you’re feeling in your skills at the time. I’ve been writing short  fiction for a while now but also, in the background, I’ve been writing novels. The reason I was so weepy about that particular award was because last year my husband lost his job and the bank took our house, so we were fo...