In this highly anticipated new issue, we encounter brilliant examples of what writing can do in a hypernormal time – whether that's Benjamin Gready on the absurdity of fieldwork on land under active occupation or Zahid Gamieldien's short story about a dancing rat who finds itself enmeshed in systems too shadowy to be true. But, as with the emotional cycles of resistance, hope and snark are features too. Dan Hogan considers the lawn as a class obsession, and π.ο. asks a question: why people hate poetry? We also read about a rakhasa family who passes on wisdom to their young kin, a story by Shefali Mathew. And you’ll find new poetry by Eli McLean, Fiona Hile and Sol Chan, among others, as well as a comic by Safdar Ahmed, plus heaps more. Co-editors Evelyn Araluen and Jonathan Dunk write in the editorial, "Writing always matters, but it matters most directly in the face of this kind of thuggish assault on language, our first and last commons. We can’t let the bastards have it.”
Overland has a longstanding commitment to progressive discourse on issues of environment, climate, and community organising. This is why the Overland team is pleased to announce our new partnership with CoPower, Australia’s first non-profit energy co-operative. CoPower is member-owned and member-run, with a mission statement to tackle poverty, build community, and take action against the climate crisis. CoPower’s 100% democratically determined budget reinvests surplus funds from their retail energy service into supporting community impact projects and initiatives.
In 2023, with the support of CoPower, we’ll be ensuring that each print edition of Overland holds space for the discussion of sustainable energy, community organising, climate and the environment, in addition to regular online features and special editions throughout the year.
To find out more about CoPower’s mission, services, and impact funding, jump online at https://www.cooperativepower.org.au/ or call 03 9068 6036 today.
