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.”
The Overland Master Class for Progressive Writers is aimed at writers exploring political ideas in their fiction: investigations of race, gender, sexuality, class, etc.
The master class will feature special sessions with acclaimed writers Cate Kennedy, Tony Birch and Lucy Sussex, as well as peer-critiqued workshop time. The workshop will be held in Melbourne from July 10-12, 2009.
Applications should include a one-page cover letter, a CV, and a completed story to be workshopped, no longer than 7500 words. Applications should be sent to Overland Associate Editor Rjurik Davidson c/o Overland magazine VU – Footscray Park, PO Box 14428 Melbourne, Vic 8001 by June 5, 2009.
Successful applicants will need to confirm their place by paying $70 by 1 July.
All stories will be considered for publication in Overland magazine.
