Beyond the City Limits

Kura Carpenter (Ed)

Wicked Unicorn Press

Otago Daily Times, October 3rd 2020

Although a Unesco City of Literature, Dunedin’s many talented authors often fly under the radar. None more so, perhaps, than writers of speculative fiction, a genre that is unfairly relegated to the literary suburbs. Thus, I was delighted by the arrival of this anthology, which showcases the work of six local Fantasy and Sci-Fi writers under the imprint of the delightfully titled Wicked Unicorn Press. The stories in this diverse collection, which range from 2-page vignettes to chapters from a novel-in-progress and span the spectrum from ghost story to hard sci-fi, urban fantasy to fairy tale, are an excellent introduction to the genre. As a lifelong Sci-Fi fan, I often lament that New Zealand authors seem to be more widely published overseas than in their own homeland, and one of the greatest delights for me about this collection is its distinctly local flavour. Although the settings are generic enough to be accessible to international readers, it is hard to go past the frisson of recognition at the appearance of such familiar landmarks as the Regent Theatre (‘Invisible Ink’) and the Arthur St Playground  (‘Paper Butterflies’). And the chilling encounter between a group of misbehaving med students and Peter Pan in ‘Dickie Birds’ has changed the way I look at the Botanical Gardens forever. 

With respect to the writers themselves, they are as different as their stories. Some, such as RL Stedman and Deb E Howell are established names. Others are new and emerging talents in the field, and their work is as good as any that you might find in would not seem such respected magazines as Analog or Strange Horizons. Although the breadth of the style and setting means that not every story will appeal, it ensures that there is something here for everyone, Beyond the City Limits is an excellent introduction the world-class talent that exists within our rōhe.