‘On the same day that six books are shortlisted for a hefty prize – set up by a rich family, to arts-wash their dubious past – the 60-something-year-old son left to administer it mysteriously disappears. It’s a clever set-up for a literary satire, and Batrouney has delicious fun with it in this independent release …’
The title is reviewed along with new books from Affirm Press, Transit Lounge, A&U, Scribner, UQP, Vintage and Pan Macmillan.
Debut author Isobel Dalby is convinced she’s a fraud. Veteran literary giant Martin Gillray wants to be taken out of contention. Julian Adagoke’s novel may not be what it seems. Catherine Adler is certain her book doesn’t stand a chance. Kai Noguchi’s holds a terrible secret. And Alex Kosco is rehearsing his acceptance speech.
Meanwhile, Natasha Moubray is desperately searching for Gideon Bannerman, her friend of over 50 years, who disappeared on the day the shortlist was announced.
Local publisher A Thousand Threads Press has launched two collections of trans* and gender-diverse writing. A new publication – African Queer Love is Love – is in development. Clouds of Magellan Press has been mentoring A Thousand Threads Press and is proud to be supporting these publications.
A Thousand Threads is working with LGBTIQ+ refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced people in DR Congo, Uganda and beyond to help them collate and publish their stories. 44 million people in sub-Saharan Africa are displaced. Official support for LGBTIQ+ refugees is limited by laws against sexual and gender minorities.
Other anthologies feature stories of queer Africa, but none are exclusively written by African LGBTIQ+ refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced persons. Anti-LGBTIQ+ campaigns are intensifying in Uganda, Kenya and elsewhere in Africa. Creating local and international platforms for the voices of marginalised and oppressed African LGBTIQ+ communities has never been more important.
“This book will help make us understood by the world.” — Tino, DR Congo
“Law, religion and community leaders are not on our side. You are the only one who can support us to have our book. This book will show our visibility, our struggle, our daily life.” — Kashindi, DR Congo
First time author Isobel Dalby is convinced that she’s a fraud. Veteran literary giant Martin Gillray wants to be taken out of contention. Julian Adagoke’s text-message novel may not be what it seems. Catherine Adler is certain that her book, a savage critique on the colonising past of the British Empire doesn’t stand a chance. Kai Noguchi’s prose holds a terrible secret. And Alex Kosco is rehearsing his acceptance speech.
Woven into these stories is Natasha Moubray’s desperate search for her friend of over 50 years, Gideon Bannerman, who disappears on the day the shortlist is announced.
By turns, funny, moving and occasionally shocking, The Bannerman Shortlist recognises that at the beating heart of all creative endeavour lies passion, empathy, truth and a tender hu
’Colin Batrouney’s new novel is unexpected and alluring. Balancing out satire which hits home with feelings which run deep is something only truly accomplished writers can achieve – and he does.’ DAVID HARE
‘The Bannerman Shortlist is a beauty. It’s clever, original, and compelling. It’s the best contemporary novel I’ve read for quite some time.’ ANDREA GOLDSMITH
‘Batrouney’s new novel is an exquisite joy, one of the most pleasurable books I have read in ages. The joy is in the elegance and assurance of the writing, in the sophistication and wit of the satire, and in the richly imagined characters and narrative. What a pure delight! I wanted to stay within its pages for the longest time.’ CHRISTOS TSIOLKAS
‘A wicked invention, and very, very funny.’ DAVID MARR
Hares & Hyenas have just posted a promotional offer: If you buy a copy of Death in the Sauna by Dennis Altman from Hares & Hyenas bookshop at the Pride Centre, you will be in the running to win a Death in the Sauna tote bag (valued at $35). Drawn on 17 July 2023.
Also, hear Dennis Altman on this week’s ABC RN’s The Bookshelf.
To mark the publication of ‘Death in the Sauna’ – the new crime novel by Dennis Altman – Hares and Hyenas and the Australian Queer Archives are hosting a chat between Andrea Goldsmith & Dennis Altman and a panel discussion with Shane Gardner, Warren Tse, Josh McKenzie from Wet on Wellington.
The Bent Street website will be closing in a few weeks – all the content can still be found in the various editions of the print journal Bent Street (2017-2021), which are still available as print-on-demand paperbacks (see Amazon, Book Depository, Booktopia etc).
Clouds of Magellan Press 