Rob O’Connor
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catachretical.bsky.social
Rob O’Connor
@catachretical.bsky.social
Random ephemera. Ephemerandum. The little notes the universe leaves you sometimes when you’re not paying attention.
Such an excellent book
Siang Lu wins Miles Franklin award for Ghost Cities, ‘a genuine landmark in Australian literature’
Siang Lu wins Miles Franklin award for Ghost Cities, ‘a genuine landmark in Australian literature’
Author, who takes home $60,000, says finding out he won Australia’s most esteemed literary prize left him ‘in such shock that I lost all feeling in my hands and legs’ * Audacious, stimulating and ‘utterly bonkers’: Siang Lu, the thrilling new face of Australian literature * Get our weekend culture and lifestyle email When Siang Lu found out he’d won the Miles Franklin literary award, he had a physical reaction. “I was in such shock that I lost all feeling in my hands and legs,” the Brisbane-based author says. “I teared up. I lost my voice a little bit. It was the first time in my life that I’ve ever had to ask someone with a straight face, ‘Can you just please confirm to me that I’m not dreaming?’” The feeling Lu describes is akin to the surreal nature of his experimental, prize-winning novel, Ghost Cities. Set between modern and ancient times, and inspired by the vacant megacities of China, the sprawling, ambitious novel is shot through with absurdist humour, cultural commentary and satire in what the Miles Franklin judges describe as “at once a grand farce and a haunting meditation on diaspora”, and “a genuine landmark in Australian literature”. Sign up for the fun stuff with our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
July 24, 2025 at 9:38 AM
This seems like a challenge for a FIVE WORDS themed anthology. As a starter I’ll say the Platters hit Twilight Time seems tailor-made.
I HAVE A NEW SHORT STORY OUT!

I’ve been struggling with whether to spoil the premise by saying the five words that would DEFINITELY get you to click.

So I won’t now, just go read it & be surprised.

At 2pm I’ll post the five words. ;)

www.uncannymagazine.com/article/when...
When He Calls Your Name - Uncanny Magazine
There’s nights in the deep end of summer so hot and thick and wet you can feel the dark wrinkling up your fingers like bathwater—and my last night breathing was one of those. 2 a.m. came to ring my be...
www.uncannymagazine.com
July 6, 2025 at 7:48 AM
The focus on ‘governance’ at Aust unis is a distraction from real problems affecting the #HigherEducation sector, like underfunding & overregulation. Current governance arrangements for unis are the product of political decisions, but for some reason we aren’t talking about that …
Thank you Senator Sheldon for your support of university staff and students, at #ANU and across the country. ✊

We welcome this strong signal of intent from @jasonclaremp.bsky.social & @australianlabor.bsky.social on cleaning up university governance.
June 22, 2025 at 2:23 AM
January 30, 2025 at 8:50 AM