It’s about the best perfumier in the city, one of the first chemists in the world. The relationship of the writer to her subject.'AlchemyThe first story in this collection is set in ancient Babylon. Karen Joy Fowler eloquently explains what Sussex writes about in the introduction:' Fantasy, history, crime. Thematically, women are central to all the stories in a variety of different ways. I have to admit, this collection was closer to literary realism than I usually read. Thief of Lives is a collection of four short stories without common setting. Each release is a standalone and brings something unexpected.īook 2: Love and Romanpunk by Tansy Rayner Robertsīook 6: Through Splintered Walls by Kaaron Warrenīook 9: Caution: Contains Small Parts by Kirstyn McDermottīook 10: Secret Lives of Books by Rosaleen Loveīook 11: The Female Factory by Angela Slatter and Lisa Hannetīook 12: Cherry Crow Children by Deborah Kalin Read more Others are tasters of the range and style of the writer. Some are quartet suites of linked stories. Each author has taken the brief of 4 stories and up to 40 000 words in their own direction. Varied across genre and style, each collection offers four short stories and a unique glimpse into worlds fashioned by some of our favourite storytellers. The Twelve Planets are twelve boutique collections by some of Australia’s finest short story writers. Twelfth Planet Press is an independent publishing house challenging the status quo with books that interrogate, commentate, inspire. I loved her beautiful story about modern and ancient Babylon, “Alchemy” - Gwyneth Jones I can’t imagine the person who would read these and not want to read more. The four stories showcased here could not be more different, one from another, but collectively they constitute an excellent introduction to the talents of the incomparable Lucy Sussex. 'Alchemy' nominated, Best Short Story Ditmar 2012

Pay attention to this woman! Turn these pages! Here be monsters and mysteries and marvels. Welcome to the worlds of Lucy Sussex, and to her many varied modes. Why are certain subjects so difficult to talk about? What is justice? Why do writers think that other people’s lives are fair game? And what do we really know about the first chemist?Ī story about history, women, science (and also the demonic) a crime story, based upon a true crime a realist satire of the supposedly sex-savvy and a story exploring lies, and the space between the real and the unreal.

Thief of Lives by Lucy Sussex