Terror Australis
Encyclopedia
Terror Australis: the Australian Horror and Fantasy Magazine (1987-1992) was Australia
's first mass market horror
magazine. It succeeded the Australian Horror and Fantasy Magazine
(1984-87) edited by Barry Radburn and Stephen Studach and was the first magazine of its kind in Australia to pay authors. After working on AH&FM as an uncredited production assistant, Leigh Blackmore
took over the subscription base on its demise and with co-editors Chris G.C. Sequeira
and Bryce J. Stevens
founded Terror Australis. Kevin Dillon, a longtime Australian sf fan who had belonged to the Australian Futurians
had the role of 'Special Consultant' for financial support and proofreading work on the magazine.
Each issue featured non-fiction columns including "The Black Stump" (editorial by Leigh Blackmore); "In the Bad Books" (horror reviews by Blackmore, 'David Kuraria' (Bryce J. Stevens
) and 'Carl Uda' (Christopher Sequeira); "Out of Space and Time" (book releases in brief); "Views from Emerald City" (Fantasy Reviews by Phillip Knowles); "Dark Enchantments" (Horror and Fantasy Magazines); "Post-Mortem" (readers' letter column) and "The Chaos Club" (contributor biographies). The column "Personal Terrors" by Christopher Sequeira appeared only in Issue 1, and that by Bryce Stevens, "Every Time the Candle Burns", in Issues 1 and 3 only. Mark Morrison's "Keeping Time" (column on horror gaming) appeared only in Issues 1 and 3. Keith Curtis's column "Bibliocide" (horror and true crime reviews) appeared only in Issue 1.
The magazine also featured interviews with several international writers such as Clive Barker
and Whitley Strieber
, and stories by such international writers as Ramsey Campbell
, Brian Lumley
and Nicholas Royle
.
A wide range of Australian genre artists also featured in its pages. These included Gavin O'Keefe
, Steve 'Carnage' Carter, Tony Baron, Karen Ravenlore, Brad Ellis, Mike McGann, Rama Mithiran, Physch, David Richardson, Jon Sequeira, Bryce J. Stevens
, Kurt Stone, Catherine Waters, Phillip Cornell, Igor Spajic, Neil Walpole, Kerry Kennedy and Bodine Amerikah. Ravenlore and Mithiran had previously had artwork featured in Terror Australis' predecessor, The Australian Horror and Fantasy Magazine
.
The magazine had a significant impact on the horror scene in Australia in the late eighties and early nineties and led to the publication of the mass-market horror anthology Terror Australis: Best Australian Horror
(edited by Blackmore alone) (Hodder & Stoughton, 1993), a companion volume to Terry Dowling
and Van Ikin's Mortal Fire: Best Australian SF (Hodder & Stoughton, 1993).
Author Robert Bloch
said Terror Australis: Best Aust Australian Horror was 'a landmark venture - a testament to the advancement of the genre'.
Author Leanne Frahm
's story "Catalyst" from the volume won the Ditmar Award
for Best Australian Ahort Fiction, 1993. Russell Blackford
, Van Ikin
& Sean McMullen
(eds). Strange Constellations: A History of Australian Science Fiction. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1999, p. 169.Author Maurice Xanthos was the only author to have a story selected for each of the three issues.
Contents:
Fiction and Verse
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
's first mass market horror
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
magazine. It succeeded the Australian Horror and Fantasy Magazine
The Australian Horror and Fantasy Magazine
The Australian Horror and Fantasy Magazine was edited by Barry Radburn and Stephen Studach. It was published by Radburn's imprint Dark Press...
(1984-87) edited by Barry Radburn and Stephen Studach and was the first magazine of its kind in Australia to pay authors. After working on AH&FM as an uncredited production assistant, Leigh Blackmore
Leigh Blackmore
Leigh David Blackmore is an Australian horror writer, critic, editor, occultist and musician. He served as the second President of the Australian Horror Writers Association . His work has been nominated twice for the Ditmar Award, once for fiction and once for criticism...
took over the subscription base on its demise and with co-editors Chris G.C. Sequeira
Chris G.C. Sequeira
Christopher Sequeira is a Sydney-based Australian writer and artist who works predominantly in the speculative fiction realm, especially with the horror, science fiction and mystery genres...
and Bryce J. Stevens
Bryce J. Stevens
Bryce John Stevens is a horror writer/artist.Between 1987 and 1992 he co-edited, , Terror Australis: The Australian Horror and Fantasy Magazine...
founded Terror Australis. Kevin Dillon, a longtime Australian sf fan who had belonged to the Australian Futurians
Futurians
The Futurians were a group of science fiction fans, many of whom became editors and writers as well. The Futurians were based in New York City and were a major force in the development of science fiction writing and science fiction fandom in the years 1937-1945.-Origins of the group:As described...
had the role of 'Special Consultant' for financial support and proofreading work on the magazine.
Each issue featured non-fiction columns including "The Black Stump" (editorial by Leigh Blackmore); "In the Bad Books" (horror reviews by Blackmore, 'David Kuraria' (Bryce J. Stevens
Bryce J. Stevens
Bryce John Stevens is a horror writer/artist.Between 1987 and 1992 he co-edited, , Terror Australis: The Australian Horror and Fantasy Magazine...
) and 'Carl Uda' (Christopher Sequeira); "Out of Space and Time" (book releases in brief); "Views from Emerald City" (Fantasy Reviews by Phillip Knowles); "Dark Enchantments" (Horror and Fantasy Magazines); "Post-Mortem" (readers' letter column) and "The Chaos Club" (contributor biographies). The column "Personal Terrors" by Christopher Sequeira appeared only in Issue 1, and that by Bryce Stevens, "Every Time the Candle Burns", in Issues 1 and 3 only. Mark Morrison's "Keeping Time" (column on horror gaming) appeared only in Issues 1 and 3. Keith Curtis's column "Bibliocide" (horror and true crime reviews) appeared only in Issue 1.
The magazine also featured interviews with several international writers such as Clive Barker
Clive Barker
Clive Barker is an English author, film director and visual artist best known for his work in both fantasy and horror fiction. Barker came to prominence in the mid-1980s with a series of short stories which established him as a leading young horror writer...
and Whitley Strieber
Whitley Strieber
Louis Whitley Strieber is an American writer best known for his horror novels The Wolfen and The Hunger and for Communion, a non-fiction account of his perceived experiences with non-human entities. Strieber also co-authored The Coming Global Superstorm with Art Bell, which inspired the film about...
, and stories by such international writers as Ramsey Campbell
Ramsey Campbell
John Ramsey Campbell is an English horror fiction author.Since he first came to prominence in the mid-1960s, critics have cited Campbell as one of the leading writers in his field: T. E. D. Klein has written that "Campbell reigns supreme in the field today", while S. T...
, Brian Lumley
Brian Lumley
Brian Lumley is an English horror fiction writer.Born in County Durham, he joined the British Army's Royal Military Police and wrote stories in his spare time before retiring with the rank of Warrant Officer Class 1 in 1980 and becoming a professional writer.He added to H. P...
and Nicholas Royle
Nicholas Royle
Nicholas Royle is an English novelist.Born in Manchester, Royle has written five novels - Counterparts, Saxophone Dreams, The Matter of the Heart, The Director’s Cut and Antwerp. He also claims to have written more than 100 short stories, which have appeared in a variety of anthologies and...
.
A wide range of Australian genre artists also featured in its pages. These included Gavin O'Keefe
Gavin O'Keefe
-Early life:Born in Melbourne. Lived in Sydney from the early-1980s to 1990. During that period, his artwork was included in a variety of non-fiction books, science-fiction and horror magazine and other publications. His earliest covers were for books by Australian writers Jacob G...
, Steve 'Carnage' Carter, Tony Baron, Karen Ravenlore, Brad Ellis, Mike McGann, Rama Mithiran, Physch, David Richardson, Jon Sequeira, Bryce J. Stevens
Bryce J. Stevens
Bryce John Stevens is a horror writer/artist.Between 1987 and 1992 he co-edited, , Terror Australis: The Australian Horror and Fantasy Magazine...
, Kurt Stone, Catherine Waters, Phillip Cornell, Igor Spajic, Neil Walpole, Kerry Kennedy and Bodine Amerikah. Ravenlore and Mithiran had previously had artwork featured in Terror Australis' predecessor, The Australian Horror and Fantasy Magazine
The Australian Horror and Fantasy Magazine
The Australian Horror and Fantasy Magazine was edited by Barry Radburn and Stephen Studach. It was published by Radburn's imprint Dark Press...
.
The magazine had a significant impact on the horror scene in Australia in the late eighties and early nineties and led to the publication of the mass-market horror anthology Terror Australis: Best Australian Horror
Terror Australis: Best Australian Horror
Terror Australis: Best Australian Horror was Australia's first original mass-market horror anthology for adults. It was edited by Leigh Blackmore....
(edited by Blackmore alone) (Hodder & Stoughton, 1993), a companion volume to Terry Dowling
Terry Dowling
Terence William Dowling, born at Lystra Private Hospital , is an Australian writer, freelance journalist, award-winning critic, editor, game designer and reviewer...
and Van Ikin's Mortal Fire: Best Australian SF (Hodder & Stoughton, 1993).
Author Robert Bloch
Robert Bloch
Robert Albert Bloch was a prolific American writer, primarily of crime, horror and science fiction. He is best known as the writer of Psycho, the basis for the film of the same name by Alfred Hitchcock...
said Terror Australis: Best Aust Australian Horror was 'a landmark venture - a testament to the advancement of the genre'.
Author Leanne Frahm
Leanne Frahm
Leanne Frahm is an Australian writer of speculative short fiction.-Biography:Frahm was born in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia in 1946. She received her first nomination for her work in 1978 when she was a finalist for the 1979 Ditmar Award for best fan writer. The following year she won the best...
's story "Catalyst" from the volume won the Ditmar Award
Ditmar Award
The Ditmar Award has been awarded annually since 1969 at the Australian National Science Fiction Convention to recognise achievement in Australian science fiction and science fiction fandom...
for Best Australian Ahort Fiction, 1993. Russell Blackford
Russell Blackford
Russell Blackford is an Australian writer, philosopher, and critic, based for many years in Melbourne, Victoria. He was born in Sydney, and grew up in Lake Macquarie district, near Newcastle, NSW. He moved to Melbourne in 1979, but returned to Newcastle to live and work in 2009.-Writing career:As a...
, Van Ikin
Van Ikin
Van Ikin is an academic and science fiction writer and editor. He is Senior Lecturer in English at the University of Western Australia, and has acted as supervisor for several Australian writers completing their post-graduate degrees and doctorates - including science fiction and fantasy writers...
& Sean McMullen
Sean McMullen
Sean Christopher McMullen is an Australian science fiction and fantasy author.-Biography:McMullen has a degree in physics and history from Melbourne University , a postgraduate degree in library and information science, and a PhD in Medieval Literature...
(eds). Strange Constellations: A History of Australian Science Fiction. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1999, p. 169.Author Maurice Xanthos was the only author to have a story selected for each of the three issues.
Issues
- 1, No 1 (Autumn 1988) (for contents see http://www.locusmag.com/index/t211.htm#A12252)
- 1, No 2 (Winter 1988)
Contents:
Fiction and Verse
- "The Mistake" by Graeme Parsons
- "Castle Elacteu" by S.R. Schultz
- "He Had a Soul" (verse) by 'Carl Uda' (Chris G. C. Sequeira)
- "How Long Will It Be" by Sheila Morehead
- "Phantom of the Night" by Jonathan Krause
- "Am I Not Asleep?" (verse) by Shane Doheny
- "Willie's Struggle" by Kurt von TrojanKurt von TrojanKurt von Trojan was an Australian journalist and science fiction author. He has also been employed as a psychiatric nurse and a cinema projectionist....
- "Strange Fruit" by Rick KennettRick KennettRick Kennett is an Australian writer of science fiction, horror and ghost stories. He is the most prolific and widely-published author in Australia after Paul Collins, Terry Dowling and Greg Egan, with stories in a wide variety of magazines and anthologies in Australia, the US and the UK.His first...
- "Guitar Man" by Maurice Xanthos
- "Suck Your Guts Out" (verse) by Coral HullCoral HullCoral Hull is an author, poet, artist, photographer, reviewer and lecturer living in Darwin, Australia. She has authored over fifty books, including poetry, fiction, non-fiction, artwork and digital photography. Her areas of special interest and research are in ethics, animal rights, autism,...
(as by 'Coral E. Hull') - "The Gift" by Frances Burke
- "Old Wood" by Steven PaulsenSteven PaulsenSteven Paulsen is a prize winning Australian writer of science fiction, fantasy and horror fiction whose work has been published in books, magazines, journals and newspapers around the world...
- 2, No 1 (whole number 3) (Summer 1992): The Jack the RipperJack the Ripper"Jack the Ripper" is the best-known name given to an unidentified serial killer who was active in the largely impoverished areas in and around the Whitechapel district of London in 1888. The name originated in a letter, written by someone claiming to be the murderer, that was disseminated in the...
special (for contents see http://www.locusmag.com/index/t476.htm)
External links
- Indexed at Locus online http://www.locusmag.com/index/b549.htm
- Interview with Mark Morrison: http://www.yog-sothoth.com/content/862-Mark-Morrison-Interview/view/1
See also
- Science fiction magazineScience fiction magazineA science fiction magazine is a publication that offers primarily science fiction, either in a hard copy periodical format or on the Internet....
- Fantasy fiction magazine
- Horror fiction magazineHorror fiction magazineA horror fiction magazine is a magazine that publishes primarily horror fiction with the main purpose of scaring or frightening the reader. Horror magazines can be in print, on the internet, or both.-Defunct magazines:*The Arkham Collector...
- MagazineMagazineMagazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...