I don’t normally whinge or whine very much on this LJ. I mean, I whinge and whine plenty in real life and I think it’s a wonder that most people – including my wife – are able to put up with me. But on my LJ, I put on this façade of a reasonable, Doctor Who loving individual who basically loves everyone. (Actually, now that I think about it, I have ranted and moaned a few times on this LJ… but I’m not counting them for the sake of the argument).

But with the release of 2008’s [info]lastshortstory list, the whinging whining side of me has raised its ugly head. Now, let’s be clear here – and while I hate caveats, this needs to be said – obviously the enjoyment of a short story of is a very subjective thing. And, so, the fact that only one story out of Midnight Echo featured pn only one list – that being girliejones – is not an indictment on the magazine’s quality. And yet four people, whose tastes and thoughts on short fiction I respect, only thought there was one stand-out story in Midnight Echo. (And by the way Deb’s Pale Dark Soldiers is a superb piece of unsettling horror fiction). And I suppose knowing that – even taking into account that it’s only the opinion of four people and not the whole reading world – does leave a hollow feeling in the tummy. I suppose if they were crazy, rabid people I’d be less upset. But they’re not.

The positive here is that Australian short story fiction is getting stronger and stronger and it’s hard to be a stand-out story. But I do think that Midnight Echo featured some corker pieces – well of course I do… I was an editor – stories that deserved to be mentioned. But again, that’s just a personal opinion. The fact is, whether subjective or not, I still can’t shrug that disappointed feeling. I was hoping, ego and all – that the first issue of what we hoped to be a 1,000 issue AHWA magazine would have made more of a splash. As it is, other than the mention of Deb’s story, I’m not sure whether any of the LSS crew have reviewed the mag on their LJ. (That said… I’m probably pre-empting here and apologise in advance).  (Oh and Ben did recommend the mag in his yearly review, which was nice of him).

And just while I’m here – and she’s going to hate me doing this and will unlikely ever speak to me again – I’m a little surprised that at least one of Kirstyn McDermott’s three published stories this year didn’t get a mention. But again… I might be biased here and – here’s another caveat, qualifier, whatever – I haven’t read the entire output of Aussie fiction this year.

Also, while I think about it I forgot to send the LSS team my two Doctor Who short stories. Again. I say I think… because I might have… (and I doubt they would have made anyone’s list anyway). But as they’re likely to be the last bit of short fiction from me for a number of years, I really should have more of an effort.

Oh well.