"Catabolic Magic" is a 2004

fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy literature and drama ...

short story A short story is a piece of prose fiction that typically can be read in one sitting and focuses on a self-contained incident or series of linked incidents, with the intent of evoking a single effect or mood. The short story is one of the oldest t ...

by English writer

Richard Harland Richard Harland (born 15 January 1947 in Yorkshire) is an English fantasy and science fiction writer, living in New South Wales, Australia. He was born in 1947 in Huddersfield, United Kingdom and migrated to Australia in 1970. He has been an aca ...

Background

"Catabolic Magic" was first published in April 2004 in ''

Aurealis ''Aurealis'' is an Australian speculative fiction magazine published by Chimaera Publications, and is Australia's longest running small-press science-fiction and fantasy magazine. The magazine is based in Melbourne. History and profile ''Aurea ...

'' #32, edited by Keith Stevenson and published by

Chimaera Publications Chimaera Publications is a publisher based in Mount Waverley, Victoria, Australia. The company currently publishes the speculative fiction magazine ''Aurealis'' as well as running the Aurealis Awards. History Chimaera Publications begun publi ...

. It was published alongside five other stories by the authors Paul Haines,

Stephen Dedman Stephen Dedman (born 1959) is an Australian author of dark fantasy and science fiction stories and novels. Biography Dedman's short stories have appeared in '' Year's Best Fantasy and Horror'', ''Year's Best SF'', and ''The Best Australian Sci ...

, Sue Isle,

Tansy Rayner Roberts Tansy Rayner Roberts (born 22 May 1978) is an Australian fantasy writer. Her short stories have been published in a variety of genre magazines, including '' Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine'' and '' Aurealis''. She also writes crime fiction ...

, and

Brendan Duffy The Mayor of Horowhenua officiates over the Horowhenua District of New Zealand's North Island. Bernie Wanden has been mayor since 2019. Before being elected as mayor, he had served as a Horowhenua councillor. List of mayors Since its inception in ...

. "Catabolic Magic" joint-won the 2004 Aurealis Award for best fantasy short story along with

Louise Katz Louise Katz is an Australian fantasy and science fiction novelist and academic. Biography Katz was born in Canberra, Australia, and attended art school in Adelaide. She is a Doctor of Creative Arts and has taught creative writing and academic w ...

' "

Weavers of the Twilight "Weavers of Twilight" is a 2004 fantasy short story by Louise Katz. Background "Weavers of Twilight" was first published in 2004 in ''Agog! Smashing Stories'', edited by Cat Sparks and published by Agog! Press. It was published alongside 19 othe ...

" and was a short-list nominee for the 2005

Ditmar Award The Ditmar Award (formally the Australian SF ("Ditmar") Award; formerly the "Australian Science Fiction Achievement Award") has been awarded annually since 1969 at the Australian National Science Fiction Convention (the "Natcon") to recognise ...

for best Australian novella or novelette.

Synopsis

References

External links

Aurealis #32
at Aurealis.com.au 2004 short stories Australian short stories Fantasy short stories Works originally published in Aurealis Aurealis Award-winning works {{2000s-fantasy-story-stub