Greater City Shadows
Laurie Steed
Shortlisted for the 2022 Dorothy Hewett Award
A man treads water in the Swan River, hoping to bring his friend back to shore. Three siblings gaze skyward seeking a comet among the stars. A mother and daughter grapple with their fraught relationship and an inappropriate birthday cake. Bushfires sweep a Perth suburb while a woman, still burnt from a previous relationship, lessens the divide between an individual and their community.
In Greater City Shadows, Laurie Steed shines a light on the tremendous complexity and beauty of everyday relationships. From unrequited first love and burnt flames of the past to early parenthood stresses and tense friendships. These short stories are vulnerable and tender – a captivating collection reminding us that to be connected is to be human.
Praise for Greater City Shadows
‘Evocative and engaging, Greater City Shadows shows how the short story form, in the hands of a skilful writer, can offer profound insights into people’s inner and outer lives.’ – Susan Midalia
‘Timely, tender and true, Greater City Shadows is a superb collection of stories.‘ – Ryan O’Neill
‘What a generous, smart collection ... Steed’s stories are funny, surprising and full of heart.’ – Laura Elvery
‘Tender and heart-rending, this collection will appeal to readers who enjoyed Wayne Marshall’s Shirl and Chris Somerville’s We Are Not the Same Anymore.’ – Sonia Nair, Books+Publishing
‘[T]he short story is the form where [Steed] truly excels.‘ – Emily Paull, The Au Review
'Laurie Steed has crafted short stories which are as poignant and emotionally moving as they are insightful.' – Rod McLary, Queensland Reviewers Collective
‘Most impressive perhaps is Steed’s ability to emphasise not just relationships between people but between the individual and the greater universe.’ – Will Yeoman, WritingWA
‘Steed is a precise writer, vivid and full of hyperlocal detail on suburban life around the turn of the millennium.’ – Cameron Woodhead and Fiona Capp, Sydney Morning Herald
‘It’s no small feat to make readers invest in characters in such a short time, but Steed achieves it at every blow. His skill is undeniable, and the collection is a worthy achievement. Greater City Shadows is a hopeful, smart collection.’ – David Burton, ArtsHub
‘This is a collection about understanding our humanity, and accepting our flaws and failures. It’s heart-warming and heart-breaking, tender, funny and vulnerable, and cements Steed’s reputation as a perceptive and talented storyteller.’ – Jen Bowden, Westerly
Book details
PUBLICATION DATE: 1 February 2024
EXTENT: 220 pages
FORMAT: B+ format paperback, 210x140mm, 0.5kg
ISBN: 978-1-76080-269-1
RIGHTS: World
CATEGORY: fiction, short-stories
PRICE: $29.99 AUD incl GST