In case you missed it, here’s my latest review for Skiffy & Fanty (that was posted last week) on the collection Use Only As Directed. But an accidental spill on my brand new laptop has put my Internet abilities largely on hold for the last week, delaying my link to it here. Thankfully books help combat such traumatic, and expensive, incidents. Next time I will use my MacBook only as directed, with drinks far, far removed.

“…The latest anthology from Peggy Bright Books, edited by Simon Petrie and Edwina Harvey, Use Only As Directed features Australian and New Zealand authors – of whom over 50% are female – crafting short stories around the titular phrase that one commonly reads on instructions for everything from medicine to the latest gadget.

The anthology’s predominant characteristic is its well-balanced diversity in authors and styles, with an array of female, male, and nonhuman characters and a range across genres from horror to fantasy to science fiction…”

Read my entire review at Skiffy & Fanty!

Contents:

• “Dellinger”, by Charlotte Nash
• “The Blue Djinn’s Wish”, by Leife Shallcross
• “The Kind Neighbours of Hell”, by Alex Isle
• “Mister Lucky”, by Ian Nichols
• “Home Sick”, by M. Darusha Wehm
• “Always Falling Up”, by Grant Stone
• “Yard”, by Claire McKenna
• “Never More”, by Dave Freer
• “Fetch Me Down My Gun”, by Lyn Mc Conchie
• “Uncle Darwin’s Bazooka”, by Douglas A. van Belle
• “The Climbing Tree”, by Michelle Goldsmith
• “Large Friendly Letters”, by Stephen Dedman
• “Future Perfect”, by Janeen Webb
• “The Eighth Day”, by Dirk Flinthart