Hey, Why Aren’t More Australian Things Being Written That I Like?

Hey, why aren’t more Australian things being written that I like? That is to say, I used to read a lot more cool stuff by Australians, but now I don’t. What is up with that? The decline of Australian things that I like has its roots in Australian societal changes that include the increase in things that I don’t like. I also think that there used to be a lot more interesting stuff by Australians out there, but now there isn’t. In fact a lot of my Australian friends and colleagues have told me this, and I happen to agree. I did happen to read a couple of Australian stories recently that I liked, and they were pretty good. But those were the exceptions. Why is this? Australian stories used to be adventures but now they’re too adventurous. They are confusing and I don’t like that! Sturgeon’s Law still applies but it also applies to the 10% of Australian stuff that isn’t crap. So needless to say there’s more Australian crap. Look, just start publishing more good Australian stories that I like if you want to save the genre in Australia. I just know that there are other people who like what I like. (Young Australian readers in particular like what I like; it was what I liked at that age.) Clearly, something needs to be done about this to protect Australian publishing venues that have remained unchanged since the 1940s. You know, the good old days.

(I’m just kidding! Apologies to Alan. And to Justine. And to Australia!)