Roundtable - Meridian Australis

Harvey is joined by Matt to discuss Susanna Clarke's 2021 novel, Piranesi. We analyse and argue over the text's compelling narrative voice, its sense of mystery, and its exploration of the nature of consciousness and memory. Hosted by Harvey Weir. Edited by Andrew Nathan Roberts. Original music by Andrew Nathan Roberts.

Guest host Arden Baker is joined by Kaz / A. M. Bueman and Ciar to discuss Ann Leckie's 2013 award-winning novel Ancillary Justice, the first in a trilogy of high-concept space opera novels that explore colonialism, gender and consciousness. Listen as we disagree on the book's thematic implications of colonisation, gender and linguistics.Edited by Andrew Nathan Roberts. Original music by Andrew Nathan Roberts.

Harvey is joined by fellow Meridian Australis members Cat and Jason, to discuss their stories The Sierra and The Transmogrification of Ordinary Things, which are featured in the AUSTRAL Anthology. AUSTRAL is the self-published passion project of Meridian Australis, a collection of speculative fiction stories written by young and up-and-coming Melbourne writers.This episode is the second in a series designed to explore the inner workings of Meridian Australis' authors. It is intended to be listened to after you've read the authors' stories.

Harvey is joined by returning guest Eddy to wax poetic on Max Porter's Lanny, a beautiful novel that experiments with structure, form and point of view. We explore the use of magical realism, the melding of modernity and folklore, and the touching empathy present between the pages of this phenomenal text.

This episode, guest host Arden is joined by Dom and Kaz to discuss Seth Dickinson’s debut novel The Traitor Baru Cormorant. The three authors wax lyrical about what makes Cormorant a special favourite among Meridian Australis members.

This episode, Harvey is joined by Kaz Beuman and Jason Schembri to discuss This Is How You Lose the Time War, by Max Gladstone and Amal El-Mohtar. We go back and forth expressing our unfiltered adoration for this Nebula-and-Hugo-winning 2019 novella, exploring the power of melodrama and intentional world-building in modern sci-fi. As always, a supplementary essay breaking down the book's key techniques is available at meridianaustralis.au/roundtable.

Harvey is joined by Edward Hodge and Matt Tynan to discuss Daniel Keyes' 1966 science fiction novel Flowers for Algernon. We talked about the book's almost timelessly-cutting representation of disability, mental health and social hierarchies, and delved into what makes it so emotionally affecting. A supplementary essay dissecting these themes on a deeper level is available on our website, meridianaustralis.au

Harvey sat down with fellow authors William Rotor, Andrew Nathan Roberts, Arden Baker and Ishan Morris-Gray to discuss Dan Simmons' 1989 space opera Hyperion. With a book written in six stories from different narrators in a style directly referential to Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, we took the opportunity to discuss the key features and themes of each tale, the novel as a whole, and some of our favourite (and least favourite) parts.