Kate Doolan is a long-time observer of the US space program. Her work has appeared in "Electronics Australia", "Spaceflight" and "The Herald Sun" among many other magazines. Kate's first book, "Fallen Astronauts" is scheduled for publication in the USA early next year. Kate is currently researching and writing a biography of astronaut Edward Higgins White II.

 

Alan Duncan is 29 years old, and has been enthralled by science fiction since the age of three, when he saw his first "Dr. Who" episode. He had never really had the urge to write until joining 'Spaced Out' in the last couple of years. But opportunities to have work published, without judgement or concerns about the reactions of the oppressed majority, rear their head infrequently, so he thought, "Why not?" Of his story, Redemption, he comments: "This is only my second short story, as I'm sure readers can tell!"

 

Miriam English is an artist, writer, computer programmer, and cartoonist who builds virtual worlds for a living. She is Vice President of the Virtual Reality Association, and a self-confessed VR nut. She is trying to create a VR fiction series — VR fiction is like being able to step inside a movie. Her two stories in this anthology, Grace and Hell are two parts of that work in progress. The VR future she envisages is utopian, but she is conscious that, even there, we will have problems, and Hell is an attempt to acknowledge this.

 

Adrian Gaetano is an occasional amateur writer, and was proud but astonished that his efforts for our last anthology were rewarded by a Ditmar nomination (he withdrew his name from the final ballot paper in order that others might be given preference). Adrian sees his epic, Star Journeys! as a piece of fun which he hopes others will take in good faith: "It was a tribute to many shows and movies, and especially to fan fiction from 25 years ago."

 

Will Gauvin is a 27 year Aussie now living in Atlanta Georgia, USA. He was one of the founding members of Spaced Out, he moved to the US to work for 2 years. Science and sci fi are Will's main passions, and writing short stories is a part of his many interests.
    "Defective Gene 11257 was inspired by the movie Gattaca, where the world defined who and what you were by your genetic make up. I also took inspiration from the movie, X-Men, and the television show, Babylon 5; where mutants and telepaths became outcasts and they would form their own societies to be accepted, but in doing so the barrier between their society and mainstream society grew. Similar stituations arise with in the queer community, so I wondered, 'What if our genes were used define who we are?' The result was Defective Gene 11257.
    "Priscilla, Drag Queen of the Nebula was a result of a writer's challenge that the Atlanta Outworlders' Writers Group held. The setting: a princess on ship; objective: to save the world/galaxy/universe. There were special words that needed to be used: beans, toothbrush, silver, morph or morphed. Definitely not my best, but I loved writing it."

 

Geoff is a long-time fan who can be found floating around a variety of SF clubs. He has edited this anthology and the Spaced Out newsletter since they began.

 

Kerry Greenwood has published twenty seven books, including novels, crime fiction, science fiction and children's books. She won the Aurealis Award for Best Young Adult Book in 1996. She lives with three cats and a wizard in a ground floor garret in Footscray.
    "Jetsam is about an encounter between a human and a god. I like to think dangerously..."

 

Aaron A. Hughes has been living in Melbourne for two years now. He was born and raised in North Queensland, but please don't hold that against him. Aaron thinks of himself as many things. One is a writer. Another is drag queen, "Mercedes Benzova", former German stunt test crash driver turned quality evening entertainer. Aaron loves musical theatre, reading, film, cats and the beach. Aaron has big hair; it's long, but mostly big. Aaron has been involved with "Spaced Out" for about a year now, and loves the people and the activities.
    "An Angel's Shoulder is Aaron's first story published in any form. It is the first chapter of a longer work, which keeps getting bigger, and hopefully better; much better. It is dedicated to his long-time friend who goes by the stage-name "Madam Yes". "Madam Yes" once gave Aaron a title - "an angel's shoulder-blades" - under which to write a story. Albeit with a slightly different title, this is what became of that challenge. It's partly an homage to one of "Madam Yes's" favourite subjects - angels - and partly an attempt to create a new mythology based around angels. You may notice some influences from Anne Rice and William Gibson (to name but two of Aaron's favourite authors) in this story. He hopes that you humour a fledgling writer when you read this story!

 

Sue Isle is a Perth writer who shares a flat with five pet rats once referred to as Satan's Emissaries, plus a lot of books and houseplants who compete for the available space. She works as a court transcript typist and monitor, but if she uses any of the info gained, the Australian Government will lock her up. She has had one YA novel, Scale of Dragon, Tooth of Wolf and one "true stories" book, Wolf Children, published by Hodder and Omnibus respectively. Her short story, The Woman of Endor, published in Orb #2, won the 2001 Aurealis Award for fantasy. Other stories have appeared in Aurealis, She's Fantastical, Sword and Sorceress and Tales of the Unanticipated. Rumours of witchcraft are entirely correct.
   Of her story excerpt,The Unclaimed, she writes: "This piece is an excerpt from a longer story to be completed and published in the near future. It's as much about identity and awareness as it is about werewolves. What if you were a boy born into a girl's body and you were given the power to change yourself? What if the act of shapechanging stripped away your memory of your previous life and friends and only your own will held you together?"

 

Jack B. Nimble is a pen name for someone who wishes to remain otherwise anonymous!

 

Helen Patrice is a Melbourne writer, who works on waaay too many projects at once. She thinks about writing whilst teaching belly dance, and brainstorms what to do in her next belly dance class while writing. She hopes to get a Ditmar, an Aurealis Award, a Nebula, a Hugo, a Logie, and groupies.
   Of her story, Ladies' Day, she writes: "I had a lot of fun writing this. Many editors have been upset at the unsympathetic main character and reprimanded me for it, but I wanted to write an obnoxious character for a change."

 

Stephen Stonewall is a frequent contributor to Spaced Out publications, and he likes to experiment with queer themes. He sees science fiction as the perfect medium for producing material which examines alien ideas and issues. His longtime partner is Adrian Gaetano.

 
The Editors would also like to thank Margaret, Chris and Louis.