This collection, and its companion piece, No Time for Pity and Other Tales, covers wide-ranging motifs: humour, crime, fantasy, family, and childhood themes. Several stories are located in the outback areas much loved, but seldom visited, by Australians-they are often regarded as the "real Australia," where men are men...etc.

But there are humorous tales too, though readers should remember that one man's funny story is another man's blank stare.

Then there are ghosts, but not of the sheet-flapping variety; and slices of life seen through the eyes of children.

Where would story...