Scission and Other Stories explained

Scission and Other Stories, sometimes simply Scission, is a 1985 collection of short stories by Australian author Tim Winton.

It won the 1985 Western Australian Council Literary Award, and was also 1985 Joint Winner Western Australian Premier's Book Award - Fiction.

Contents

This was Winton's first collection of stories.^[1] There are 13 short stories:

• Secrets
• A Blow, a Kiss
• Getting Ahead
• My Father's Axe
• Wake
• Lantern Stalk
• Thomas Awkner Floats
• Wilderness
• Neighbours
• A Measure of Eloquence
• The Oppressed
• The Woman at the Well
• Scission.^[2]

The stories are described as, " ... spare, jagged stories in which people struggle with change and disintegration ... These startling stories deal with men, women and children whose lives are coming apart and whose hearts are breaking. Honest, beautiful, shattering tales - vintage Winton."^[3]

Themes

The title Scission describes the action or state of cutting or being cut, and each of the stories carries this theme, involving family, neighbours and strangers.^[4]

Awards

1985 Western Australian Council Literary Award^[5]

1985 Joint Winner Western Australian Premier's Book Award - Fiction

See also

• Blood and Water, short story collection

Notes and References

1. Web site: Scission and Other Stories. ABC Shop. 19 January 2017.
2. Web site: Scission andf other stories. University of Toronto. 19 January 2017.
3. Web site: Scission. Penguin. 19 January 2017.
4. Web site: Scission by Tim Winton: 366 Days of Writing. The NSW Writers Centre. 22 January 2017.
5. Web site: Tim Winton Author Bio. Booktopia. 19 January 2017.