My short story The Closing of Doors has been published in Issue 321 of Antipodean SF. I was so pleased to have this story accepted in what has been such a stalwart publication for Australian speculative fiction for so many years.

You can read the 1000-word story here: Issue 321 AntipodeanSF

About The Closing of Doors by Jemma Pollari

Raina and Harry are parents and scientists, each working to solve the problem: where does humanity go, when the end of the world threatens? And as the final day approaches, how will they choose to save their son?

In this story I wanted to explore two contrasting solutions to save humanity (spoilers ahead, come back and read after reading the story!). With Raina working on a generation spaceship heading for the stars, and Harry on an underground vault to outlive the disaster, which will they choose to save their family? The opening is left open-ended. Which solution did you assume they took? I’d love to hear your reaction to the piece.

Listen to The Closing of Doors, narrated by Jemma Pollari on the AntipodeanSF radio show

You’ll also be able to listen to The Closing of Doors, when it’s aired on the AntipodeanSF radio show: “Ion selects the best in speculative flash fiction for these shows, with stories often narrated by the authors themselves.”

It’ll be here once published.

I was delighted when Editor Ion Newcombe invited me to narrate the story shortly after it was accepted. But then came the next challenge – finding a quiet place to record. Quiet does not describe my house. I ended up doing my narration while staying in Brisbane for our annual QWC Management Committee retreat. Thanks hotel room!

I’d love to hear what you think about the story! Send me a message on any of the buttons scattered around the site.