Time to reevaluate the prominence trauma has in our stories

There’s an excellent article on the prevalence of the trauma plot in contemporary literature in the January 3-10 issue of The New Yorker, which grabbed my attention for two reasons: first, as a writer wanting to understand more about the craft (and which types of stories are currently popular and why) but secondly, as someone …

Truth in a post-apocalyptic world (1/5)

Some (slightly revised) thinking from old lecture notes on epistemology in the post-9/11 world, as we approach the end of another decade. (1/5)

They are us: sharing the darkest days

I wrote this for The Australian Newspaper today: Days like this don't happen in New Zealand. We're not this violent. We don't hate like this. We pride ourselves on welcoming immigrants and refugees. Part of the mythology we hold onto is that we are the people who welcomed refugees from the Tampa when the Howard …