Whispers from the Star River is a weekly 30-minute journey into the heart of Australian speculative fiction. Each episode, we navigate the vast expanse of genre fiction, showcasing the incredible home-grown talent shaping our new mythologies.
Join presenter Sarah Xu each week and be transported by atmospheric, immersive readings of original works of brand-new sci-fi, fantasy, and horror, read by the authors and captured by Karena Wynn-Moylan for the Narratives Library. From dystopian futures on familiar streets to epic fantasy in ancient landscapes, we celebrate the full spectrum of the (im)possible, and contemplate how these works reflect our current political climates and address the more confronting aspects of our collective humanity.
More than a review show, this is a chance to discover your next favourite author directly and hear the stories behind the stories. For fans of speculative fiction, it’s a rare opportunity to tune into a curated blend of music, storytelling, discovery, and connection to the local scene. Whispers from the Star River is a 30-minute escape into the extraordinary.
Dispatch 15's feature reading is horror master Kaaren Warren with an excerpt from her award winning novella Bitters. We don't know or really care where the machine came from, but it must be fed.