Relatively True is a vibrant collection of short stories that reflects on the porous boundaries separating lies, half-truths, and the truth. We live in a world of elastic truth, click-bait, disinformation and fake identities. Opinions, beliefs and conspiracy theories clamour to be given equal time and weight with facts. Whose truth is more relevant and meaningful—yours or mine? The stories in Relatively True confront and address this question, and more, in surprising and inventive ways. Each narrative probes the vexing impact that fluctuating ideas of truth have on us. From self-deception to trickery on a wider scale, this anthology of short fiction from Australia and South Asia enchants, provokes and enlightens, from the first story to the last.
Meenakshi Bharat is a writer, translator, reviewer and critic. She teaches at Sri Venkateswara College (University of Delhi), and has written numerous books, articles, and short stories, both for children and adults.
Sharon Rundle is a book editor, writer and mentor. Her stories, essays and articles have been published in a range of anthologies, journals and magazines.
Bharat and Rundle have together co-edited four other Indo-Australian short fiction anthologies, including Glass Walls: Stories of Tolerance and Intolerance (Orient BlackSwan, 2019).
Foreword by HE The Hon Barry O’Farrell AO Proem by Roanna Gonsalves Introduction by Meenakshi Bharat and Sharon Rundle
Doublespeak The Flowers of Sorrow by Shirley Hazzard Unlimited Data by Eugen Bacon Najoom by Gulzar (translated by Masooma Ali) Betrayal by Meenakshi Bharat
Fake News Let’s Talk Trojan Bee by Alex Cothren Party Lights by Tony Birch Threadbare by Devika Brendon Kiewa Creek Diary by Sharon Rundle
Dissembling Fraud Direct Action by Cate Kennedy Shadow Box by Anne Benjamin Nothing but the Truth by Sujata Sankranti
Smokescreen A Room Made of Leaves by Kate Grenville Blanket by Priya Sarukkai Chabria The Verdict by Andrew Kwong Wrong Number by Mitra Phukan My People in Paradise by Bashabi Fraser
Masquerades and Masks A Little Light Reading by Yasmine Gooneratne Talking Beasts by Rashida Murphy Something’s Gotta Give by Sunil Badami
Strange Days Heterochromia Iridum by Niharika Chibber Joe and Matthew M. Lupton The Scent of the Ocean by Susanne Gervay Learning to Bake by Janhavi Acharekar The Sweechoos by Gayatri Gill Today is Tomorrow by Julia Prendergast
About the Authors Acknowledgements