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Ephemeral City
- GenresShort Stories
236 pages, Paperback
Published April 18, 2024
About the author
Simon Groth
25 books5 followersSimon Groth is a writer, editor, and long-time observer of publishing, technology, and creative industries. He is a contributing editor for the Writing Platform and his books include Off The Record: 25 Years of Music Street Press (with Sean Sennett, UQP, 2010), Hunted Down and Other Tales (with Marcus Clarke, if:book, 2016), and Infinite Blue (with Darren Groth, Orca Book Publishers, 2018).
With if:book Australia, Simon created a series of award-winning experimental works including the 24-Hour Book, live writing events at writers festivals around the world, and a city-wide challenge to write stories for digital billboards. His reporting on digital publishing has seen him travel the globe to discuss and explore the challenges and opportunities for writers and readers in a digital world.
With if:book Australia, Simon created a series of award-winning experimental works including the 24-Hour Book, live writing events at writers festivals around the world, and a city-wide challenge to write stories for digital billboards. His reporting on digital publishing has seen him travel the globe to discuss and explore the challenges and opportunities for writers and readers in a digital world.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 27, 2025
3,5 / 5
Es una pena no haber podido leer "Ephemeral City" en su formato original (una caja con coleccionables y fascículos para cada historia), por qué creo que gana textura y sustancia para el lector, pero los precios desde Australia no están baratos que digamos.
"Ciudad Efímera" es una colección que entrelaza ocho historias y nueve piezas efímeras, independientes, que ofrecen una mirada profunda a los eventos significativos de una ciudad a través de las voces de personas que se encuentran en los márgenes de la historia.
Los relatos, que pueden leerse en el orden que cada uno desee, se entrelazan (a su manera) con (algunos) eventos significativos, narrados por personas al margen, todos conectados de forma directa y indirecta si queremos. Es algo más orgánico y temático que algo tangencial.
El libro explora la idea de que el carácter de una ciudad evoluciona con el tiempo, construido por innumerables historias que, aunque destinadas a ser efímeras, perduran y contribuyen a su identidad.
Es una pena no haber podido leer "Ephemeral City" en su formato original (una caja con coleccionables y fascículos para cada historia), por qué creo que gana textura y sustancia para el lector, pero los precios desde Australia no están baratos que digamos.
"Ciudad Efímera" es una colección que entrelaza ocho historias y nueve piezas efímeras, independientes, que ofrecen una mirada profunda a los eventos significativos de una ciudad a través de las voces de personas que se encuentran en los márgenes de la historia.
Los relatos, que pueden leerse en el orden que cada uno desee, se entrelazan (a su manera) con (algunos) eventos significativos, narrados por personas al margen, todos conectados de forma directa y indirecta si queremos. Es algo más orgánico y temático que algo tangencial.
El libro explora la idea de que el carácter de una ciudad evoluciona con el tiempo, construido por innumerables historias que, aunque destinadas a ser efímeras, perduran y contribuyen a su identidad.
October 19, 2024
Simon Groth's "Ephemeral City" offers a refreshing take on the physical book format, demonstrating impressive attention to detail in its unconventional presentation. This innovative physical approach to storytelling immediately sets the work apart, inviting readers to engage with the text in a novel more random way. The book's physical format is its standout feature, contributing significantly to its appeal and aligning well with the theme of ephemerality and urban transformation.
The collection comprises several short stories set in Brisbane, spanning various time periods and locations. These vignettes provide an intriguing glimpse into the city's evolving landscape and character. While the stories themselves are mostly engaging and offer a multifaceted portrayal of urban life, the writing quality may vary. The prose is competent, but at times it can feel predictable, which can detract from the overall impact. Despite this, "Ephemeral City" remains an intriguing read, particularly for those interested in Brisbane's history, stories, and experimental book design.
The collection comprises several short stories set in Brisbane, spanning various time periods and locations. These vignettes provide an intriguing glimpse into the city's evolving landscape and character. While the stories themselves are mostly engaging and offer a multifaceted portrayal of urban life, the writing quality may vary. The prose is competent, but at times it can feel predictable, which can detract from the overall impact. Despite this, "Ephemeral City" remains an intriguing read, particularly for those interested in Brisbane's history, stories, and experimental book design.
May 23, 2025
I read this after a fellow Masters student recommended it to me, about the ways that authors could push publishing. I loved engaging with the objects connected with these stories, and want to explore more multimodal ways of storytelling after reading this.
As a lifelong resident of Brisbane, I love tales that are set here. Groth's collection spans quite a wide range of events that are fairly famous in our history, told from bit-players in the swash of those eras.
Two that stood out for me were Battle, showing the jealousy of an Australian disabled soldier comparing himself to the US troops that were based here, hoovering up Australian women left right and centre; and Rosaries, a woman married to a crooked cop in the 80s. Both eras ripe for the mining, and the central characters for both were really well-chosen.
"Tanya had never really paid attention to the river until now. She knew it was there, of course, but how often do you stop and stare at the millions of litres flowing past? Now she stopped. And stared."
As a lifelong resident of Brisbane, I love tales that are set here. Groth's collection spans quite a wide range of events that are fairly famous in our history, told from bit-players in the swash of those eras.
Two that stood out for me were Battle, showing the jealousy of an Australian disabled soldier comparing himself to the US troops that were based here, hoovering up Australian women left right and centre; and Rosaries, a woman married to a crooked cop in the 80s. Both eras ripe for the mining, and the central characters for both were really well-chosen.
"Tanya had never really paid attention to the river until now. She knew it was there, of course, but how often do you stop and stare at the millions of litres flowing past? Now she stopped. And stared."
July 4, 2024
A beautiful, thoughtful and engrossing collection of stories. Well worth your time.
March 2, 2026
A real hodge podge mix of tales based in Bris
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews