Relatively True, Stories of Truth, Deception and Post-Truth

by Sharon Rundle (Editor), Meenakshi Bharat (Editor)

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.

Contributing authors: Shirley Hazzard, Eugen Bacon, Gulzar, Meenakshi Bharat, Alex Cothren, Tony Birch, Devika Brendon, Sharon Rundle, Cate Kennedy, Anne Benjamin, Sujata Sankranti, Kate Grenville, Priya Sarrukai Chabria, Andrew Kwong, Mitra Phukan, Bashabi Fraser, Yasmine Gooneratne, Rashida Murphy, Sunil Badami, Niharika Chibber Joe, Matt Lupton, Susanne Gervay, Janhavi Acharekar, Gayatri Gill, Julia Prendergast. Proem by Dr Roanna Gonsalves.

Foreword by His Excellency, The Australian High Commissioner to India, The Honourable Mr Barry O’Farrell AO.

Paperback

First published September 1, 2022

Reviews

[Gwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relatively True is an amazing anthology of stories edited by Sharon Rundle and Meenakshi Bharat. It speaks beautifully to the question of whose truth is more important as it explores facets of truths, untruths, imagined truth, political betrayal with half-truths, the media’s distortion of truth and stories of destiny. It is told in remarkable and creative ways to reflect on how we see the fine line between lies and truth.