In the 21st Century the avenues for human-induced bodily evolution are immense. There's every chance we'll greet the dawn in 2101 as creatures shockingly different from our current selves. I'll personally be in my sixteenth decade, for example, and be terrorising the neighbourhood with my bionic implants. Half man, half motorcycle, half walking frame.

My local science fiction group, here in the national capital, has published a collection of stories (and a few poems) by Antipodean writers, all dealing with the general theme of body.

There is science - science gone right off the rails in some cases - and magic and horror and humour. A sparkling diversity of storytelling and genres. All linked by some extraordinary writing.

I chuckled my way through the opening story, written as a research report by an academic with a severe ethics problem. And in another story about office work but not as we know it, one where getting through the day needs buckets and mops and HR seems to be a portal to another dimension, there was anything but smiles. Another story has overtones of Mad Max and Alfred Hitchcock working together, and one or two are pure magic. With clever twists.

As individual stories, they are thoughtful, cleverly written, and evocative. As a collection, they are bound to set the mind running off in all directions, contemplating what might be, or in fact is right now if we only open our eyes to the possibilities.

Professionally produced, skilfully edited, artfully written.

In "Body of Work", the human body is a canvas for the mind. I loved it! ( )