{"title":"Ben Walter","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBen Walter\u003c\/strong\u003e crafts novels that delve into the intersections of identity and environment, weaving compelling narratives within the realms of \u003cem\u003eArts \u0026amp; Culture\u003c\/em\u003e. His works, such as \u003cem\u003eLithosphere\u003c\/em\u003e, explore the subtle forces that shape human experience, merging intricate storytelling with rich thematic depth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith a keen eye for character and setting, Walter’s fiction invites readers to reflect on fear, belonging, and transformation. Titles like \u003cem\u003eWhat Fear Was\u003c\/em\u003e exemplify his ability to blend literary finesse with engaging plots, making his collection a thought-provoking addition to contemporary general fiction.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"what-fear-was-by-ben-walter-9781922571205","title":"What Fear Was","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom vanishing islands to talking flathead and nightmarish bushfires, Ben Walter's visionary Tasmanian fictions are unique in the landscape of Australian writing. An unemployed man chooses only to apply for jobs advertised in \u003ci\u003eThe Economist\u003c\/i\u003e; a failed mountain expedition is mocked by the dead bodies of past climbers; and a father and son travel urgently to witness the miracle of Lake Pedder emptying. In \u003ci\u003eWhat Fear Was\u003c\/i\u003e, Walter combines beautiful, mesmerising writing with surreal discomfort and absurdist hilarity to completely upend the idea of an Australian short story.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Lyrical and inventive, savage and strange. You've never read anyone like Ben Walter. Total mastery of language and imagery, paired with an unrivalled imagination and immense storytelling chutzpah. The shot in the arm Australian literature has been screaming for.' — Robbie Arnott\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'With its unforgettable descriptions of the natural world, and the unsettling things that sometimes take place there, \u003ci\u003eWhat Fear Was\u003c\/i\u003e is an extraordinary collection of stories. Deeply strange, beautifully lyrical and intensely moving; no one in Australia writes like Ben Walter. The weird realism of \u003ci\u003eWhat Fear Was\u003c\/i\u003e is wholly unique and deeply valuable in contemporary Australian fiction.' — Ryan O'Neill.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eWhat Fear Was\u003c\/i\u003e is a darkly funny, surreal and tender collection, wonderfully Tasmanian in its entanglements. You never know where Ben Walter's stories will take you - there are no straight lines here - but it's truly a pleasure to follow his trail.' — Jennifer Mills\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46847113658604,"sku":"9781922571205","price":32.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/14123173482872.jpg?v=1758932670"},{"product_id":"lithosphere-by-ben-walter-9781923099685","title":"Lithosphere","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCompelling and strange, Ben Walter's debut poetry collection explores our eccentric connections to the natural world—the flora and fauna, water and wind that burst through the valleys and peaks of the lithosphere, the hard, rocky crust of the Earth that makes all life possible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDriftwood groans towards the ocean, meadows of grass overrun a mountain, ruined teahouses serve up snow and the bushranger Rocky Whelan roars from his cave. With striking, shimmering language, \u003cem\u003eLithosphere\u003c\/em\u003e delves into the peculiarities hidden in our relationship with the world outside.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47431443185900,"sku":"9781923099685","price":32.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781923099685.jpg?v=1774557742"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/ben-walter.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}