"A Walk-On Part in the War" is a 1998

fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving Magic (supernatural), magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy ...

short story by

Stephen Dedman Stephen Dedman (born 1959) is an Australian author of dark fantasy and science fiction stories and novels. Biography Dedman's short stories have appeared in ''Year's Best Fantasy and Horror'', '' Year's Best SF'', and ''The Best Australian Sc ...

Background

"A Walk-On Part in the War" was first published in Australia November 1998 in the ''

Dreaming Down-Under ''Dreaming Down-Under'' is a 1998 speculative fiction anthology edited by Jack Dann and Janeen Webb. Background ''Dreaming Down-Under'' was first published in Australia in November 1998 by Voyager Books in trade paperback format. In 1999 and ...

'' anthology, edited by

Jack Dann Jack Dann (born February 15, 1945) is an American writer best known for his science fiction, an editor and a writing teacher, who has lived in Australia since 1994. He has published over seventy books, in the majority of cases as editor or co-edit ...

and

Janeen Webb Janeen Webb (''née'' Pemberton) is an Australian writer, critic and editor, working mainly in the field of science fiction and fantasy. Biography The daughter of a Second World War Australian Army commando and salesman, Webb was brought up in ...

and published by Voyager Books. In 2004 it was republished in ''The Best Australian Science Fiction: A Fifty Year Collection'', edited by Rob Gerrand and published by

Black Inc. Schwartz Publishing is an Australian publishing house, digital media and news media organisation based in Carlton, Victoria, Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria established by Australian property developer Morry Schwartz in the 19 ...

"A Walk-On Part in the War" won the 1998 Aurealis Award for best fantasy short story.

References

1998 short stories Australian short stories Fantasy short stories Aurealis Award-winning works Australian speculative fiction works {{1990s-fantasy-story-stub