Fremantle Press dung beetle book grabs a place on science fiction shortlist

Dungzilla by James Foley has been announced as a finalist in the 2017 Aurealis Awards for science fiction. This is the second book in the S. Tinker Inc series to make it to the finals and the fourth time Foley has been on the list.

Foley said he’s pleased the book received the nod; ‘Making a 130-page graphic novel about a giant dung beetle was a long process, and I often questioned whether anyone would read it when I was finished. So I’m glad that it’s been successful, that it’s made kids laugh and think, and that it’s got a some recognition in the Aurealis Awards.’

Judging coordinator Tehani Croft noted that the number of entries continue to go from strength to strength, with the award seeing over 800 submissions in 2017. ‘We continue to be impressed by the breadth of entries, with publishers from all over the world ensuring the work of their creators is considered. It’s very pleasing to see publishers of all types featured among the finalists this year, with small publishers and self-published work finding a place alongside the majors.’

In Dungzilla Sally Tinker continues her adventures in invention when her latest brainchild, ‘the resizenator’, enlarges a dung beetle to epic proportions. When the giant beetle heads straight to the sewerage farm to roll a ball of poo large enough to flatten Sally’s entire town, she, her best mate, her gran and her brother have to hurry to save the day.

Foley is currently working on his third S.Tinker book, Gastronauts, and the first S.Tinker Tube episode will soon be available on YouTube. Dungzilla and Brobot are both available in all good bookstores and online.

Winners of the 2017 Aurealis Awards and the Convenors’ Award for Excellence will be announced at the Aurealis Awards ceremony during the Easter long weekend as part of the Swancon convention at the Pan Pacific hotel, Perth. For more information, please see the Aurealis Awards website:  http://www.aurealisawards.org