Into Your Arms is a collection of twenty-one short stories, inspired by the songs of Nick Cave, from twenty-one Australian authors, who might also be singer/songwriters, poets, lawyers, teachers, journalists, podcasters, playwrights, scriptwriters, film critics, radio presenters, academics, researchers, and human rights activists. It is curated by Mark Smith and Neil A. White, and edited by Kirsten Krauth. Sometimes the connection to the song is barely apparent or quite tenuous, but this in no way detracts from these works.

In Dance Hall Days, inspired by Release The Bats, an actor runs into an old school friend, a girl he found in his internal reminiscence rather intimidating with a querulous energy. They talk about their current lives, plans, loss of partners; they have their survival of controlling parents in common; but it’s still all a bit awkward until they recall Nick Cave gigs they went to, reconnecting over their Nick Cave stories. Christos Tsiolkas. 4/5

In Do You Love Me, inspired by the song of the same title, Alice, on a hot summer afternoon, collates all the data she has meticulously gathered, including her personal experiences, and enters them into the program that will produce, via her shower-cubicle-sized printer, a 3D printout of Nick Cave. Her creation is soon crooning “Do You Love Me?”, but will he satisfy better than Sting, George Clooney or Johnny Depp? Kirsten Krauth. 3/5

In Red Right Hand, inspired by the song of the same title, thirteen-year-old Caleb Moody is, for the first time, one spectator of many, watching the notorious arrivals at The Show, a legendary illegal gambling game held in Pat Noonan’s bottle yard. Jon Jon Thompson gives him a running commentary as a race fixer, a blackmailer and a brothel owner pass through. What no one is expecting is armed robbery and murder. Tony Birch. 5/5

In Lovely Useless Things, inspired by O Children, when her favourite racing dog, Cheeky becomes sluggish, failing too often to win, Margaret knows what her dad will say. Three-year-old Cheeky has always been small, fast, impish, curious, has always loved to run. Margaret makes a huge sacrifice, desperate and hopeful that there might be a fix. Toni Jordan 5/5

In Something’s Gotten Hold Of My Heart, inspired by the song of the same title, a Gunditjmara fella is living on a property with three historic homes, alone bar a stoned-on-catnip cat, a pat-whore cat, a kelpie, and a potentially adverse diagnosis. The lady he hires to help get his paperwork in order, and her twelve-year-old son get a hold on his heart. Delicious-sounding stew recipe included. Richard J. Frankland 5/5

In Breathless, inspired by the song of the same title, Carleen visits Jed, comatose in the ICU after a car accident. On the drive there, she recalls how and when they started, remembers the good times, and when, for her, it ended. And now, is she trapped by the guilt that she was about to leave? Melissa Manning. 4/5

In Love Letter, inspired by the song of the same title, Alex drives the Hi Ace to Lakes Entrance, a favour for his good friend Des, a delivery and pick-up. Des, unfamiliar without Thel, alone and under threat, reveals his stash, which has Alex wondering, and the letter to Thel -intriguing- there’s a mishap with that, but still… Mark Smith 5/5

In People Ain’t No Good, it’s not Four Weddings and a Funeral, but Three Funerals and a Movie: Theo and Darcy encounter each other at the funerals of mutual acquaintances in sort-of sliding doors moments, until their cinema encounter. Kirsten Tranter 5/5

Into Your Arms (Five Ways) inspired by Into My Arms, is five short pieces written in the second person about longing to hold a person, from the perspective of an adult or a child, a child absent: given up for adoption, or stolen or lost or dead. Gillian O’Shaughnessy 4/5

In A Dead Song, inspired by the song of the same title, a boarding house, a guard doing a poor job, a room where too many residents die, all described by the dead body of another resident. Bram Presser 4/5

Sniffing Around, inspired by King Ink, is a circular interrogation about the sighting of King Ink that manages to include all the lyrics of the song. Andy Griffiths 4/5

Death Is Not The End, inspired by the song of the same title, surviving COVID, enduring a relationship break-up, watching a Russian invasion, attending the poorly conducted funeral of a friend, surviving fires and floods, and the phone dies, everything on it lost: time to go? Jon Doust 4/5

Straight To You, inspired by the song of the same title, an apocalyptic tale of micro-storms and strange incidents. Rhett Davis 4/5

In Cannibal’s Hymn, inspired by the song of the same title, Owen and Josie run a restaurant, but Owen has a fetish that means he really shouldn’t be allowed to prepare food. Can he control it? “Eeeuw” will be a common reaction. Ben Hobson 4.5/5

The Grief Of The Body, inspired by The Spinning Song, a tale of reapers collecting souls, an error made then unwound. Goldie Goldbloom 4/5

The Mercy Seat, inspired by the song of the same title, a corrupt judge stands trial in a place where no appeal is possible. Neil A. White 4/5

Burning Bridges, inspired by The Ship Song, a ride-share driver in a toxic relationship makes a big decision. This one has a killer last line and is without doubt the best story of the collection. Emily Brewin 5/5

Push The Sky Away, inspired by the song of the same title, in which a long-planned second storey house extension upsets some neighbours. Sarah Bailey 3/5

As I Sat Sadly By Her Side, inspired by the song of the same title, after the invasion, and the loss of everyone they love, two sisters watch departing neighbours and contemplate their future from opposite ends of the emotional spectrum. Mykalea Saunders manages to include mosyt of the song’s lyrics. 4/5

Nobody’s Waiting For Anyone Anymore, inspired by (Are You) The One That I’ve Been Waiting For, a second person stream of consciousness reminiscence of youth and maturation, relationships and writing. A bit pretentious, might appeal to writers. Cate Kennedy 3/5

River Rising, inspired by Muddy Water, news of the flooding Ganga recalls a week spent decades earlier with an Indian sadhu in places along the sacred river. Anthony Zable 4/5

Most of the contribution rate four or five stars, although a few dip to three, and some authors indulge in that irritating practice of omitting quote marks for speech. Emily Brewin’s story is a stand-out read, undeniably the best of the bunch, while Mark Smith’s is a close second.

Familiarity with Nick Cave’s lyrics certainly enhances the enjoyment of these short works, but is it by no means an absolute requisite. With such rich source material as Nick Cave’s songs, and twenty-one talented contributors, some award-winners or best-sellers, it’s no surprise that this collection of very different pieces has something for everyone, and with their extents ranging from 4 to 14 pages, this is a collection easily dipped into at will.
This unbiased review is from a copy provided by Fremantle Press.