Australian author of science fiction and fantasy. His "Tenabran Trilogy" took out two Aurealis (Australian SFF) Awards. Also writes historicals under a pseudonym. Holds degrees in history and literature. Main area of interest is the traditional Western heroic romance. Steampunk and alternative history is a major strand of understanding. Above all, "What would happen if...?"

What would happen if magic worked, in certain ways? What ways, exactly?

What would happen if this had been done, or this had not been done? What if this new technology were invented, or invented somewhere else or sometime other from where it was?

Can there be heroes? What would they be like? What would they do, and how would they do it? Could they really change the world? If so, in what ways, and how?

These questions don't actually seem to occur much to mainstream authors or to the literary establishment. Pity.