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Last night I was happily reading Lucy Sussex's latest story collection and I came across a golem story. She calls the object a golem, anyhow and links to rabbis in Prague (when I think of golems and rabbis and Prague I marvel at the power of mathematics rather than at that of esoteric Judaica, but that is a side issue). I think she describes a magic object with some links to golems, myself, rather than a golem proper. But it was a pleasant find.

Every now and then I discover Australian speculative fiction stories that use Jewish motifs and themes and each time I find them I do wonder what the interest is. Australia is such a very non-Jewish country. I use them, but then, I am Jewish. I use Jewish themes the way I use medieval themes and Melbourne themes and public servants as characters - it is a matter of playing around with what I know.

You know, there would be a really good article in that somewhere: the use Aussie spec fic makes of things Jewish. I doubt I am going to write that article (because I am a lazy sod and besides, I really ought to finish my medieval history and the modern historical fiction writer book first) but I would be very interested in knowing what other Australian writers have written about Jewish folklore or literary conceits. And is Jewish background a factor, or is there something else driving the choice?

Writers who read my blog, does this apply to you?

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Because this is the second post of the day and because it is hot and because I spent the afternoon in the company of King Kong, here is a meme in lieu of thinking. I am curious about this meme, anyhow. How much *do* we know about each other?

"The problem with LJ: We all think we are so close, but really we know nothing about each other. So I want you to ask me something you think you should know about me. Something that should be obvious, but you have no idea about. Ask away."