sleeper / noun 2. a timber, concrete or steel beam forming part of a railway track, serving as a foundation or support for the rails. 7. Colloquial a. someone or something that unexpectedly achieves success or fame. b. a book... which has slow but constant sales. 8. A spy who is allowed to carry on a normal life sometimes for years before being requested to undertake any espionage.

Macquarie dictionary, 3rd edition

The Sleepers Almanac No. 5

Edited by Zoe Dattner and Louise Swinn

The Sleepers Almanac No. 5 is the latest annual collection of short stories from Sleepers, featuring new and emerging authors alongside established authors. This year's Almanac also includes some poetry from Myron Lysenko, Ella Holcombe, and others; as well as cartoons by Oslo Davis, Andrew Weldon, and more.

"Sleepers continues to work a crucial nerve in Australian writing." – Nam Le

"Supposedly no one buys short story collections, but as the Almanac proves, young writers and writing are still healthy. And they look good, too." – The Australian

"Sleepers Publishing has been steadily creating a well-deserved buzz around its annual collection of short fiction." – The Monthly

Buy this Almanac through your local bookseller or via the Readings website, and for previous Almanac sales, go to our Bookstore.

In memory of David Foster Wallace.

Booksellers: for all distribution enquiries, Random House via Hardie Grant Books: 03 9753 4511.

The Sleepers Almanac No 5. features:

Kalinda Ashton Max Barry Samuel Bartlett Melissa Beit
Tony Birch Jo Bowers Jo Case Simon Cox
Patrick Cullen Paul Oslo Davis Daniel Ducrou Eleanor Elliott Thomas
SJ Finn Leanne Hall Todd Hearon Ella Holcombe
Andrew Hutchinson Rosemary Jones Richard Lawson Myron Lysenko
Aaron Mannion Russell McGilton Bronwyn Mehan Imogen Melgaard
Liza Monroy Rose Mulready Peta Murray Pierz Newton-John
Ryan O'Neill Virginia Peters JB Rawson Tim Richards
Brendan Ryan Ian C Smith Andrew Weldon Vinnie Wilhelm
Grace Yee

A Huge Thankyou to Arts Victoria and the Australia Council

The Almanac is made possible in part by the generous support of Arts Victoria. We really are truly grateful.

And this project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding body and advisory body.