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Stories to explore
State Library is a home for readers and writers, literature and storytelling. Want to search the latest issue of a journal or magazine? Desperate to find your next favourite book or essay? Need a podcast to listen to while you write? Here, staff from Stories and Ideas and black&write! share the stories they love each month. You’ll also find our latest interviews with local writers and creatives.

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August marks 125 years since The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L. Baum was published.
In this essay for LitHub, Ed Simon argues the novel's enduring appeal is because its "milieu isn’t just of children’s literature, but the dream vision. A distinctly American dream vision."
Been a while since you watched Wizard of Oz? You can borrow a copy from State Library today.

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The Miles Franklin Literary Award – widely considered Australia's most prestigious prize for literature – was first awarded in 1957.
Brisbane author Siang Lu is the 2025 winner for Ghost Cities. Big congratulations to Siang, whose debut won the 2021 Glendower Award for an Emerging Queensland Writer, generously supported by Jenny Summerson.
This year's longlist is also a great place to start if you're looking for diverse and exciting stories by debut and established authors.
Listen to a conversation with Siang, about his win, via ABC Radio National.