How did Peter Carey’s early short stories use fantasy, science fiction, and gothic elements?

In the context of Australian literature, Peter Carey’s early short story collections—The Fat Man in History (1974) and War Crimes (1979)—are noted for their departure from traditional realism. Alongside contemporaries like Frank Moorhouse and Michael Wilding, Carey broke free from literary constraints to explore the possibilities of fantasy, science fiction, and gothic elements.12

These stories often feature grotesque and macabre imagery, which Carey used to examine social and political attitudes. While these works are highly imaginative and provocative, they are underpinned by a moral preoccupation with the human condition. By utilizing these speculative genres, Carey and his peers were able to explore ironic possibilities in personal encounters and challenge the conventions of the time, establishing a style that was both scandalous and deeply engaged with the complexities of society.12