title: Scission and Other Stories
text: # Scission and Other Stories
  
  Scission and Other Stories, sometimes simply Scission, is a 1985 collection of short stories by Australian author Tim Winton.
  
  It won the 1985 Western Australian Council Literary Award, and was also 1985 Joint Winner Western Australian Premier's Book Award - Fiction.
  
  ## Contents
  
  This was Winton's first collection of stories. There are 13 short stories:
  
  * Secrets
  * A Blow, a Kiss
  * Getting Ahead
  * My Father's Axe
  * Wake
  * Lantern Stalk
  * Thomas Awkner Floats
  * Wilderness
  * Neighbours
  * A Measure of Eloquence
  * The Oppressed
  * The Woman at the Well
  * Scission.
  
  The stories are described as, " ... spare, jagged stories in which people struggle with change and disintegration ... These startling stories deal with men, women and children whose lives are coming apart and whose hearts are breaking. Honest, beautiful, shattering tales - vintage Winton."
  
  ## Themes
  
  The title Scission describes the action or state of cutting or being cut, and each of the stories carries this theme, involving family, neighbours and strangers.
  
  ## Awards
  
  1985 Western Australian Council Literary Award
  
  1985 Joint Winner Western Australian Premier's Book Award - Fiction
  
  