Sci-Fi, Horror, Crime and...Cats?

Daft Notions is a small press publisher operating out of Melbourne, Australia. Our current and forthcoming publications include science fiction and horror titles, single-author collections, novellas, and funny cat and dog books.

Current Titles

Humans From Earth!!

An anthology of SF/horror stories in which humans are the monsters... No matter how advanced or powerful, not a single known civilisation in the galaxy has ever managed to completely cast off the shackles of fear. There always remain the mundane anxieties over politics and taxes, the rational dread of war and predation. And then there's the universal fear of the unknown: of abandoned colonies and ancient ruins; of dark legends supposedly based upon truth; of spectres and demons and monsters. Especially monsters. Because monsters are real. They exist. They can come from the wilds, or the oceans, or even from the spaces between the stars. They may look bestial, or grotesque...or just like one of us, seemingly civilised, walking undetected through our thriving utopias and bright spaceports, hiding their true nature until... And these are the tales of such monsters. These are the tales of… Humans from Earth!

Chuck McKenzie’s Nasty Little Bits

Hello children. Welcome to Chuck McKenzie’s Nasty Little Bits—a collection of twenty-eight morsels of the macabre especially prepared to cause a range of reactions, from uneasy laughter to outright horror, and everything in between. We invite you to read this book at bedtime as an antidote to peaceful sleep. And remember—so long as you don’t let your foot dangle over the side of your mattress, the thing underneath your bed will never be able to grab it.

Conversations With Dog

Can dogs really sense ghosts, or are they just taking the piss? What is it about the ‘W’ word (walkies) that makes dogs go absolutely apeshit? Are there any canine attributes that would count as transferrable skills if a dog applied for a job? These, and other issues you never really gave a crap about, are addressed in this blatant cash-grab masquerading as a sequel to the mildly-popular Conversations With My Cat, as Chuck McKenzie discusses the complexities of life and leashes with the dog down the road. ‘By equal measures utterly hilarious and terribly sad,’ is how the teller describes Chuck’s bank balance, so please buy this book.

The Dark Man, By Referral

James had always believed the Dark Man was just an urban myth. A legendary monster. A small-town boogeyman used by adults to keep kids in line. But then he discovered that the Dark Man was very real indeed, and that the definition of ‘monster’ very much depended upon one’s point of view…

Alien Space Nazis Must Die!

When the evil forces of the Alien Space Nazis threaten the galaxy, there's only one man smart enough, tough enough, and sassy enough to defeat them! Lars Janssen! Whether it's escaping from a Nazi KillMoon seconds before it explodes, battling monsters in a combat pit, or dispatching entire legions of alien troopers armed only with a pocket-knife, it's all in a day's work for this swashbuckling hero! Which, when you think about it, all seems a bit...unlikely. Doesn't it?

Time Spent With A Cat

The best Hard-SF gonzo-fantasy murder-mystery novella featuring a possibly-imaginary talking cat you'll ever read, probably.

Daily Grind and Other Astounding Stories of Mundane Matters

The difference between the everyday and the astounding depends entirely upon your viewpoint... A collection of the complete science fiction works of award-nominated author Chuck McKenzie.

All I Want For Christmas

It’s Christmastime, and retired squadleader Sneet must help claim the primitive planet Earth for the glory of the G’norr Dominion…by masquerading as a shopping mall Santa....

The Dark Man, By Referral and Less Pleasant Tales

An abused child encounters the local urban legend – the monstrous Dark Man – and finds himself querying the definition of ‘monster’.

Conversations With My Cat

What does Schrödinger’s Cat have to do with a chewed computer cord? How do you fit work around a cat’s napping schedule? Why do cats change their minds as soon as you open the door for them?

Latest News

HUMANS FROM EARTH!! Coming Soon…

An anthology of science fiction horror stories in which humans are the monsters... Release Date: Feb 21 2026

Upcoming Event: Book Fair Australia

Next Event: Oz Comic Con Xmas Edition

Upcoming Event: Oz Comic Con Xmas Edition

Next Event: Oz Comic Con Xmas Edition

Daft Notions Events for 2025 – 2026

Daft Notions will be attending the following events through 2025 and 2026, with author Chuck McKenzie on hand to sell and sign copies of all his titles...

From Conversations With My Cat...

#chuckmckenzie #daftnotions #conversationswithmycat #cat #cats #catlover #catsofinstagram #catsofday #catsofworld #talkingcats...

So the HUMANS FROM EARTH!! anthology just hit #22 in the Horror Anthologies & Collections...

Aaaand that's a wrap on Book Fair Australia. More books scored today, but first imma...

At @bookfairaus with @carolineangelauthor @maria___lewis and @rocket_reader1 as we prep for our panel on the...

Today's stash from Book Fair Australia! #alanbaxter @alan_weird_baxter @petealdin_author #peterjaldin #unknowingmagazine @unknowingau

It's all kicking off at @bookfairaus

@dschembristudios @jjcarpenterauthor @carolineangelauthor @petealdin_author @gielenian @whenmagicawakes @grthomas_fantasyauthor @daniellehughes17782 #bookfairaustralia...

The thousand-yard stare of an author operating on 4hrs of sleep and too much coffee,...

From Conversations With My Cat: Everybody's Gotta Work (No, No, Not Me!)

#chuckmckenzie #conversationswithmycat #macreadymckenzie...

Two days out from release date (and @bookfairaus), and the first reviews are in!

Ebook...