I have two (short) chapters in this book! Thylacine: The History, Ecology, and Loss of the Tasmanian Tiger contains the contributions from over 70 thylacine researchers and enthusiasts. Together, this text makes the most current, comprehensive text on the Tasmanian tiger ever bound together! Thank you Gareth Linnard and Branden Holmes for your editing and coordinating powers, and of course, all the contributors to their dedication to this recently extinct animal, ecology, and history.

This is the first time my writing has made it into a book. I was honored to be asked as a contributor, and to be allowed to submit not one, but two entries on this special animal. My first essay focuses on the representation of the thylacine as a figure in fiction literature. My second essay creates an exhaustive list of the representation of the thylacine in video games! Both of these were difficult to write, cramming so much information into limited space, but it not only made me a better writer, but strengthened my love for thylacines post-M.A. thesis (which wore me out there on the subject for a minute haha). I am hopeful readership will see the value of exploring the symbolism and folklore of the thylacine in daily life.

See the link at the bottom of this post to preview, peruse, and purchase this deeply moving text on the Tasmaian Tiger.

Excerpt from “Narrating Perseverance: An Overview of Thylacines in Fiction”:

Writing is an opportunity for reimagining our world. In writing the story of the thylacine, authors not only keep its memory alive, but give it new life through narration. Any writing of the thylacine sustains its symbolic power in a tangible, material form.

Daisy Ahlstone

Excerpt from “Gaming Extinction: Representations of the Thylacine in Video Games”:

Video games open unique doorways into the representation and history of the thylacine as an extinct species. The continued rise of video games’ cultural importance is found in 38% of the global population and accounts for more than 159 billion US dollars, making it one of the most lucrative entertainment markets (Clement 2021). Representations of thylacines in those video games, as expected, are rare but notable, dating back at least to the early 2000s. The video game industry combines artwork and storytelling, while allowing the player a direct role in influencing the story. This makes thylacine representation in video games unique among representations of the species.

Daisy Ahlstone

Suggested Citations:

Ahlstone, Daisy. 2023. “Gaming Extinction: Representations of the Thylacine in Video Games.” Thylacine: The History, Ecology and Loss of the Tasmanian Tiger, edited by Gareth Linnard and Branden Holmes, 176-179. CSIRO Publishing.

Ahlstone, Daisy. 2023. “Narrating Perseverance: An Overview of Thylacines in Fiction.” Thylacine: The History, Ecology and Loss of the Tasmanian Tiger, edited by Gareth Linnard and Branden Holmes, 175. CSIRO Publishing.