Could it really be? The Cud is seventeen years old? Is it already seventeen years since Oliver Pennington and I launched The Cud at the (sorely missed!) Hollywood Hotel in Surry Hills, Sydney?

Somewhere in the blur of what have now been almost two decades of running this tiny little online mag dedicated to a mission of "Entertain a new perspective: Chew The Cud" we have been fortunate enough to host the articles, fiction, poetry, op-eds and cartoons of a great many talented writers, artists and creatives who have in turn become our dear friends. We have been blessed with a continued, dedicated readership who care not about fancy websites adorned with a great many bells and whistles (even if we could, ahem, pull that off), and it is so very gratifying that this readership and their enthusiasm has sustained a venture such as this for so very long. At this point, it's not a question of why continue with The Cud, it's why the hell not? Here's to making it to twenty years and beyond!

Thanks must go, as ever, to Mahesh Markus, responsible for the site’s upkeep and monthly newsletter- thank you sir! And as we do every twelve months, we asked you to vote for your favorite articles of the past year. We feel your choices have compiled an issue that reflects exactly the kind of diversity of thought, writing and subject matter that we envisioned when first launching the magazine- please do enjoy!

Thanks, ye Cudlings!

Evan Kanarakis
Editor, The Cud
November 2021