Terra Nullius A Novel
Terra Nullius A Novel by Claire G. Coleman, published by Small Beer Press in 2018, is an advanced reading copy comprising 310 pages. This debut novel explores a dystopian landscape where the Natives of the Colony are in conflict with Settlers who impose their will upon them. The narrative follows Jacky, who escapes from a re-education facility, highlighting the struggles faced by Indigenous people in a land that is portrayed as belonging to no one.
Readers will find a story that delves into themes of family life and the harsh realities of colonialism. As Jacky navigates a world filled with danger and pursuit, the book raises questions about identity and belonging in a society that seeks to erase the past. Terra Nullius presents a thought-provoking examination of power dynamics and the cost of peace, inviting readers to reconsider familiar narratives about Australia and its history.
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NPR Best Books of 2018
“A gut punch of a book in the style of Le Guin, Atwood, and Butler. Claire G. Coleman’s debut novel blazes with truth.”
— Kelly Link, author of Get in Trouble
Terra Nullius (def): land belonging to no one; no man’s land
“Jacky was running. There was no thought in his head, only an intense drive to run. There was no sense he was getting anywhere, no plan, no destination, no future. All he had was a sense of what was behind, what he was running from. Jacky was running.”
The Natives of the Colony are restless. The Settlers are eager to bring peace to their new home, and they have a plan for how to achieve it. They will tear Native families apart and provide re-education to those who do not understand why they should submit to their betters.
Peace and prosperity are worth any price, but who will pay it? This rich land, Australia, will provide for all if only the Natives can learn their place.
Jacky has escaped the Home where the Settlers sent him, but where will he go? The Head of the Department for the Protection of Natives, known to Settlers and Natives alike as the Devil, is chasing Jacky. And when the Devil catches him, Sister Bagra, who knows her duty to the ungodly, will be waiting for Jacky back at Home.
An incendiary, timely, and fantastical debut from an essential Australian Aboriginal writer, Claire G. Coleman.
Do you recognize this story? Look again.
This is not Australia as we know it. This is not the Australia of our history books. This Terra Nullius — shortlisted for the 2018 Stella Prize and Highly Commended for the Victorian Premiers Literary Awards — is something new, but all too familiar.
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