The Sooterkin
The Sooterkin by Tom Gilling is a reissue published by Penguin Publishing Group in July 2001, featuring 212 pages in English. This novel presents a whimsical and magical narrative centered on the unusual birth of a child who appears to be more seal than human. Set in the penal colony of Van Diemen’s Land during the winter of 1821, the story unfolds as the extraordinary news spreads, drawing the attention of the local community, including a reverend who speculates about a virgin birth and a science expert who connects the child to the mythical sooterkin.
Readers will find a blend of fantasy and historical elements as the tale explores themes of acceptance and protection within a family. The mother and brother of the sooterkin baby strive to shield their new family member from those who wish to exploit its uniqueness for profit. This narrative invites exploration of the bizarre and the magical, making it a distinctive addition to the genre.
Official synopsis Publisher
The action in Tom Gilling’s wickedly funny, magical novel, The Sooterkin, revolves around the bizarre birth of a child who appears to be more seal than human. As the extraordinary news spreads through the penal colony of Van Diemen’s Land (present-day Tasmania) during the winter of 1821, mystified residents flock to investigate. The local reverend hypothesizes a virgin birth, but the town’s resident science “expert” suspects that the pup may be akin to the mysterious sooterkin-a monstrous, mythical creature born to women in Holland. In spite of its unusual physiology, the child’s mother and brother accept the family’s newest member and protect it from the clutches of outsiders, who want to exploit the sooterkin baby for profit. In the tradition of The Secret of Roan Inish, The Sooterkin is the perfect summertime fairy tale.
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