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Terra Nullius

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Terra Nullius

By: Claire G. Coleman
Narrated by: Mark Coles Smith, Tamala Shelton
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About this listen

 SHORTLISTED FOR THE STELLA PRIZE 2018
Highly Commended in the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards 2017
Shortlisted for the ABIA Matt Richell Award for New Writers 2018
Shortlisted for the Aurealis Award for a Science Fiction Novel 2017
Longlisted for the Indie Book Award for Debut Fiction 2018
Nominated for Ditmar Award Best New Talent 2018

'Artfully combining elements of literary, historical, and speculative fiction, this allegorical novel is surprising and unforgettable' - starred review, Publishers Weekly

'The truth that lies at the heart of this novel is impossible to ignore.' - Books+Publishing

'a skilfully constructed pastiche of colonisation, resistance and apocalyptic chaos with parallels that sit unsettlingly close to home' - The Big Issue

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 have a nation of peace, and to bring the savages into line. Families are torn apart, reeducation is enforced. This rich land will provide for all.

This is not Australia as we know it. This is not the Australia of our history. This TERRA NULLIUS is something new, but all too familiar.

This is an incredible debut from a striking new Australian Aboriginal voice.

'A delightfully duplicitous noodle-bender that flips the script on the Indigenous Australian survival narrative.' - Kirkus Reviews Dystopian Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction Thought-Provoking

Critic Reviews

Noongar writer Claire Coleman's debut novel, Terra Nullius, envisions a continent disturbingly familiar and worryingly futuristic. Disturbing because it opens with a scenario of settler dispossession; worrying because Coleman's stories serve as a critique of recent history and prophesy a "second wave invasion and a post-colonial future".
Coleman makes a significant contribution to the emerging body of Aboriginal writers such as Ellen van Neerven and Alexis Wright who write spectral and speculative fiction to critique the vicious fiction of the colonial archive.
Coleman, a south coast Noongar woman from Western Australia, goes to the heart of Australia's challenge as a nation - how to universalise the experience of Indigenous people, so that it is something all Australians can understand. This is the essence of good fiction: it takes us away from our present reality and into another.
Set in an Australia that is simultaneously recognisable and bleakly foreign, Coleman's work of speculative fiction tells a story of colonisation and displacement that is both devastating and all too familiar. In our politically tumultuous time, the novel's themes of racism, inherent humanity and freedom are particularly poignant.
Coleman is unflinching.
Terra Nullius is witty, weird, moving and original.
Claire G. Coleman's timely debut is testimony to the power of an old story seen afresh through new eyes. Terra Nullius tells a very familiar tale - with a twist.
Terra Nullius takes reader expectations and confounds them, this is not the story you think it is... but at the same time it's all too familiar.
A speculative sci-fi struggle meaningfully grounded in Coleman's own Indigenous culture, Term Nullius offers something new - a skilfully constructed pastiche of colonisation, resistance and apocalyptic chaos with parallels that sit unsettlingly close to home.
An incredible debut from striking new voice Claire G Coleman
All stars
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Liked the idea, but I felt it missed in execution, especially being such a short book. Some good themes and likeable characters, but holes in the narrative that were distracting

Good concept

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On so many levels it shouldn’t work. As science fiction, it’s adequate, although it’s not really trying to be science fiction. As allegory, it’s a bit heavy-handed, yet it doesn’t feel preachy. As history… well, that’s where it really shines. It helped me see how the invasion of Australia by the British was perceived by Aboriginal people and British settlers alike.

I can’t really add much without giving major spoilers. The first few chapters felt a little slow, but once the characters and storylines are set up, things start moving and head towards an unexpectedly moving finish.

I was really impressed by the narration as well. Top work.

I really, really enjoyed this book.

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This is a story all Australians should take the time to acknowledge. I appreciate your words, Claire Coleman. Thank you for putting this into the world.

I'm going to miss this book. I'm sad already.

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Great plot, great characters and the narration is one of my favourites. An all round amazing boom and performance.

Brilliant.

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Superb book. All Australians should read it. The narration was excellent. Extremely heart felt and a great way to help us be more open hearted.

Brilliant story

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