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Terra Nullius

a novel

ebook
3 of 3 copies available
3 of 3 copies available
NPR Best Books of 2018

"Coleman's timely debut is testimony to the power of an old story seen afresh through new eyes." —Adelaide Advertiser

"In our politically tumultuous time, the novel's themes of racism, inherent humanity and freedom are particularly poignant." —Books + Publishing

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 the Australia we know. This is not the Australia of the history books. Terra Nullius is something new, but all too familiar.

Shortlisted for the 2018 Stella Prize Indie Book Awards and Highly Commended for the Victorian Premiers Literary Awards, Terra Nullius is an incredible debut from a striking new Australian Aboriginal voice.

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.

Claire G. Coleman is a writer from Western Australia. She identifies with the South Coast Noongar people. Her family are associated with the area around Ravensthorpe and Hopetoun. Claire grew up in a Forestry's settlement in the middle of a tree plantation, where her dad worked, not far out of Perth. She wrote her black&write! fellowship- winning manuscript Terra Nullius while traveling around Australia in a caravan.

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    • Library Journal

      October 1, 2018

      DEBUT In this dystopic work, Earth has become terra nullius--a contested concept often used to validate the conquest of an area deemed "nobody's land"--by virtue of an alien people conquering and even enslaving the planet's inhabitants known as the Natives. Coleman explores the consequences of this futuristic colonization through the lens of Australia's colonial past and multiple perspectives. There's Jacky, a young Aboriginal man who has escaped enslavement and joined a group led by Johnny Star. Johnny, a former Trooper, has renounced his former actions against Natives and begun fighting his own people, especially the Settlers, who have taken over many of the Native communities. Sister Bagra, perhaps the most reprehensible character, runs a children's camp closely resembling the worst of missions established in the United States to "reschool" Native American children. Though connections to Australia's history are apparent, so are compelling parallels to other colonial pasts. If there's one weakness, it's the deluge of characters to accommodate. Otherwise, this promising first novel, already acknowledged on major literary award lists, including Australia's Stella Prize, demonstrates Coleman's promise as a creative storyteller. VERDICT Highly recommended.--Faye Chadwell, Oregon State Univ., Corvallis

      Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

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  • English

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