Title: Terra Nullius
Author: Claire G. Coleman
Genre: SF (Dystopia)
Target audience: Adult
Date Read: 22/09/18 – 29/10/18
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
I have to start this review by saying if Terra Nullius gets recommended to you as a particular type of book, and you read the first few chapters and think “This is not what I was told it would be”, just keep going. About a third of the way through, there is a shift in the storytelling, and after that, everything changes, even though nothing has actually changed. If that makes sense.
It’s hard to say too much without giving away vital spoilers, but I will try.
This story is told from multiple perspectives. At first, they are disparate, but as the story goes on, they begin to converge until the majority of characters are present at the climax.
The characters are all very well constructed. I sympathised with some, questioned others and outright hated a few more. And the thing is, people like these characters have existed, and continue to exist. This might be science-fiction, but it is relevant to Australia’s history, and its future. The social commentary is always underlying, never exactly outright, but it is clear the comment Coleman is making on our past and future.
The writing style may feel a little dry to some, but I thought it worked for the story being told. At first I was a little worried it will be “literary” than I usually like (in quotes because I am always iffy about that word to describe a particular writing style but I never know what to replace it with) but once I got into it, that didn’t bother me.
This review is part of my 2018 Australian Women Writers Challenge. Click here for more information.
A Keyboard and an Open Mind 
Great review 💕💕💕💕
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