Australia is divided into three nations: Original Australia, Contemporary Australia, and United Multicultural Australia. From the first of these and into the others ventures a young indigenous exile named Crijjibah Clibe. Crijji learns the tribes beyond his own are filled with strange peoples and wonderful magic. But he soon comes to realise, people aren't as different as they first appear to be.

This novel, set in an unspecified future, took thirteen years to write, and was inspired by the question, What will become of Australia's indigenous people, given the many dysfunctions so plaguing their respective societies? The author is a native of Alice Springs, a town in the direct centre of Australia; a town that is a crucible for the many conflicts crashing throughout the Western World. His experience as a social worker - predominately with indigenous youth - imbues the story with authenticity and pathos. The direction the story takes is surprising and cerebral. Via metaphor and notions of the metaphysical, it brings forward a new theory as to why present-day Westerners are behaving so strangely.

Courtney Taylor