Title: Terra Nullius
Author: Claire G. Coleman
First published August 29, 2017
294 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780733638312 (ISBN10: 0733638317)
Rating: 3.77
Overview
Terra Nullius by Claire G. Coleman is a gripping tale of survival and resistance.
Jacky is on the run, fleeing from a past that haunts him. The Colony is in turmoil, as the Settlers seek to dominate and control the Natives.
Families are torn apart, and the promise of a peaceful nation seems like a distant dream. But the Natives are not easily subdued, and they will fight for their freedom.
This is a powerful story of a land that is not what it seems, and a people who refuse to be silenced. Claire G.
Coleman’s masterful writing will transport you to a world that is both familiar and strange, and leave you breathless with anticipation.
Editoral Review
Terra Nullius by Claire G. Coleman is a book that dives headfirst into the complex and often thorny issue of colonization.
First published on August 29, 2017, Coleman is an Indigenous Australian writer who has garnered widespread praise for her fresh perspective on this crucial topic. The book is one of the most powerful pieces of literary fiction to come out of Australia in recent years.
The novel quickly establishes its setting in Australia, where the British Empire has arrived to colonize the land. The plot revolves around a series of characters, primarily Jacky and Sister Bagra, who navigate this fraught landscape in different ways.
Jacky, a member of the native Natives tribe, faces tremendous adversity as he tries to preserve his land, people and culture — and those obstacles range from the destruction of his home to confrontations with vicious colonizers. Sister Bagra, meanwhile, is an enigmatic figure who is trying to enforce colonization on the land, to the great detriment of the Indigenous people.
One of the strengths of the book is Colemans writing, which is lyrical and evocative throughout. The prose is touching and vivid and conjures up images of the vast Australian landscape.
Coleman has an eye for detail and microcosms of life that make the story come alive. Further, her ability to tie her characters journeys to greater social, cultural, and historical contexts is impressive.
The book brilliantly illustrates the psychological cost of colonization for the colonized as well as the colonizers, providing a nuanced perspective on an issue of unimaginable complexity. One of the greatest pleasures of the book is watching Coleman develop her characters.
Jackys journey is particularly powerful; the reader is with him as he goes through many ups and downs, and his resilience and will to survive is truly inspiring. Sister Bagra is a fascinating character in her own right, as she is shown to be more complex than what one would initially expect.
However, some of the secondary characters aren’t fleshed out quite as well, making them feel a bit stereotypical or two-dimensional. Of the books flaws, its pacing could be considered one of its weakest links.
The book takes quite a bit of time to get up to speed, and the narrative’s momentum isn’t always sustained. Additionally, some may find the book’s complex themes or graphic descriptions of violence challenging.
Overall, Terra Nullius is a book that should be read by anyone interested in exploring themes related to colonization. It’s a harrowing, evocative account that will leave readers thinking long after they turn the final page.
For anyone seeking a compelling perspective on a difficult issue, this book serves as an excellent resource. Washington Post rates it 4.5 out of 5 stars.
