Here are My Demands

In a society where automatons have left millions around Australia destitute, policy advisor Maggie Garewal finally has the opportunity to enact real, lasting change as the so-called OzProgs (Australian Progressives) have finally been voted in after 19 years of conservative rule that has irreversibly changed Australia – for better, or worse. Despite her best intentions, however, her universal basic income policy is bound to be scrutinised, criticised and probed by all. Whether it can withstand such pressure depends on her ability to finesse both the public and politicians to her side.

Andrew Roff’s debut novel, Here are My Demands, provides an interesting look into a potential future for Australia – and while seemingly dystopian, there are frighteningly scary similarities between our present day and 2058, the setting for the novel. While I was first drawn in by the prospect of a work of fiction centred in Australian politics, what I was most impressed by was how seamlessly Roff integrated all the world-building without it being overcrowded or interrupting the pace of the story. It is clear that Roff had a specific vision for what 2058 Australia would look like and he presents it to us in a way that keeps the reader fully immersed in the narrative the whole time. I also enjoyed the interactions and relationships Maggie had with people over the course of the story – they feel natural and we come to understand the exact type of person she is.

Whether you take interest in Australian politics or simply want a new Australian fiction read, Here are My Demands is certainly a novel to keep your attention – and make you wonder what our future actually entails.