The Old Lie
Claire G. Coleman

The Old Lie
Claire G. Coleman
Review
by Clare Millar
Claire G. Coleman’s debut novel, Terra Nullius, made waves as it was shortlisted for the 2018 Stella Prize, along with many other awards. This year she’s back with a new science-fiction novel, exploring belief in one’s country, war, and Indigenous history.
The title comes from a poem by Wilfred Owen, a poet who fought in World War I and died a week before Armistice. He was a pacifist and wrote his poetry in part as protest and also as a record of what happened. The ‘old lie’ is that it is honourable to die for one’s country, that war is a part of nationalism. Coleman uses this poem, and others of Owen’s, as inspiration for the war in her latest book.
This war is fought largely in space, between the Federation (Earth) and the Conglomeration (other planets). Everything is almost like life as we know it – but not quite. Human characters interact with other species during the war. The story begins with several different characters in different places, and it takes the narrator a while to weave a sense of how everyone fits together. Shane Daniels and Romany Zetz are two strong women thrown together in the unfortunate war, and these characters are the highlights of the book.
Ultimately, this is a novel about connection to family, Country and culture, and how these connections cannot be forgotten. It is a novel that questions the lengths to which people will go to protect their country – and Country. It forces us to bear witness to the truth of how Indigenous peoples in Australia have been treated across the Stolen Generations, how Indigenous Australians have been erased from Australian war history and mythology, and to the little-known histories of nuclear testing sites on this continent. It is a book without many surprises, but it uses the form of science fiction to masterfully explore its themes.
Clare Millar is a bookseller at Readings Hawthorn.
This item is in-stock and will ship in 2-3 business days
We are currently experiencing delays in processing and delivering online orders. Click here for more information.
Please note, our stock data is updated overnight, and availability may change throughout the day. Prices are subject to change without notice.Sign in or become a Readings Member to add this title to a wishlist.

Two Cultures, One Story
$24.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Born Into This
$29.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Song of the Crocodile
$32.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Loving Country: A Guide to Sacred Australia
$45.00Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Where The Fruit Falls
$27.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Too Much Lip
$24.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

A Question of Colour
$22.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia
$29.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Song of the Crocodile
$32.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Where The Fruit Falls
$27.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

The Yield
$32.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Too Much Lip
$24.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

The White Girl
$24.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Carpentaria
$26.95Buy now
Finding stock availability...

The Old Lie
$32.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

The Drover’s Wife
$32.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Rise & Shine
$27.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Smart Ovens for Lonely People
$24.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Mammoth
$29.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

The Rain Heron
$29.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

The Old Lie
$32.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

The Animals in That Country
$29.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

Heat and Light
$24.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...

From the Wreck
$29.95Buy now
Finding stock availability...