''The Fur'' (softcover ) is a

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel unive ...

novel by author Nathan Hobby, published in

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 6 ...

after winning the 2002

T. A. G. Hungerford Award The City of Fremantle T.A.G. Hungerford Award is given biennially to a full-length manuscript of fiction or narrative non-fiction by a Western Australian author previously unpublished in book form. It is sponsored by the City of Fremantle, Fremantl ...

for unpublished new writers.

Plot summary

The Fur follows the late high school and early university years of the protagonist Michael Sullivan in an Alternate Reality version of

Western Australia Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...

in the late 1990s following a meteor strike carrying an infectious and lethal fungus-like plague ('The Fur'). The entire state is under forced quarantine by

Commonwealth A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has been synonymous with "republic". The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the ...

and UN military forces. The novel revolves largely around Sullivan's struggles with his religious beliefs and dilemma on whether or not to attempt to break quarantine and start a new life in the uninfected Eastern States of Australia, at the risk of death and certain cost of abandoning his family and friends forever.

Reception

The journal Reading Time in their review said "this is an uneven, but always interesting novel, one that will appeal to young boys who are feeling their way into adolescense, into deeper relationships with others, and into the questions of idealism, faith and decision making".

References

External links

Authors Homepage FAQ and extracts from the book

Page on Amazon.com

Book Review by Lisette Kaleveld, Edith Cowan University
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fur, The 2004 Australian novels 2004 science fiction novels Novels set in Western Australia 2004 debut novels Fremantle Press books