''Blockade'' is a 1998 novel written by Derek Hansen about

logging in Australia Land clearing in Australia describes the removal of native vegetation and deforestation in Australia. Land clearing involves the removal of native vegetation and habitats, including the bulldozing of native bushlands, forests, savannah, woodlands ...

Plot summary

The protagonist is Miklos Bollok, a logging company owner who uses corrupt politicians to clear-fell the last remaining wilderness in

Victoria, Australia Victoria is a state in southeastern Australia. It is the second-smallest state with a land area of , the second most populated state (after New South Wales) with a population of over 6.5 million, and the most densely populated state in ...

. He is stymied by a direct action campaign by conservationists. His downfall also comes about by a dark secret that is made public by his wife.

Release details

*1998, Australia, HarperCollins, (), Pub date 1 January 1998, paperback (First edition) *1999, reprinted, ().

Reception

Jean Ferguson of the Illawarra Mercury calls it "A passionate and explosive new novel from a great storyteller". Herald Sun's Simon Caterson writes "A well-spun yarn lasting 500 easily digestible pages, Blockade seems destined to repeat the commercial success of his earlier books". Stephen Prickett of the Canberra Times writes "Once set in motion, the action is fast-moving, sometimes funny, sometimes violent, but always compulsively gripping".

References

1998 Australian novels Environmental fiction books Novels set in Victoria (state) {{1990s-novel-stub