The Old Lie

The Old Lie takes place in a future where Earth has joined an alien federation in an interstellar war. Humans serve alongside other species in a brutal conflict against an opposing alien force known as the Conglomeration. The story follows multiple Indigenous Australian characters who enlist to fight in this cosmic war, drawing parallels between their experiences and those of Aboriginal soldiers who served in Earth's historical conflicts. The narrative moves between military operations in space and personal struggles on Earth. The military science fiction framework serves as a lens to examine Australia's colonial history, particularly the treatment of Indigenous peoples who fought for a nation that denied them basic rights. Through its science fiction elements, the novel explores themes of power, loyalty, and the cyclical nature of oppression.

Readers describe this as a challenging and thought-provoking Indigenous Australian military sci-fi novel that examines themes of colonialism and war. Positive reviews highlight: - The authentic Indigenous Australian perspective - Strong character development, especially Shane and Kathy - The effective blend of science fiction with historical commentary - The emotional impact of the war sequences Common criticisms include: - Slow pacing in the first third - Multiple timeline shifts that can be confusing - Some readers found the military jargon dense - Several reviewers wanted more development of the alien threat Ratings: Goodreads: 3.6/5 (374 ratings) Amazon AU: 4.1/5 (16 ratings) "Hits hard with its message about Indigenous service members and colonialism" - Goodreads reviewer "The timeline jumps made it difficult to connect with characters initially" - Amazon reviewer "Powerful ending but requires patience to get there" - LibraryThing review

Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein Military science fiction that interrogates citizenship, service, and colonialism through the lens of interstellar warfare.

The Forever War by Joe Haldeman Follows soldiers fighting an interstellar war while grappling with time dilation and alienation from their own society.

An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon Takes place on a generation ship where a rigid racial hierarchy mirrors historical oppression and plantation systems.

Light Brigade by Kameron Hurley Chronicles a soldier's experience in an interplanetary war while questioning corporate power and military exploitation.

Redshirts by John Scalzi Examines expendable soldiers in an interstellar conflict while deconstructing military science fiction tropes and power structures.

🌟 The author, Claire G. Coleman, is a Noongar woman who wrote her debut novel "Terra Nullius" while traveling around Australia in a caravan 🌟 The book's title "The Old Lie" references Wilfred Owen's famous World War I poem "Dulce et Decorum Est," which challenges the notion that dying for one's country is noble 🌟 Indigenous Australians were only granted full citizenship rights in 1967, yet they served in both World Wars despite facing discrimination at home - a paradox explored in the novel 🌟 Coleman wrote this book as part of her PhD in Creative Writing at the University of Western Australia 🌟 The novel incorporates elements of Indigenous Australian oral storytelling traditions, blending them with classic science fiction tropes