Review: The Old Lie by Claire G. Coleman

Claire G. Coleman’s second novel, The Old Lie packs a punch (or five). It’s a gutsy science fiction novel that has all the bells and whistles that come with such a story, but also has pointers and critiques to some of the issues of colonial Australia.

Whilst this is very much a space opera, with intergalactic war (as soon as I think that, I think Star Wars), the social issues within The Old Lie are very current. There are themes of racism, displacement, and violence interspersed throughout the story. I found this to be cleverly written, and really puts life as a person of privilege into perspective. The writing was rich and vibrant, and you could distinctly tell the differences between character voices. The pacing was also spot on, tension had fast pacing where it was needed, and slower where the story was building up. I also enjoyed the largely slow burn nature of this story, as it was rather refreshing to have in a sci-fi book.

The characters were all varied in their ways of life, but in their core- the main ones were all First Nations people, and they are some of the most interesting characters I have come across in a long time. I was particularly fond of Romany (Romeo) and Shane, who are both directly involved in the extremely high stakes nature of the story. Romeo’s character was serious, but also kind of the live on the edge type, and I got a thrill every time Romeo appeared on the page. Shane also was a great favourite of mine, and I will actually fight for them. That’s what I love of Coleman’s characters, it’s so easy to give a damn about them.

I’m a sucker for a great multiple points of view story, and this one definitely doesn’t disappoint. The perspectives are extremely vivid, and the allegory of alien invasions on Earth is portrayed in each. There’s fear, there’s gumption, and there is love (in a romantic subplot that was easily enjoyable). At the start, it was a little confusing as to how the characters’ perspectives intertwined, but it didn’t take long to put two and two together and see how they did. Not only were the perspectives on point, but the perspectives Coleman pours into this one are just as important.

Whilst this book combines Wilfred Owen’s lyrical poems and gusty writing to make for a powerful impact in only a few hundred pages, it is also an important book on the effects of colonisation and racial discrimination- to very important topics in social/political commentary in any day and age. Although this isn’t an easy read, it has changed how I view things, as I come from a background of privilege, where such plights are things I don’t ordinarily face. In this book, it felt as though I was facing these issues head-on, as if I was one of the main characters fighting for Country against the powers that be.

I recommend The Old Lie to those who are looking for a political or social issue speculative fiction story, those who enjoyed Catherine McKinnon’s Storyland, or those that are looking to diversify their reading!

Rating: 4/5

Note: This review also features on The Nerd Daily