Tor Hansen

I received an uncorrected proof copy of this title as part of the Early Reviewers program.
I am a white South African male, and I lived through the period that forms the core narrative of the book, so almost everything in the novel was sadly familiar to me. Being conscripted against my will, looking for ways to reconcile my personal beliefs with the hard fact of having to choose between wearing the South African army's uniform or going to prison were all part of my life.
This is a well written show more book, and it deals extremely well with the anxiety of the time, as well as offering a clear parallel with the enormous hardships suffered by the black majority in South Africa under white National Party rule. It's hard for me to say that I "enjoyed" the book as it's a little too close to home, and brought back many memories that I'd rather not be forced to consider now, many years later.
That said, I'm glad I read it. And if you're at all interested in the history of the time and place then I'd urge you to read it too. show less

This book was a very positive surprise. It is set on the fictional island of Morakeewa, somewhere in the South Pacific, and told from the viewpoint of Tommu, one of the natives, who has set out to write down the history of the island. The story starts during WW2, when American troops landed on the island and when they departed left behind a lot of books, fuel and most importantly a tractor. The hunter-gatherer culture changes radically, because the tractor makes agriculture possible and more show more and more people congregate in the Village. Quickly, different social classes emerge: The Gardeners, who are the leaders of the village, interpreting the will of Our Granny (the woman who first made contact with the Americans and although she doesn't appear publicly anymore and is possibly dead is still revered by the villagers), the Guardians who drive the tractor and act as a police/military force and the Readers who read and interpret the books left behind by the Americans. The rest of the villagers enjoy the spoils of the tractor and trade what they don't need with those who still live in the jungle.
This supposedly utopian society quickly becomes a dystopian one however, when some people begin to resist the progress, which they feel benefits some unfairly while others suffer, and try to force a return to the ancient ways of life. Soon the whole of the island is caught up in a guerilla war between the Gardeners and Guardians on one side and the Shadows, led by the mysterious Hami Datu on the other. Tommu who is trying to compile a factual history of the island learns that it is impossible to stay neutral, as both sides want him to favor their cause.

The society of the island mirrors in many ways "our" civilization and history and deals with a wide range of issues, from religion, environmentalism and professional sports to corruption, police brutality and terrorism. Hansen writes in a very captivating style and although there were some minor errors (poisonous swamp lizards? spiders described as insects?), this remains a very good and thought-provoking book. show less

This great book was a total suprise for me because I've never heard of its writer or read anything from him. Anyway this superb volume tells the tale of a little imaginery pacific island Morakeewa where the american troops stationed in WWII. After their leave a proper little civilisation flourished upon the remnants of their gears, especially adoring a working TRACTOR.
You can read this book like the story of this island but there's much much more in it. Meeting and clashing of cvilizations, show more degradations of ideas, sometimes written quite philosophical style.
There's so much to think after reading it. What will happen when a superior civilisation will visit us?...How religions work?... And yes... what the heck is the War On Terror??? show less

I loved the themes of this novel and the way it portrayed this naive, well meaning white couple. They are not morally awful and evil, but they are the privileged class in the apartheid setting, something they have to acknowledge.
As work about a historical period, I thought it was very interesting. As novel, I was not as big of a fan. The main characters do not change or grow as much as I would have liked.