Andrew Roff
Author of Everyday Easy One Pot
Works by Andrew Roff
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Andrew Roff's first novel Here Are My Demands is left-wing political fiction at its most forceful. It's speculative fiction set in a near-future Australia where there is government rule by plebiscite. Politicians offer policies to the electorate, but those policies are only enacted by a ruling government if passed by popular vote in a plebiscite.
Our democracy isn't working for everyone, but as Winston Churchill once said, "Democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other show more forms that have been tried". So, is there a form of democracy that could be better, that we haven't tried?
Reform is such an appealing idea. But could Scott Morrison (not my favourite Prime Minister by a long shot) have responded quickly to the pandemic with Jobkeeper and Jobseeker if it had to be submitted to the slow and unwieldy process of a plebiscite? Would Australians ever have abolished capital punishment by popular vote? Will there ever be a popular vote in favour of treating refugees humanely? Alas, in the age of demagoguery where politicians are guided by opinion polls in marginal seats, we have learned to be wary of pseudo-democratic theories. The last Australian plebiscite was widely celebrated, but actually the 60/40 vote for marriage equality was a near thing. It was a terrible shock for some of us to realise that there were 40% of Australians who were against equal rights for the LBGTQI+ community. 40%! We had learned not to be shocked by the time the Voice Referendum failed so comprehensively, but it still hurt.
Besides, Roff's scenario begs the question: how, exactly, does a democracy, flawed or otherwise, replace itself with another form of government?
You can see how Roff's book provokes serious thinking. A perfect book for book groups...
Set in the half-century from the present after there have been major geopolitical changes, Here Are My Demands is the story of a policy adviser called Maggie, who's in an emerging relationship with Kei. This, like all relationships, takes place in a world where virtual reality is embedded in the real world a.k.a. 'meatspace.' People have a 'shroud' implant that enables them to create their own worlds as an overlay or replacement for the real one. At its (perhaps) most benign, it enables an avatar's attendance at meetings (not unlike Zoom, maybe, though we all soon learned about fake backgrounds and that we and they could all be doing something else when the camera was off.) In intimate relationships, it's problematic:
Our democracy isn't working for everyone, but as Winston Churchill once said, "Democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other show more forms that have been tried". So, is there a form of democracy that could be better, that we haven't tried?
Reform is such an appealing idea. But could Scott Morrison (not my favourite Prime Minister by a long shot) have responded quickly to the pandemic with Jobkeeper and Jobseeker if it had to be submitted to the slow and unwieldy process of a plebiscite? Would Australians ever have abolished capital punishment by popular vote? Will there ever be a popular vote in favour of treating refugees humanely? Alas, in the age of demagoguery where politicians are guided by opinion polls in marginal seats, we have learned to be wary of pseudo-democratic theories. The last Australian plebiscite was widely celebrated, but actually the 60/40 vote for marriage equality was a near thing. It was a terrible shock for some of us to realise that there were 40% of Australians who were against equal rights for the LBGTQI+ community. 40%! We had learned not to be shocked by the time the Voice Referendum failed so comprehensively, but it still hurt.
Besides, Roff's scenario begs the question: how, exactly, does a democracy, flawed or otherwise, replace itself with another form of government?
You can see how Roff's book provokes serious thinking. A perfect book for book groups...
Set in the half-century from the present after there have been major geopolitical changes, Here Are My Demands is the story of a policy adviser called Maggie, who's in an emerging relationship with Kei. This, like all relationships, takes place in a world where virtual reality is embedded in the real world a.k.a. 'meatspace.' People have a 'shroud' implant that enables them to create their own worlds as an overlay or replacement for the real one. At its (perhaps) most benign, it enables an avatar's attendance at meetings (not unlike Zoom, maybe, though we all soon learned about fake backgrounds and that we and they could all be doing something else when the camera was off.) In intimate relationships, it's problematic:
There was nothing to stop him taking a picture or video, even when they were having sex. A light on your brow was supposed to glow red when recordings were being made, and it was a crime to tamper with that, but it was easy enough to download a patch. Kei didn't seem like the type, but what was impossible to know was whether it was always her he was seeing... (p.63)show less
Almost as an afterthought, Maggie supposed she should just come right out and ask him.
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2025/09/27/here-are-my-demands-2025-by-andrew-roff/
I love this cookbook, and it is a favorite in my house now. I had not tried to cook with coconut milk before, so I didn't know what to expect, but it was worth it.
It was so easy to make too. The prep was longer and harder than the actual cooking. Between the flavors and the smell, I couldn't wait to eat!
It didn't disappoint!
You know those times when you experiment with food and recipes and it all goes awry? This was not one of those times. Thankfully it was the most amazing thing I have made show more in a while, and I cook good food everyday....
Definitely going on the top of my cookbook pile in the kitchen, for easy access!!
I HIGHLY recommend you get a copy too. There is something in it for everyone. show less
It was so easy to make too. The prep was longer and harder than the actual cooking. Between the flavors and the smell, I couldn't wait to eat!
It didn't disappoint!
You know those times when you experiment with food and recipes and it all goes awry? This was not one of those times. Thankfully it was the most amazing thing I have made show more in a while, and I cook good food everyday....
Definitely going on the top of my cookbook pile in the kitchen, for easy access!!
I HIGHLY recommend you get a copy too. There is something in it for everyone. show less
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