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A review by tasmanian_bibliophile
Amnesia by Peter Carey
3.0
‘The corporation is under our control. The angel declares you free.’
In 2010, on a chilly autumn morning in Melbourne, Gaby Baillieux releases the Angel Worm into the computers of Australia’s prison system. Many prisoners, including hundreds of asylum seekers walk free.
But, because an American corporation runs prison security, the worm also infects close to 5000 American places of incarceration. Was the American intrusion intended?
Felix Moore, who considers himself ‘Australia’s last serving left-wing journalist’ has no doubt. He’s convinced that Gaby’s act was part of a long-running covert conflict between Australia and America. What long running covert conflict? You know, the one that dates back to the Battle of Brisbane in 1942, includes the vexed issue of Pine, and the coup against Gough Whitlam in 1975.
Felix Moore himself is in a spot of bother. He’s just lost a big libel case and his wife has kicked him out. Fortunately, his good mate, property developer Woody Townes has a job for Felix. Woody is going to fund Felix to write Gaby’s biography. He’s concerned that the USA might extradite Gaby.
And then it all gets complicated. Getting Gaby (who just happens to have been born on 11 November 1975) to co-operate may be a challenge. And then, there’s her film-star mother.
Enough. It’s a complicated story that would benefit from rereading. It’s a satire that requires knowledge/memory of events that many of us have forgotten (if we ever knew them). That’s amnesia. It’s a satire about activism, journalism, politics and the relationship between Australia and the USA. It’s a satire with some fairly unlikable characters because, well, characters are less important than ideas in satire.
Just how seriously should we take it?
Not my favourite novel by Peter Carey, but definitely worth reading.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
In 2010, on a chilly autumn morning in Melbourne, Gaby Baillieux releases the Angel Worm into the computers of Australia’s prison system. Many prisoners, including hundreds of asylum seekers walk free.
But, because an American corporation runs prison security, the worm also infects close to 5000 American places of incarceration. Was the American intrusion intended?
Felix Moore, who considers himself ‘Australia’s last serving left-wing journalist’ has no doubt. He’s convinced that Gaby’s act was part of a long-running covert conflict between Australia and America. What long running covert conflict? You know, the one that dates back to the Battle of Brisbane in 1942, includes the vexed issue of Pine, and the coup against Gough Whitlam in 1975.
Felix Moore himself is in a spot of bother. He’s just lost a big libel case and his wife has kicked him out. Fortunately, his good mate, property developer Woody Townes has a job for Felix. Woody is going to fund Felix to write Gaby’s biography. He’s concerned that the USA might extradite Gaby.
And then it all gets complicated. Getting Gaby (who just happens to have been born on 11 November 1975) to co-operate may be a challenge. And then, there’s her film-star mother.
Enough. It’s a complicated story that would benefit from rereading. It’s a satire that requires knowledge/memory of events that many of us have forgotten (if we ever knew them). That’s amnesia. It’s a satire about activism, journalism, politics and the relationship between Australia and the USA. It’s a satire with some fairly unlikable characters because, well, characters are less important than ideas in satire.
Just how seriously should we take it?
Not my favourite novel by Peter Carey, but definitely worth reading.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith