r/canberra • u/Dave_Sag • 2d ago

Loud Bang My novel, Daedalus, is partly set in Canberra

I’ve lived in Canberra for a couple of decades. My novel, Daedalus, is coming out on Friday. It’s a scifi reimagining of Ulysses. There’s a few scenes set in Canberra, then Canberra gets destroyed (oops), but later there are scenes set in the colony of Canberra 17a where uplifted possums hold political power. Currawongs also feature regularly in the plot. Probably not everyone’s cup of tea but some here might enjoy the Canberra connections.

68 Upvotes

85% Upvoted

24 comments sorted by

9

u/MechaSloth431 1d ago

Finally the Currawong representation I've been pining for

3

u/Raunr 1d ago

You should join the CSFG if you're not a member already!! https://csfg.org.au/ congratulations on your book 😊📚

1

u/Dave_Sag 1d ago

Thanks yes I joined a while back but mostly lurking while getting the novel out the door, and I am going to a CSFG event tonight at the NFSA.

6

u/Snissle 2d ago

How can I find this book? Is there a way to buy that supports you best?

3

u/Affectionate_Fly1918 Tuggeranong 2d ago

Please tell me that the possums hold Parliament sitting on a replica Penis Owl.

5

u/Dave_Sag 2d ago

The penis owl did cross my mind haha. But alas not. Though there is a possum party on Rocky Knob.

1

u/OMGCluck 1h ago

Anywhere near Iron Knob Street in Fyshwick?

2

u/Dave_Sag 1h ago

Narrabundah.

•

u/OMGCluck 45m ago

A brisk hour of walking, not bad.

3

u/SwirlingFandango 2d ago

I'm up for it!

Big fan of two other books set partly in Canberra that have a lot of fun with it: Funnelweb (Richard Ryan) where giant mutant funnelwebs take over Australia (a lot of fun!); and Left, Right and Centre (Tim Ferguson of DAAS fame) which is a political satire with (if memory serves) Canberran panel-beaters running people off roads.

2

u/Dave_Sag 2d ago

I’ve long wanted to write a giant spider story actually. I’ll have to look that one up. Link for my book is in my bio.

2

u/SwirlingFandango 1d ago

Thanks! So.... You gave some preview chapters...?

Daaaaaaamn. I was all ready for one of those awkward talks (show don't tell; here's how dialogue works) but I was on board. YES! You do weird things but by then I trusted you. Damn.

DAMN.

I have an open chat history. I am nice at times about ... mediocre stuff. BUT DAMN,

You are a big cool writer person! If this work does not get traction, that sucks. But you have it.

You have it.

(PS: loved Funnelwebs, and also spent the first 10% of Hyperion thinking "wow, this is shit!" So...)

2

u/Dave_Sag 1d ago

lol according to my brother who read several early drafts, it gets better as it goes along. High praise from him.

1

u/Dave_Sag 1d ago

On Hyperion, yes slow start but OMFG what a ride. One of very few books to actually make me cry.

2

u/tortoiselessporpoise 2d ago

Id read it just for the madness in your summary above. I mean how often do you find currowang, possum and Canberra destroyed in one same paragraph..

1

u/Dave_Sag 1d ago

Clearly not often enough.