The author stretches forward the raw elements of Australian civilisation —territory, climate and resources – to 250 years in the future, relating them to the populations of the two nations.

The scene is set in Meannjin, an almost deserted and flooded Australian city. Most of the population has dispersed to self-sufficient rural communes after a century of wars over coal and famine. They are governed locally with only a tiny national government, headed by an Aboriginal dynasty.
Abajoe is Australia’s Prime Minister. He has a rare genetic mutation for sharing. His Messianic vision is of devolved and diversified lifestyles, in a nation where science has priority over religion and politics. He predicts Australia’s relationship with Bhakaria by experimenting with a genetically modified animal, the rossit.
The political situation is tense, as Abajoe strives to renew a moribund political party from within. His ban on immigration is opposed by his lover in a tempestuous romance. His ban is also opposed by his political adversary, who gains government, outlaws his party and plans for free immigration. He leads a resistance movement against the government, which is aligned with Yamism, a religion, in an epic struggle with a dramatic climax.’

Themes:

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Testimonials

The Grass is Always Browner is a challenging read, which I like. It really made me think – could this really happen in our future? As we are in the middle of a drought in 2014 the thought of a big famine in the future isn’t far fetched at all. Even though the novel is classes as speculative fiction I doubt if the author has speculated much. It seems more science that speculation. This could happen in many ways. The way Abajoe’s family deal with it is amazing, taking up a whole unit block to be self-sufficient and avoid anyone stealing from them. There’s a different slat that no other author seems to have found.
You can tell the author understand the science necessary to the story. There’s also a great deal of research into the Aboriginal culture. It’s a fascinating read. Just imagine a time when Australia is divided into two nations and an Aboriginal Prime Minister rules, where science and diversification rule over politics. Wouldn’t that be bliss?
It’s broken into 53 chapters which works with making it an easier read, because it is an intellectual novel. I like reading it slowly to understand the underlying messages the author has conveyed. We already need to live in a more self-sustaining environment and the author has taken that to a new level 250 years into the future. It sort of has the Mad Max bleakness without the violence. There’s everything in this novel, intrigue, romance and thrills. I dare you to read it. – Donna Munro Author

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“Martin Knox is the type of writer who knows how to tell a wonderful story and post thought-provoking questions about life and the future. In his book ‘The Grass Is Always Browner’, Knox has managed to craft a political thriller, a romance and an allegorical tale of one man’s prophetic journey towards enlightenment, all within the umbrella of a deeply satisfying work of speculative fiction. This is a novel to savour and Martin Knox is a writer to watch” – Dr Venero Armanno, Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing, University of Queensland, author of nine bestselling novels including ‘The Dirty Beat’ (2007).

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Everyone is entitled to their own view of Australia’s future but everyone can learn from Martin Knox’s. He is a chemical engineer, management scientist and planner. The technological, social and political innovations could really happen. The story is a political thriller with a manifesto for radically restructuring Australia’s governments at every level.

The setting is Australia in its region 250 years in the future. He has extrapolated from current trends as far as he could, not far and then added on reasonable constancy, change and innovation. The future he describes is over the horizon— it is fiction not science.

The story shows how Australia’s ultimate human population could be determined. Then it assumes key changes in population, governance, religion, energy supply, transport, water supply, industry, cities, community and lifestyles. These have all responded to climate change and severe famine events.

The book is a debut novel and in places the story bogs down in too much detail of innovations. Then it is possible to skip to the next of the 53 chapters. It is a book that can be either read as a narrative for the story, or dipped into as a source of radical ideas.

Abajoe is heir apparent to his mother, the Prime Minister. He has a unique gene for sharing and applies legendary technological skills in public domains.

He falls in love with Siti, who is an activist for immigration from Bakharia (Indonesia). It is a tempestuous romance developing a lasting bond between them. Their persistence overcomes terrible personal adversities to achieve national unity.

Growth of Yamism, a religion, results in civil war and overseas intervention. Abajoe and his followers go on a long march to exile in Bassland (Tasmania). His leadership learns from Nelson Mandela, Mao Tse Tung, Mahatma Ghandi and other famous strategists.

The story moves steadily over Abajoe’s lifetime to a towering climax of prescient humanism, with a surprise ending. This thoughtful book could challenge assumptions you have made about the future that need action now.

Author Martin Knox