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Shakespeare's Monkeys

Infinite Monkeys. Infinite Typewriters.

More in Novel Ideas, Short Inspiration & Spew

Under-rated Australian Writers

in any genre
just what it says
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Derma Kaputfrom Possum Grape, Arkansas
Associate, 2156 posts

on Feb. 27 2008


I nominate Arthur Upfield - mystery genre.  He was a transplant from England, but what the hell.   Anybody ever read any of his books?  Kind of dated, but his Naplolean Bonapart series was terrific.
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Leanne Hansonfrom Just west of the lounge room
Associate, 3708 posts

on Feb. 27 2008


You could probably just list every Australian writer in this field

I don't actually read many mystery novels... maybe I should... actually, I'm not sure why I don't.  Another mystery.

Andrew McGahan is a Brisbane boy and a big favourite of mine.  His writing's kind of grungy and definitely won't appeal to anyone who finds nothing funny about penile warts and boils, but his novels Praise and 1988 are well worth a read for anyone else.  He's written a few others as well, but I like those best.

Another Queensland writer is John Birmingham, who wrote He Died With A Felafel In His Hand, one of the best titles ever.  It's another "observing the oddities of people" kind of book, and is quite wonderfully awesome.

The great Cliff Hardy series by Peter Corris will win over any fans of the private eye genre -- though he's not your usual kind of hero.  There are about 2 dozen of these titles so they're not hard to come by.

Robert G Barrett is not underrated here, he's a legend, but most people O/S have never heard of him or his main character, a Sydney nightclub bouncer called Les Norton.   Read these.  They are unbelievably funny.

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Mercieca, Andrew
2771 posts

on Feb. 28 2008


My personal choice would be Andrew Mercieca...er...oh..that's me.......dang......

rolleyes

 

Mos.

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Stephan Ansteyfrom Lowell, MA
Associate, 6232 posts

inspired from Mosquitobyte on Feb. 29 2008


The title '1988' intrigues me greatly. I think I'll look for that one.

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Leanne Hansonfrom Just west of the lounge room
Associate, 3708 posts

on Feb. 29 2008


1988 is brilliant.  It's about two very inept young guys who don't particularly like each other spending a year at a weather reporting station in a remote community off Darwin.  There are bum boils AND crocodiles
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W, Emeya
132 posts

on Mar. 1 2008


 

I didn't even know Australians could write. (I'm saying this for the sheer delight that Leanne might read it.)

 

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Leanne Hansonfrom Just west of the lounge room
Associate, 3708 posts

on Mar. 1 2008


That's quite true.  We've discovered typing, what's your excuse?
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Mercieca, Andrew
2771 posts

on Mar. 4 2008


Quite right Leanne, I for one can't write, one of the joys of being in my right mind I guess. I often have trouble reading poems that I have writtten because I struggle to keep up with my brain, there's just a scrawl which looks to have been left by a snail who smoked far too many cigarettes. Thank the Spurious Deity for computers I say.

Mos.

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Leanne Hansonfrom Just west of the lounge room
Associate, 3708 posts

on Mar. 4 2008


I heard the French give their snails Gauloises just before they're escargoted... I'm almost positive snails are the only creatures stupid enough to smoke such vile smelling things. Then again, they're surrounded by garlic munchers... and later, surrounded by garlic.

Hello all Frenchies.

Icarus Iscariot

on Sep. 18 2008


croc dundee is my great gatsby. plus mel gibson wrote some anti-semetic crap that was worth a laugh or two.

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Mercieca, Andrew
2771 posts

inspired from Icarus Iscariot on Sep. 18 2008


Icarus Iscariot:Mel of course is in reality an American.


Icarus Iscariot

on Sep. 18 2008


as a semi-semitic-american, it's my duty to vote gibson off the island. he's an australian. go watch mad max and tell me he's not australian.

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Mercieca, Andrew
2771 posts

on Sep. 19 2008


Born in the US my friend, makes him a yank to me. :P

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Paradiso, Tracey
Associate, 1902 posts

on Sep. 19 2008


Umm, speaking of Australia...

http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/iuM4_ltBuJe/Pigs+Fly+2008+Royal+Melbourne+Show/o1U-VPSXauP

Now that pigs are flying, all our fondlest wishes will come true, right?

 

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