Grand unified books thread

[Grey Fox]

For some reason I have no interest whatsoever in Australian history, but I've read up on the history of New Zealand a bit.

indeed.

I can't say I'm fascinated by it but Masterchef Australia has sparked my interest into the country.

[Barrister]

For some reason I have no interest whatsoever in Australian history, but I've read up on the history of New Zealand a bit.

I dunno - I read the bio of Lady Franklin last year (widow of Sir John Franklin, the famously lost arctic explorer).  I had no idea John Franklin was the one-time governor of Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania) which was a major penal colony, and that period was extensively covered in the book.  So anyways, like you Australian history was something I knew almost nothing about, but that brief exposure showed me it was pretty interesting.

[Syt]

Read "Kelly's Country" by A. Bertram Chandler instead.

Ned Kelly becomes, through a fluke, an independence fighter and leads the revolutionary war against Britain. Australia becomes an Australian-Irish republic with hereditary presidents/dictators and a major (nuclear, IIRC) power in the Pacific, allied to the U.S.. Eventually, the corrupt dictatorship crumbles, though, and they get occupied by allied nations who aim to install a proper democracy.

[jimmy olsen]

For some reason I have no interest whatsoever in Australian history, but I've read up on the history of New Zealand a bit.

New Zealand should be part of Australia, it's more pointless than most small countries.

[crazy canuck]

That Improbable bit seems like an odd subhead.

Not sure why.  The formation of Australia was never a forgone conclusion.  The more likely outcome was each State being independant.  The story of the difference in governance of each State and how they eventually formed one nation is a good story.

Granted it lacks the kind of bloodshed that runs through your history.  But that simply means no ACW (Aussie Civil War) highjacks.

[Admiral Yi]

New Zealand serves the purpose of maintaining a small pocket of racially pure Englishman boys and girls.

[garbon]

That Improbable bit seems like an odd subhead.

Not sure why.  The formation of Australia was never a forgone conclusion.  The more likely outcome was each State being independant.  The story of the difference in governance of each State and how they eventually formed one nation is a good story.

Granted it lacks the kind of bloodshed that runs through your history.  But that simply means no ACW (Aussie Civil War) highjacks.

Oh gotcha with the bit I bolded. The improbable seemed odd to me as I was like well some sort of nation would have eventually become independent there. Hadn't been thinking about multiples or not.

[Malthus]

That Improbable bit seems like an odd subhead.

Not sure why.  The formation of Australia was never a forgone conclusion.  The more likely outcome was each State being independant.  The story of the difference in governance of each State and how they eventually formed one nation is a good story.

Granted it lacks the kind of bloodshed that runs through your history.  But that simply means no ACW (Aussie Civil War) highjacks.

Well hey there was the Rum Rebellion - Bligh's *other* mutiny. 

I mean, that guy has all the luck - most famous single naval mutiny in history under his command - then, he becomes the only guy in history to have an entire continent mutiny against him. 

[mongers]

For some reason I have no interest whatsoever in Australian history, but I've read up on the history of New Zealand a bit.

New Zealand should be part of Australia, it's more pointless than most small countries.

What a thoroughly stupid thing to say.

[Scipio]

That Improbable bit seems like an odd subhead.

Not sure why.  The formation of Australia was never a forgone conclusion.  The more likely outcome was each State being independant.  The story of the difference in governance of each State and how they eventually formed one nation is a good story.

Granted it lacks the kind of bloodshed that runs through your history.  But that simply means no ACW (Aussie Civil War) highjacks.

Well hey there was the Rum Rebellion - Bligh's *other* mutiny. 

I mean, that guy has all the luck - most famous single naval mutiny in history under his command - then, he becomes the only guy in history to have an entire continent mutiny against him. 

Bligh was hands down the biggest douche in a nation and profession filled with big douches.

[Ed Anger]

For some reason I have no interest whatsoever in Australian history, but I've read up on the history of New Zealand a bit.

New Zealand should be part of Australia, it's more pointless than most small countries.

What a thoroughly stupid thing to say.

LOOK AT THE SOURCE

[Sheilbh]

For some reason I have no interest whatsoever in Australian history, but I've read up on the history of New Zealand a bit.

New Zealand should be part of Australia, it's more pointless than most small countries.

[Gups]

For some reason Australia's history has produced an disproportionate number of very good novels - English Passengers, Secret River, Oscar & Lucinda amongst others.

Recent reads:

Hyperion by Dan Simmonds, well-written intellligent space opera. 9/10
Little Women - easy read, not really my cup of tea but worth reading because of its cultural impact I guess 7/10

Currently reading Devil All the Time by Donald Ray Pollock. Quite a contrast with Little Women. In amongst the trailer trash of mid 20th century Ohio. Brilliant prose, beautifully paced, disturbing in places. Looking like a very rare 10/10.

[Sheilbh]

Just started Hyperion. Never really read much sci fi so it should be interesting.

[jimmy olsen]

New Zealand serves the purpose of maintaining a small pocket of racially pure Englishman boys and girls.

What the hell kind of bullshit is this?