Slow Burn

The world is in an unprecedented period of environmental and technological change. Where will we be in 20 years time? The Slow Burn traces two families from two nations, facing different existential threats to their physical and economic survival. In 2020, fifteen-year-old Max, his parents and four siblings prepare to harvest a bumper crop in the mid-North of South Australia. The untimely death of Max's father in a fire leaves the rest of the family to contemplate life away from the farm. Meanwhile, Laeli, her mother, father and brother face the serious peril of sea level rise in the Pacific Island nation of Tuvalu. The location of the story switches between Tuvalu and Australia until the lives of Max and Laeli intersect. By this time, the people of Tuvalu have resettled in Australia. Max is managing a mango farm in Queensland, where Laeli works. As their lives entwine, and a new generation arrives, the novel concludes with Max and Laeli making a life defining decision. We witness how changes in climate and technology shape the life trajectories of each of the family members. How they navigate their relationships and make sense of their existence in a volatile world suggests the future is already here.