Aiden lives in a future Australia, where the country has been divided between west and east following a nuclear accident on the west coast, and cryogenically reawakened rock group Men At Work are about to give a concert, including their hit DOWN UNDER which is now the Aussie national anthem. Aiden's twenty and heads off on his bike to the border, hoping his store of money will allow him to cross and see the concert in eastern Sydney. Unfortunately a robbery leaves him broke, afoot in the red desert and wishing for Tasmanian devils to gnaw him to death. He's picked up by a somewhat freaky guy called Matthew, but Aiden's freaky too - due to radiation his family glows in the dark. Not that he'd mention it.

By the time the lads reach Sydney, where Matthew lives, they're in a relationship and Matthew has been obliged to explain that yes, there are such beings as were-kangas. Matthew's family are quite large and numerous, and his father expects him to marry a nice local girl; he's as yet been unable to explain that this won't be happening. Aiden's certain that when the family finds out what's going on, he won't see twenty-one....

Not since Cordwainer Smith's Norstrilia stories has Australia featured so well in written SF as in the first half of this tale. The second half is set in urban Sydney and there's little to bring it into the latter twenty-first century. I would have liked to see a furtherance of the future vision and the impact of the border split upon the eastern half of the country. The characters are good fun however and Aiden is consistent in his horror of conflict and willingness to believe whatever he is told. As for were- kangaroos - why not? The one we meet is just taller than a man and a fearsome fighter. This is a paranormal romance with a difference, and with a great sense of humour which is sadly lacking in some urban fantasies. Give DOWN UNDER by Tam Ames a place on your reading list.

Book Summary

The year 2089 finds Australia split between east and west, with a wall to ensure the east stays safe. College student Aiden Taylor is traveling from Perth to Sydney to see Men at Work, who have been revived after cryogenic freezing. Regrettably, only days into his trip, his moped is stolen—and then he meets a naked man from the east. The man turns out to be Matthew King, who offers Aiden a ride—no strings attached—all the way to Sydney.

When another attack occurs the following night, Aiden discovers Matthew’s impossible secret: he’s a were-kanga. At least that gives them something to talk about when they experience delays at the wall. One thing leads to another, and soon friends with benefits turns into something more. But when the summer is over, Aiden must return to school in Perth. How can he leave Matthew behind?

Read an Excerpt