Other Worlds Were Possible

Sunny and his kinfolk were content with their way of life. During the dry season, their clan lived alone. They hunted whenever they chose, gathered an array of plants, told stories, and took part in debates. In the rainy season, they united with the rest of their tribe. They formed a temporary city, feasted, held dances and played games.

They could have lived like this forever. But a strange and foreign people had ideas of their own...

Appearing out of nowhere, these aliens looked completely different. They smelled different. They even dressed differently. And they had the most peculiar habits.

These people did not live with the earth. They exploited the earth, imposing monocultures and intensive farming. They were not content with their lot. They were possessed by an insatiable desire to consume. And they had no sense of freedom. They were beholden to a never-ending list of outlandish concepts; things such as “Hierarchy”, “Patriarchy”, “Monarchy”, “Monogamy”, “God”, “Punishments”, “Ownership”, “Inequality”, “Money”, “Work” and “Tax”.

Sunny and his kinfolk faced the toughest decision in their history…

They could wage war on these imposters. But their enemies were strong. They had killed hundreds-of-thousands of indigenous people.

They could flee. But these imperialists would surely follow. They would push them into the sea, the mountains or the desert.

Their clan needed another solution. But what could it be? Could they negotiate with this violent foe? Could they form a pact? Could they create a kind of alliance?

Sunny had no idea. But he was compelled by a duty to find out. This was his time. And he was willing to risk his life, to save the people he loved…

**************** EDITORIAL REVIEWS ****************

"Sheldon's coming of age story delivers some sorely needed closure on the consequences of colonisation... (An) uncertain and innocent protagonist provides the perfect springboard for countless pertinent life lessons... A sense of humility and empathy pervades the book from beginning to end... (And) remind us of the joys of simpler times - when virtues like hospitality and empathy were a reflex."
*** CINEMA CHORDS ***

"Extraordinary... Joss Sheldon's folkloric novel takes the reader on a journey into the very heart of what it means to be human. It asks profound questions about the social and economic structures we take for granted, reminding us that such constructs weren't inevitable. Other worlds existed in the past, and other worlds could exist right now."
*** THE ODYSSEY ***

"The message is relevant. It inspires the reader to consider an abundance of alternative societies - the likes of which are rarely discussed. But, fundamentally, it remains an allegorical tale, poetic and warm - one of those beautiful novels which possess the power to lift the reader up, whisk them along, and take them on a journey - following a childlike character as he throws off the naïveté of youth, risking everything to protect not just his people's way of life, but the very idea that we humans can still create newer, better worlds."
*** VENTS MAGAZINE ***

"Cutting edge... Joss Sheldon masterfully depicts this transformation process and the methods by which the clan moves away from its initial origins to confront (a) strange and foreign people… As the parable unfolds, the clans-folk experience (a) confusing and distressing grief, that lends to philosophical and psychological inspection on a level they have never experienced before… Libraries and readers seeking political fables, wry social examinations, and a story of transformation that comments on the history and spectre of imperialist actions, will find plenty of discussion points suitable for book clubs and political group debates."
*** MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW ***