'Following the interwoven lives of four characters across India, Australia and the United States, the novel takes root in Melbourne and brings its streets, shopping centres and laneways to life with astounding originality—the city may never be the same again.
'The Degenerates radiates with Titch’s fanaticism and Ginny’s obsessions. Somnath’s devastating history reflects every life divided around the globe. And Maha, the heart of the novel, is an extraordinary creation, an abiding figure of modern salvation. Brimming with vitality, humour, intelligence and brilliant writing, The Degenerates engages with the realities of modern loneliness and every form of departure—from our homes, from our families and even from life itself.
'In propulsive prose, The Degenerates summons the power of storytelling, disrupts conventional narratives and pays tribute to those lives often lost in the margins.' (Publication summary)
'Raeden Richardson’s debut novel has faith in the power of storytelling. It begins in 1976 Bombay with Somnath the shoeshine, a Dalit who dreams of wealth and of sons to pass it down to. But Somnath is a victim of ‘the Emergency’, Indira Gandhi’s totalitarian crackdown on civil liberties. He becomes one of thousands of impoverished Indian citizens sterilised by the government in a drive, they claimed, to curb population growth. Somnath eventually leaves India and settles in Australia, running a chop shop on the outskirts of Melbourne.'
'Each month we celebrate an Australian debut release of fiction or non-fiction in the Kill Your Darlings Debut Spotlight feature. For September that debut is The Degenerates by Raeden Richardson (Text Publishing). Following the interwoven lives of four characters across India, Australia and the United States, the novel takes root in Melbourne and brings its streets, shopping centres and laneways to life with astounding originality—the city may never be the same again'
'Raeden Richardson’s debut novel has faith in the power of storytelling. It begins in 1976 Bombay with Somnath the shoeshine, a Dalit who dreams of wealth and of sons to pass it down to. But Somnath is a victim of ‘the Emergency’, Indira Gandhi’s totalitarian crackdown on civil liberties. He becomes one of thousands of impoverished Indian citizens sterilised by the government in a drive, they claimed, to curb population growth. Somnath eventually leaves India and settles in Australia, running a chop shop on the outskirts of Melbourne.'
'Each month we celebrate an Australian debut release of fiction or non-fiction in the Kill Your Darlings Debut Spotlight feature. For September that debut is The Degenerates by Raeden Richardson (Text Publishing). Following the interwoven lives of four characters across India, Australia and the United States, the novel takes root in Melbourne and brings its streets, shopping centres and laneways to life with astounding originality—the city may never be the same again'
