y separately published work icon Surfing Antarctica : A Novel single work   novel   humour  
Issue Details: First known date: 1999... 1999 Surfing Antarctica : A Novel
The material on this page is available to AustLit subscribers. If you are a subscriber or are from a subscribing organisation, please log in to gain full access. To explore options for subscribing to this unique teaching, research, and publishing resource for Australian culture and storytelling, please contact us or find out more.

AbstractHistoryArchive Description

Another emigré from the US, Liane Shavian's 'eco-warrior' first novel, Surfing Antarctica ..., roisters around the wilds of the west ... and Perth. Impudent and far from politically correct (despite its Greenie credentials), it's a breathless, irreverent romp treating serious issues with admirable anarchy. Easy perceptions and stereotypes are played with, and frequently subverted. Essentially a morality tale, it is swept along on an avalanche of wisecracks (some recycled), saucy sex, sassy cynicism and ambiguities. Shavian's raw-boned Aussie heroine is a riot, her raunchy self-doubts and grrl-ish ambitions undermined by a bias for truth-telling: the other characters are high camp anti-heroes with attitude. Stark fans will embrace this with gusto. (Murray Waldron's 'Other Voices' 26.6.1999).

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

    • North Fremantle, Fremantle area, South West Perth, Perth, Western Australia,: Fremantle Press , 1999 .
      Extent: 287p.
      ISBN: 1863682554 (pbk.

Works about this Work

'A Place of Ideals in Conflict' : Images of Antarctica in Australian Literature Elizabeth Leane , 2007 single work criticism
— Appears in: The Littoral Zone : Australian Contexts and Their Writers 2007; (p. 261-290)
This chapter examines Australian literature (poetry, fiction, and plays) dealing with Antarctica, focussing on each text's engagement with the Antarctic environment and the debates surrounding it. Beginning with two late nineteenth-century Antarctic utopias, the survey moves through the work of well-known writers such as Douglas Stewart and Thomas Keneally in the mid-century to more recent writing by Dorothy Porter, Les Murray, Caroline Caddy, and others. Less familiar material, such as poetry by Antarctic expeditioners themselves, is also discussed. The essay traces a rough progression in Australian representation of the far southern environment, from an initial utopian approach to an emphasis on its stark, 'timeless' icescape as a minimalist backdrop for human dramas to an appreciation of its changeability, complexity and fragility. (from The Littoral Zone)
Serious Under the Froth Liane Shavian , 2000 single work column
— Appears in: The West Australian , 1 July 2000; (p. 7)
Summer Blazers Murray Waldren , 1999 single work review
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 18-19 December 1999; (p. 10)

— Review of White Turtle : A Collection of Short Stories Merlinda Bobis , 1999 selected work short story ; The Beauty of Truth Bruno Bouchet , 1999 single work novel ; A Close Run Thing David Treweek , 1999 single work novel ; Surfing Antarctica : A Novel Liane Shavian , 1999 single work novel ; The Twelfth of Never : A Memoir Louis Nowra , 1999 single work autobiography ; Walk of Fame Sharon Krum , 2000 single work novel ; Shooting Star Peter Temple , 1999 single work novel ; Feeding the Demons Gabrielle Lord , 1999 single work novel ; Jean Devanny : Romantic Revolutionary Carole Ferrier , 1999 single work biography ; Pig's Blood and Other Fluids Peter Robb , 1999 selected work novel ; Firehead Venero Armanno , 1999 single work novel
'Murray Waldren suggests some hot numbers for holiday reading.' (Note below title)
It's Sexy Being Green Lucy Williams , 1999 single work review
— Appears in: Australian Women's Book Review , vol. 11 no. 1999; (p. 15)

— Review of Surfing Antarctica : A Novel Liane Shavian , 1999 single work novel
Bad Boys and Cyberpunks Penelope Hanley , 1999 single work review
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 11 September 1999; (p. 24)

— Review of Surfing Antarctica : A Novel Liane Shavian , 1999 single work novel ; Stay Away from Lightning Girl Stephen Cummings , 1999 single work novel
Summer Blazers Murray Waldren , 1999 single work review
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 18-19 December 1999; (p. 10)

— Review of White Turtle : A Collection of Short Stories Merlinda Bobis , 1999 selected work short story ; The Beauty of Truth Bruno Bouchet , 1999 single work novel ; A Close Run Thing David Treweek , 1999 single work novel ; Surfing Antarctica : A Novel Liane Shavian , 1999 single work novel ; The Twelfth of Never : A Memoir Louis Nowra , 1999 single work autobiography ; Walk of Fame Sharon Krum , 2000 single work novel ; Shooting Star Peter Temple , 1999 single work novel ; Feeding the Demons Gabrielle Lord , 1999 single work novel ; Jean Devanny : Romantic Revolutionary Carole Ferrier , 1999 single work biography ; Pig's Blood and Other Fluids Peter Robb , 1999 selected work novel ; Firehead Venero Armanno , 1999 single work novel
'Murray Waldren suggests some hot numbers for holiday reading.' (Note below title)
City's Sums of All Fears Murray Waldren , 1999 single work review
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 26-27 June 1999; (p. 13)

— Review of The Burnt City Marshall Browne , 1999 single work novel ; Bloodlust Milissa Deitz , 1999 single work novel ; Triangles David P. Reiter , 1999 selected work short story ; Surfing Antarctica : A Novel Liane Shavian , 1999 single work novel
Bad Boys and Cyberpunks Penelope Hanley , 1999 single work review
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 11 September 1999; (p. 24)

— Review of Surfing Antarctica : A Novel Liane Shavian , 1999 single work novel ; Stay Away from Lightning Girl Stephen Cummings , 1999 single work novel
It's Sexy Being Green Lucy Williams , 1999 single work review
— Appears in: Australian Women's Book Review , vol. 11 no. 1999; (p. 15)

— Review of Surfing Antarctica : A Novel Liane Shavian , 1999 single work novel
'A Place of Ideals in Conflict' : Images of Antarctica in Australian Literature Elizabeth Leane , 2007 single work criticism
— Appears in: The Littoral Zone : Australian Contexts and Their Writers 2007; (p. 261-290)
This chapter examines Australian literature (poetry, fiction, and plays) dealing with Antarctica, focussing on each text's engagement with the Antarctic environment and the debates surrounding it. Beginning with two late nineteenth-century Antarctic utopias, the survey moves through the work of well-known writers such as Douglas Stewart and Thomas Keneally in the mid-century to more recent writing by Dorothy Porter, Les Murray, Caroline Caddy, and others. Less familiar material, such as poetry by Antarctic expeditioners themselves, is also discussed. The essay traces a rough progression in Australian representation of the far southern environment, from an initial utopian approach to an emphasis on its stark, 'timeless' icescape as a minimalist backdrop for human dramas to an appreciation of its changeability, complexity and fragility. (from The Littoral Zone)
Serious Under the Froth Liane Shavian , 2000 single work column
— Appears in: The West Australian , 1 July 2000; (p. 7)
Last amended 20 Nov 2007 11:07:44
X