Very much enjoyed this sequel. Different to the first book, very slow paced, little action. I loved the slow burning mystery and political intrigue. Also loved discovering more about the world. I hope we get to find out more about the striking tea workers, or will get to see another strike and uprising in the future (though I doubt we will).

This might be projecting my politics onto this book too much, but with all the talk of strikes, annexations and and profits, I wonder if the author has any familiarity with Marxism. I've been wondering if Anaander Miannai is a metaphore for imperialism and the fact that a single state can never exist under capitalism--it must necessarily split and form multiple states in competition with each other.

Can't wait to read the next instalment.

An indispensable read, chronicling the history of organised working-class struggle in Australia, both to keep this fascinating and inspiring history alive, and to learn how to reawaken the struggle for the future.

Disgusting, Islamophobic garbage. Avoid.

I'll quote the petition by a large number of Muslim anti-racist campaigners who opposed her recent tour of Australia:

"We, the undersigned, would like to express our utmost disappointment that Ayaan Hirsi-Ali is being brought to Australia by Think Inc.
This position is reflective of the huge diversity of opinion amongst Australian Muslim women. Although we are not a homogenous group, we are united in our condemnation of Hirsi-Ali's discourse which is grounded in hate-mongering and bigotry.
As grassroots community workers and advocates, we have worked tirelessly to dispel stereotypes that are the cognitive breeding ground for acts of hatred and bigotry. Hirsi-Ali stated recently, "Violence is inherent in Islam – it’s a destructive, nihilistic cult of death. It legitimates murder." This is just one example of the vitriol frequently espoused by this individual.
Against a backdrop of increasing global Islamophobia, Hirsi-Ali's divisive rhetoric simply serves to increase hostility and hatred towards Muslims
In addition, through positive action and collaborative and sustainable community centric leadership models, we have strived for decades to empower Muslim women both locally and abroad. Hirsi-Ali’s sheer presence in Australia undermines both intra and inter-community efforts toward social cohesion and in providing platforms for Muslim women to champion their own causes.
We condemn any representation or interpretation of Islam that condones violence against women. We utterly reject any Islamic basis for the violence that has occurred to Ayaan Hirsi-Ali in her life, and the violence perpetrated to women all over the world who have fallen victim to culturally-influenced misogynistic abuse.
We welcome and encourage vigorous discussion and debate regarding Islam and the status of women. However to conflate hate speech with free speech undermines both the intelligence of our community and the efforts we have made to maintain respect and dignity in an environment of such hostility. Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s conversation does not contribute to any insights nor further the debate in any way. This is simple sensationalism designed to fuel division and hate. Australia deserves better than this."

https://www.change.org/p/ayaan-hirsi-ali-does-not-speak-for-us-muslim-women-unite-to-oppose-hirsi-ali-visit

So good. The first book set up a brilliantly imaginative world, exploring topics of gender, identity, imperialism and much more. The second book was a gripping, slow-burning political intrigue. This final book continued the themes of the first two, but most of all was an edge-of-your-seat action fest with twists, turns, and cool space guns. Whilst the very end didn't quite live up to the expectations raised by the whole trilogy, I really didn't mind because the rest of the book was just so fantastic.

Very good, if a bit racist in parts. I never used to be a fan of cats, and so whilst I liked the music of the musical Cats, I never quite understood the words. But having recently made lots of cat-loving friends, the humorous descriptions of feline behaviour in these poems now makes sense to me.