Terra Farma

Gillian Rubenstein (author)

Puffin Books, Australia: 2001; 268pp

ISBN: 0670889784

Genres: adventure, science-fiction

Issues: abuse, choices, ethics, family,  friendships, values

After their escape from Project Genesis Five and the world of the Galax-Arena, Joella, Peter and Liane find themselves living a nomadic existence. Having staged their deaths, they and their father move from one small outback town to another, using assumed names and trying to come to terms with what has happened to them.

Tired of a life of concealment and lies, Joella decides to go back to her aunt in NSW. Liane tags along, however, and the girls soon find themselves in even greater danger than they experienced in the Galax-Arena. The apparent refuge of Terra Farma shows itself to be simply another arm of the Project and once again Joella must find a way to escape, then rescue her sister and the others. Peter, too, is on the run, trying to survive in the outback, and finding that very few people can really be trusted. Will the siblings find their way back to safety - and one another?

This sequel to Galax-Arena explores the same themes of corruption and adults who neglect, abuse or manipulate children. It is also very much about choices. Peter is determined to make better choices this time but is not sure how to be proactive about it. He has a tendency to choose ‘not this' but then falls into another bad situation because he doesn't know what else to do. As always, Rubenstein's work is thought-provoking: she questions socially accepted groups, especially the lack of transparency of scientific corporations.

Chilling and nightmarish, this is another compelling (and disturbing) novel. The final book in the trilogy, Universercus is yet to be published.