Maralinga

I enjoyed this fictional story Maralinga by Judy Nunn set against the background of the British atomic tests in South Australia. Some of the true story of the tests came out in the 1980s but as the writer says the whole truth may never by known. In this story, a young British lieutenant is sent to Maralinga, leaving behind his new journalist fiancee. Their story is one of their time and we might wonder "how did they get away with that!" but it was the time of the Cold War and the soldiers were kept in ignorance of the ramifications of their participation. There is also the indigenous angle in this story, how they were forced to leave their traditional lands - but did they all go? It is a good story with the background well-researched, which makes it all the more interesting. 4/5