Abaza : a modern encyclopedia. By Louis Nowra, 2001.

Welcome to Abaza, the strange pacific nation of Louis Nowra's novel. Structured like an encyclopedia, it tells the history, culture, society, and personalities of the island nation. Four condemned men await their fate in the capital's jail. Each, with different positions in Abaza society, narrate the story, detailing the various elements that contribute to the country's make up. From the various despotic rulers; the mad revolutionary and his child army; the drug pitu; the macabre adventures of Tegi the cartoon charater and his creator; and the corruption and violence.

Linking all this is Aba, the svengali figure, who weilds the true power. His machiavellian acts ensures his own position within the power structure of Abaza's government and politics, but condemns others - including Abaza.

At first I read it like the encyclopedia it sets out to be, by going back and forth to the various entries that were linked to one another. A quarter way through, however, I gave this up and decided to read it straight through like a regular novel. By doing this, I, as the reader, later discovered how the various links to other entries came together to form the whole. Also, Nowra succeeds in writing the entries in the voices of each of the condemn men - from the semi-literate child soldier, the educated professor, the journalist, and the former government insider. Each supply the various outlooks of Abaza through their place in society.

At times funny, shocking and ugly, this fictional nation state of the south pacific is vividly brought to life. So, do yourself a favour, take a trip to Abaza.