Fauna
Author Identifier (ORCID)
Keywords
novel, creative writing, fiction, literature, parenting, motherhood, children, psychological drama, future
Non-Traditional Research Output
Original Creative Work
Document Type
Non-Traditional Research Output
Date of Publication
2020
Research Statement
Research Background
This novel is a work of speculative fiction which originated from research into de-extinction and contemporary palaeontology. It is informed by Crispr Cas-9 genetic editing research, particularly Beth Shapiro of University of California, Santa Cruz and new discoveries on Neanderthal people by Dimitra Papagianni and Michael Morse. Beginning as award winning short story, ‘The Exhibit’ (2015) in Westerly magazine, I developed the premise set 17 years into a future WA, with consideration of climate change.
Research Contribution
Taking a feminist approach to childbirth technology and interventions through genetic editing, the novel interrogates the impact of this technology on the individual and the family. It considers concepts of the post-human originating in Mary Shelley’s classic (Frankenstein) and made contemporary in the work of Margaret Atwood (The Handmaid’s Tale) and Kazuo Ishiguro (Never Let me Go) while bringing this into an Australian setting. Moran’s review considered it “topical for its exploration of power and control, especially in the context of women’s bodies.” (ABR) and Barnetson said it “skilfully fuses the real concerns of parenting in the age of catastrophic climate change with a dystopian plot not very far removed from our present” (Books+Publishing).
Research Significance
Fauna is published by Allen & Unwin, in Australia and New Zealand in print and e-book and by Wavesound as an audiobook. Allen & Unwin are Australia’s leading independent publisher and have been publisher of the year 14 times. Renowned publisher Jane Palfreyman, whose authors (Christos Tsiolkas, Charlotte Wood, Craig SIlvey) have won multiple national awards, worked with me on the novel. It was reviewed widely and very favourably by major publications (Australian Book Review, Books+Publishing, SMH) and the publicity was widespread across mainstream and digital media, including Radio National’s The Book Show and 2021 Perth Writers Festival.
Publisher
Allen & Unwin
School
School of Arts and Humanities
RAS ID
32960
Links and/or Documentation
https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/books/fiction/Fauna-Donna-Mazza-9781760876302
Event Venue
Crow's Nest NSW
ISBN
9781760876302
Copyright
subscription content
Documentation Statement
This record presents a documented representation of the research output, including the research statement and associated contextual metadata. The creative work itself is not included. Where available, external links are provided to representations of the work.
Content Type
Documentation only
DOI Statement
The DOI refers to the repository metadata record only and serves as a documentation identifier.
Recommended Citation
Mazza, D. (2020). Fauna. Allen & Unwin, Australia. [Documentation record only]. Research Online. https://doi.org/10.25958/rx35-xz75