Tim Winton has stunned the book publishing world in an extraordinary effort, changing tack and yielding his latest blockbuster, Juice.
The doyen of Australian authors committed heart and soul to his first dystopian novel.
Centred on Western Australia, Juice paints a painful picture of an apocalyptic world, crushed by catastrophic climate change.
Environmental warnings in the book, although fictional, are there to be taken by readers, says the author.
Conservation is close to the heart of 64-year-old Winton who has spearheaded campaigns including protection of WA’s Ningaloo Reef.
While immersed in conservation commitments, including a Ningaloo television documentary, the book was fermenting in his mind.
“I guess it was six or seven years, all up,” said the author of 30 best-selling books.
He told Have a Go News: “It was a bit of a grind, to be honest, partly because I was writing it while I was making the Ningaloo documentary series (for ABC TV).
“As readers will probably sense, the book is set at Ningaloo. I was definitely trying to do two very hard things at the same time.
“There’s only 24 hours in every day, so it was a tough job. A bit mad, really. But there was a sense of urgency about both projects, so, mad or not, I did it anyway.”
Father-of-three Winton said he watched the climate situation get worse as politicians failed to respond to the challenge.
“They wasted nearly 20 years of opportunity to take meaningful action and now we’re on a knife edge.
“Sadly, it’s young people and their children who will suffer. And the worst effects will be felt by our poorest and most vulnerable citizens. I have six grandkids now, so I take this stuff personally.”
“Juice is a nightmare vision of the future – a future we must avoid. I’m hoping this book might help readers confront the reality of what’s happening and spark some urgency.
“We need to elect people who will do more than talk about climate. We need leaders who will act in the interests of our kids and those who come after us.”
Winton is brutally frank about his views on the corporate world.
“The CEOs who put profits ahead of life are criminals. But I still believe in the goodness and genius of people. And our greatest strengths, which are empathy, decency and solidarity.
“I’m not naïve, but I think we can and must, rise to the challenge. Like the generation that decided to fight fascism in the 1930s and 40s. They had a choice. But they had the juice to rise to the moment and do the right thing.”
Ningaloo niggles.
“It’s a nursery system, Exmouth Gulf, still under siege by developers who want to industrialise it. Germans want to build a massive salt facility on its wetlands. And a Perth company wants to dig a deep water port in the middle of the whale refuge.
“It remains in immediate jeopardy and we’re waiting for (Premier) Roger Cook to do the right thing and protect it once and for all.
“But of course, longer term, if we don’t save the climate, everything up there will be cooked, from the Kimberley to Ningaloo and the Abrolhos.
“The best of those beautiful places will be gone. Which is why we need our pollies to stop listening to the polluters and take action on the scientific advice.”
Winton has wound-up an arduous national book tour, describing it as: “like two weeks at the dentist. Actually, it’s harder than that. At least at the fang doctor you mostly lie back and let someone else do the work.
“But for all my whinging, I have to say it’s a good way to meet the thousands of readers who’ve stuck by me for 40 years or more.”
Now he has some time to unwind.
“I muck about with the grandkids. I still love to get out on the water. Still surfing and snorkelling and chasing squid in the tinny. I need to run a bit of salt water over the gills every day to stay sane.”
Does he have other books in mind?
“Oh, I have a couple of rounds left in the magazine. But I don’t want to jinx myself by blabbing about them. It’s been a great ride. I feel very lucky to have been able to do what I do for so long, so if I have a few more in me. That’d be gravy on the top,” he said.
Juice, published by Penguin. Hamish Hamilton, 528pp, $49.99 (hardback).
Tim Winton – Wordsmith
Author of novels, non-fiction books, children’s books and short stories. Four-time Miles Franklin Award winner (equal record). “Living Treasure” (National Trust). Officer of the Order of Australia (2023) for ”distinguished service to literature as an author and novelist, to conservation and to environmental advocacy.” Centenary Medal for service to literature and the community. ABIA Lloyd O’Neil Award for outstanding service to Australian book industry. Curtin University lecture theatre in his name. Winton’s books are published in 18 languages.
