Of Befores and Behinds

Book Reviews—

A NEW-COMER to Pacific fiction is Terence O’Brien who has recently had his first novel published by Collins. If he goes on as he has begun there should be a place for him in this field—almost totally deserted by fiction writers since the deaths of Robert Dean Frisbie and Nordoff and Hall.

O’Brien is an Australian; he spent five years in the Solomons before the war and served with great distinction in the RAF during it. He remained with the RAF until three years ago when he resigned to take up writing seriously. He has already had short stories published in England and America but this is his first novel.

The setting of his story is a mythical island group between the Solomons and the Ellice Islands. The natives are Polynesians, although they speak Pidgin and one feels instinctively that they should be Melanesian. There are a few in congruities of this variety which the island purist could fasten his teeth into, but the over-all picture of S-W Pacific life is good and the characteri sation excellent. Probably the reason for Polynesians rather than Mel anesians is the generally accepted belief that a European can make a friend of the former but not of the latter although, generally, Mr.

O’Brien does not subscribe to old fashioned tabus of this sort.

The theme is the hero’s inner con flict with a pet philosophy but it is

also a story of a larger conflict— between extreme Islands conservatism and the newer—or radical, if you must—ideas of a post-war generation.

In New Guinea they call them “Befores” and “Behinds”.

Napier, the central figure in the story, and of the latter persuasion, soon gets across the neck of Major Scriven, the manager of the planta tion where he is assistant. There are scores of Majors in the Islands’ world and whether they can be said to have made the Empire great, or contributed most to its latter-day disintegration is a matter of opinion.

There is also a girl and numerous minor characters, native and other wise. Into the “otherwise” category comes the Resident Commissioner, who may be regarded by some Civil Servants as a gross libel—but whose type and slightly unorthodox methods of dealing with trouble does not strain too far the credulity of any one who knows his Islands.

An entertaining story with* the promise of even better things to

come.

JT.

(“Surf Against the Reef”, by Terence O'Brien, published by Collins, of 246 Kent Street, Sydney at 13/6.)

Improve Your Golf

TC'RIC CREMIN, top-ranking Aus tralian professional golfer, has produced a book that should be of interest to every golfer, in the Islands as elsewhere. Published by Angus and Robertson, Ltd,, Sydney, it is one of their more lavish pro ductions and nothing has been left undone that will give the keen golfer

—or the beginner—the advice an* help he needs.

A feature of the b«ok is the cine sequences which show every move ment necessary to execute shots witl woods, long irons, mid irons, shon irons as well as chip and pitch shots bunker shots, putting, etc. There ar* also close-ups of grips and stances Descriptions, instructions and hint: to would-be champions are given clearly and concisely. (“Par Golf”, by Eric Cremin, pubiishet by Angus and Robertson, Ltd., Sydnevi price 30/.)