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Spectre of Maralinga
256 pages, Paperback
First published May 9, 1985
About the author
Michael Hughes
207 books71 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 24, 2015
By rights this book should have got 0 stars. It was simply awful. However, in its awfulness it transcended the state of awfulness and became amazing.
The premise: In the 1950s the Australian and British governments used civilians as nuclear test dummies in the Australian outback. Most died. Some survived, turning into horribly disfigured mutants. The son of one of these mutant families is involved in the illegal diamond trade, using the money from the sales of the diamonds to pay for his family's living expenses. However, the diamonds he has been selling are highly radioactive. Now he is on the run, being chased by a mob of gangsters who want the diamonds, as well as military officials from Australia and Britain.
The premise: In the 1950s the Australian and British governments used civilians as nuclear test dummies in the Australian outback. Most died. Some survived, turning into horribly disfigured mutants. The son of one of these mutant families is involved in the illegal diamond trade, using the money from the sales of the diamonds to pay for his family's living expenses. However, the diamonds he has been selling are highly radioactive. Now he is on the run, being chased by a mob of gangsters who want the diamonds, as well as military officials from Australia and Britain.
June 24, 2026
4/5
“No one was ever supposed to know what happened there…” or so the tagline says .. and we still don’t. A 4/5 read with a dud 1/5 ending.
Very little known men’s adventure style story divided up into three key parts, by little known Australian author Michael Hughes.
What starts as a fast paced police investigation into the Adelaide underground jewel industry takes a dark turn when radiation becomes involved and people start melting.. or killing each other brutally.
Soon not only is the Australian defence force after our hero - with a particularly handsy Sergeant leading the way, but so are a bunch of bad guys who do some not so family friendly things along the way. Not for the squeamish!
Despite the “never ending chase” occupying the majority of this novel, it’s fast paced enough to be a real page turner.
Is that enough for a story? Just wait until the love interest enters the scene to be rescued in the middle of the desert and nursed back to health …. By inbreeding mutants living underground in the dessert whom the Australian and British governments had previously tested upon but had not been able to exterminate.
But never fear the chase continues … and then ends … very suddenly.
What of the romance ? Will our hero make it out alive ? Will the 6 fingered freaks be left in peace ? Will all the bad guys get what they deserve ?
No idea!
THE END!
It seems Mr Hughes had to wrap it up immediately.
“No one was ever supposed to know what happened there…” or so the tagline says .. and we still don’t. A 4/5 read with a dud 1/5 ending.
Very little known men’s adventure style story divided up into three key parts, by little known Australian author Michael Hughes.
What starts as a fast paced police investigation into the Adelaide underground jewel industry takes a dark turn when radiation becomes involved and people start melting.. or killing each other brutally.
Soon not only is the Australian defence force after our hero - with a particularly handsy Sergeant leading the way, but so are a bunch of bad guys who do some not so family friendly things along the way. Not for the squeamish!
Despite the “never ending chase” occupying the majority of this novel, it’s fast paced enough to be a real page turner.
Is that enough for a story? Just wait until the love interest enters the scene to be rescued in the middle of the desert and nursed back to health …. By inbreeding mutants living underground in the dessert whom the Australian and British governments had previously tested upon but had not been able to exterminate.
But never fear the chase continues … and then ends … very suddenly.
What of the romance ? Will our hero make it out alive ? Will the 6 fingered freaks be left in peace ? Will all the bad guys get what they deserve ?
No idea!
THE END!
It seems Mr Hughes had to wrap it up immediately.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2023
Very scary in the sense of what you learn as the book progresses. The effects of an experiment gone horribly wrong makes for an honest tale of true horror which can be far worse than fictional horror. A terrifying story harboring horrific truths untold for years before being exposed. Simultaneously well told and shocking. An eye opener.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews