Long Pork: Behind the Bamboo Curtain

by Mandy Partridge

Doctor Liza wants to help the Papuans with her medical service, but Arthur wants to help them by selling them guns for gold.

Their worlds collide in the unforgiving wilderness, after surviving a helicopter crash near the Freeport Grasberg Mine, the largest gold mine in the world.

Here, Liza and Arthur meet Konia, who travels the forests on foot collecting recruits for his crew of Freedom Fighters.
As the tensions between the Freedom Fighters, the Army and the billion-dollar gold trade escalates, it has also become a race against time with the monsoon season closing in on them.

230 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 10, 2021

About the author

Mandy Curties Partridge is a writer living in Brisbane, who has done time in London and Perth. Mandarella Publishing and Productions is Mandy's company, making Books, Author Talks, Town Crier performances .
Nonfiction book, 'Acrobalances' launched in 2015 at the Mullumbimby National Circus Festival. 'Long Pork: A Political Adventure' is set in West Papua.
'Blocked Out', 'Kandy Krush', 'Wizz Fizz' and 'Acid Pops' are racy crime novels set in Brisbane, in the 2020s, the 'Mirella Castle Investigates' series.
Mandy wrote for Theatre and Circus, shows like 'Mistress Mandarella's New Boots' and 'Death wears a Red Nose'.
Mandy has spoken as an Author and Town Crier in Libraries, Bookshops, Schools, Government House, Parliament House, City Hall, and Town Crier competitions around Australia and in Nova Scotia, Canada.
Her new online course, 'Fat Hats: A Masterclass in Street Performance' is at mandy partridge dot com.
Mandy has a BA from the University of Queensland, where she edited 'Semper Floreat', and an MA from Griffith University. Partridge has been shortlisted for the Scarlet Stiletto Award, the Davitt Awards, the Australian Young Writers Award, and has written for ArtsHub, Every Writers Resource, Green Left, 4ZZZ FM, ABC RN Radio National, Q News and Cane Toad Times.
www.mandypartridge.com

Reviews

[Pierina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great read- suspenseful, interesting and educational. The drama keeps unfolding as we hear the story of ex-pats working in a gold mine in West Papua and their connection with the indigenous people. Through the perspectives of multiple characters we learn of the struggles facing the indigenous West Papuans fighting to keep their culture alive.

[Robert C. smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frightfully Realistic, Informative and Exciting!

To write a novel so realistic in the full range of human actions and emotions can only come from deep research and experience of a masterful journalist! Action Packed from start to finish, the tale takes readers through hardcore challenges of compassion and the horrors of war.

[Karen Thurecht · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fabulous! I spent a lot of time on the Papuan border in the 1980's and this story took me right back there. I loved every minute. It's sad to reflect that not much has changed in forty years. My own experiences supporting freedom fighters are consistent with those described in this contemporary novel. The use of multiple points of view gives the reader a 360 degree persepective. Cleverly done.

[Kieran McDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down, a fascinating read that took me on an adventure with the beautiful people of Papua New Guinea, amid the horror inflicted by a corrupt Indonesian government , Papua Merdeka

[Jessica Partridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Long Pork is an adventure in the jungles of West Papua. Dr Liza works at the big gold mine and treats miners and local West Papuans like Konya. She get mixed up with the free papua movement. This novel is action-packed and not suitable for children.

[Sherrelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story enmeshed with the heartache and reality of the ongoing plight of the Free Papua Movement. Written from the perspective of various characters, we are given the opportunity to see the different points of view of the sadly all too common account of the war between greed and culture.

[Helen Swann · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite book. Really addictive and fun way of learning about some of the issues West Papuan issues they face.Travel, adventure and raises awareness on what's happening in West Papua. A book to read over and over 😍 ✨️