Australia is in crisis, water has vanished everywhere except the eastern states with the advent of global warming. The population from Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and The Northern Territory have migrated east with millions of Aussies on the move. The political climate changes to a dictatorship as it comes to grip with the overpopulation of the east coast. Across the Tasman, Australia looks with envy at New Zealand with its abundance of water. A plan is devised to use the might of the Australian forces to take the water. To Invade, would New Zealand capitulate or would they fight? It has been two hundred and fifty years since an invasion of NZ. The outcome will be unsure, but the winner will have the biggest prize, Liquid Gold.
Leaving school at the age of fourteen, Owen travelled around New Zealand on a working holiday. Then at the age of seventeen joined the Royal New Zealand Airforce, where he spent eleven years on different bases including a time overseas.
He married his wife Kaye at twenty and they are still together today. Over the years he's had various jobs from driving the big red buses in Christchurch to selling dairy products.
He owned two businesses, a coffee bar/tearooms, and a limousine. Then in 1995 he joined the tourist tram operation in Christchurch and spent the next twenty years with the company, including a year in Auckland helping to set up their operation.
After surviving the devastating earthquakes of 2010 in Christchurch they sold their home after it was repaired, and both Owen and Kaye hit the road in their 5th wheel motor-home. He is now retired, they have two grown children and one Granddaughter.
Owen, a keen Genealogist, motor caravanner, and rugby fanatic with a love of history, has put his hobbies to good use.
He always wondered what it would be like to live back in the turbulent times of New Zealand's history and wrote his first book with this in mind. 'WHISPERS OF THE PAST' is a historical fiction and the first book of a trilogy.
The second book is 'Shadows of the Mind' and 'Clearing of the Mist' rounds up the three book series.
A thrilling roller-coaster of a story, fast paced throughout
This is easily Owen Clough's t t 54.308780 finest work to date. Set in the not too distant future, with Australia on the verge of economic collapse as its water supplies have all but gone, their corrupt, totalitarian prime minister comes up with a plan to invade their neighbours in New Zealand and steal their water. It begins with mass deportation of New Zealand citizens from Australia and the imprisonment of political opponents in the arid dust bowl of Western Australia. Australia then lauches an invasion against their neighbours but things go wrong from the start. Little do they know that New Zealand possesses technology that will soon reduce their invasion fleets literaly to dust. This is a real roller-coaster of a novel, exciting and brilliantly written in a way that ramps up the tension as the war begins and ends, far sooner than the Australian invaders might have expected. A fantastic scenario from the creative mind of the author who fully deserves a full 5 stars for a truly entertaining read.
Tongue- in-check story about NZ and Australia battling in the future,with a Sci-Fi twist to it.Great for anyone who likes the Australians to look silly and the Kiwis the hero’s.
This is one of the best books I have ever read. I felt so good after reading it. It was so well thought out and I loved the way everything turned out. It hasn’t been long since I read it the first time but I am going to read it again as I enjoyed it so much.
What an enjoyable and I guess you would say a timely novel, reminding us of the approaching calamity of a shortage of " Liquid Gold," water. The opening quote was appropriate: “The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.” As an Australian, I had to smile at the concept of being involved in a war with our New Zealand cousins that didn't involve rugby. Yes , the story is slightly tongue in cheek. The opening chapters suggest a bleak and dystopian future with not enough water. But in reality it is a somewhat lighthearted romp. The description of a world 100 years in the future is uncannily believable. Professor Kathy Wong , a New Zealander by accident of birth but in reality a true blue Australian, is a terrific heroine. What struck me with this novel was its originality. Australia at war with our New Zealand neighbors should be a hard concept to sell, but it works. I won't disclose the ending , but I will say it's very satisfying. "Liquid Gold" would make a top flight futuristic Sc-fi movie. Congratulations to author Owen Clough for an enjoyable and thought provoking novel. A must read for those who are concerned for the future of the planet, our planet.
This book was very easy to read and understand and some amazing research has gone into it to create it. Very enjoyable and keeps your imagination ticking over of the possibilities... highly recommend!