Tomorrow, When the War Began
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invading army?
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Jeremy
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May 10, 2012 07:07AM
does it ever mention in book 1 who the invading army is? or is it just a generic invading army so the author doesn't have to upset anyone?
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Pretty sure it's Indonesia, but if you read it in the current context (year 2000 onwards), it would be China.
The country was never named as John didn't want to isolate any of his audience, although it is presumed that the army was Asian. The film took a chance by giving the army a face, but even then they aren't named.
I don't think it's Indonesia invading because in the book one of the charictors says they speak a langue they don't reconize and that charictor was in the book said to spaek (metaphoricly or non metaphoricly) like 6 langues. Indonesia is very close to Australia and speak Aribic. that charictor would have reconized it. It's more likely to be Japan because Australia has alot of land and that would be usefull to them.
North Korea invaded them. If you look into the details on the soldiers clothing, you can see the North Korean flag printed on the helmet. Hope this helps.
being a lifelong Australian I can tell you that it was either China or North Korea. Obviously the author couldn't name them for social reasons, but I think they were what he had in mind. I think it was most likely China because although we have good relations with them, if we cut out beef production to them, or something simmilar, they would probably be in here in a heartbeat.
Ashley wrote: "I don't think it's Indonesia invading because in the book one of the charictors says they speak a langue they don't reconize and that charictor was in the book said to spaek (metaphoricly or non me..."
Yes I thought it was Japan. I don't know why, but the whole time that's who I thought it was.
Yes I thought it was Japan. I don't know why, but the whole time that's who I thought it was.
Jack wrote: "being a lifelong Australian I can tell you that it was either China or North Korea. Obviously the author couldn't name them for social reasons, but I think they were what he had in mind. I think it..."
Being a life long Australian, I have to agree with you a little.
Being a life long Australian, I have to agree with you a little.
Ashley wrote: "I don't think it's Indonesia invading because in the book one of the charictors says they speak a langue they don't reconize and that charictor was in the book said to spaek (metaphoricly or non me..."If you read the books, it says japan is helping the kiwis and giving them better equipment, (the main thing I read was jet fighters/bombers)
Ashley wrote: "I don't think it's Indonesia invading because in the book one of the charictors says they speak a langue they don't reconize and that charictor was in the book said to spaek (metaphoricly or non me..."Sorry but you are completely wrong, Indonesians don't speak Arabic just because they're in a predominantly Muslim country, they speak Bahasa Indonesia which I study... If you actually read the whole series you'd know that the Japanese were helping NZ take back Australia and as to claims of it being DPRK or China, they didn't have the power to take over Australia at that time because they'd have had to fight Japan and invade almost every country in between Australia and themselves so as to keep supply lines
John Marsden purposely made it that there wasn't a country, but the movie went and messed that
It can only be China no other nation that is Asian has the capability to invade Australia this book is extremely unrealistic and they think that Nz could hold back an invading super power when Australia couldn't, now Australia hasn't got the military to compete with China or the coalition that is claimed to be invading but we have a decent military to the point were we could hold back any country but China in the region. The suggestions saying that North Korea did it is impossible they would struggle to take South Korea on. And what Australia lacks in military is made up in alliances the USA would respond along with the commonwealth Britain ect because of these alliances any country would be deterred. Also there is no way that if China did invade that Australia nor New Zealand could stand against them let along some teens who pick up a gun that is extremely illegal in Australia. In conclusion it is China Japan founder do it nor Indonesia, I also don't understand how a country can move such an military force so Close to ur borders when in reality we detected one or two warships ages away.
It probably might not be China, as there are multiple times when Fiona said that she understands Chinese when they were using the radio, and concerning that this series was first written in 1993, China was not a strong country back then (eg nowadays downtown Shanghai was fields of grass in 1990). I think possible countries are North Korea and Russia. Indonesia is not very likely as it is also very weak, while we all know that North Korea is a crazy country with unknown power. It could most likely be Russia as most of its territories are in Asia and despite the break up of USSR, Russia inherited most of Soviet's weapons and remained the largest power in Asia at that time.
In my opinion it have to be either Japan (because of World War 2 and Japanese proposed and invasion of Australia), North Korea, South Korea, or China (population and lack of resources). How I found out that it was filmed in Australia is because of where the places they filmed some in Ballart and near the Snowy Mountains in NSW (I think).
I believe that as the book is from the children's point of view the obscured invader represents the lack of awareness of the world. The mystery shares their plight and frame of mind with us readers as a passive participant with the same uncertainty questionioning and hypothesize to ourselves and each other beyond what we can no for sure. a subtle and powerfuly constant link to their experience.Oh and super p.c. for every over sensitive sort . ;)
Ashley wrote: "I don't think it's Indonesia invading because in the book one of the charictors says they speak a langue they don't reconize and that charictor was in the book said to spaek (metaphoricly or non me..."Indonesia doesn't speak Arabic - They speak Bahasa
If we're going to include the 2016 TV show, then the Thai flag is clearly visible on soldiers and equipment on multiple occasions.
Jamie wrote: "If we're going to include the 2016 TV show, then the Thai flag is clearly visible on soldiers and equipment on multiple occasions."I watched the TV series. It's not. The flag shows two yellow stripes at the top and bottom, red or black in the middle, and rarely a yellow star.
Fitch wrote: "North Korea invaded them. If you look into the details on the soldiers clothing, you can see the North Korean flag printed on the helmet. Hope this helps."The color of the flag is different.
Fitch wrote: "North Korea invaded them. If you look into the details on the soldiers clothing, you can see the North Korean flag printed on the helmet. Hope this helps."No. They were not North Koreans. Either they may be, or not at all. In the television series, there was one soldier who looks like a European or an American. Other than that, in the movie, Australia was invaded by a coalition of nations, and the army is still considered as a continental force and not a single invading country. Besides, the uniforms of the Korean People's Army are different. They only have few Kevlar vests and mostly their uniforms are brown and green. The only ones that wear black are tank crews, and the helmets look similar to that of the 1939 Polish Army uniform.
Folks, it's not meant to be any particular country. It's a made-up flag in the series, and no discernable flag in the earlier movie.The world was a VERY different place when this book was written. The Soviet Union had only just collapsed!
I studied this book at school when it was first released in 1993, and have followed the series' progress and evolution over all those years. John Marsden and many others connected to the story have said hundreds of times that it's not meant to be any particular, real country.
They make the army Asian in adaptations because we are surrounded by Asian countries here, but they didn't want to offend anyone by using their nation as the aggressor.
North Korea is far too poor to invade anyone. To suggest Japan or Thailand is not reflective of the world today. In the current political climate it would probably be China, but kids have been reading these books for a few generations, and political dramas change each year.
I don't think it can be China surely, because several times it's mentioned that the country invades because of a lack of living space, and the need for more space and resources for the growing population. This just doesn't fit with China and makes Japan far more likely. However, I just don't think it particularly matters.
If you think about it they sent a shit ton of planes full invasion force. If it came from china, Japan etc radars would have picked it easily as they would take ages to get there. Indonesia on the other hand needs more space and is super close to us. Therefore I believe it was them.
Bat wrote: "It can only be China no other nation that is Asian has the capability to invade Australia " This is wrong as Timothy wrote: "they sent a s**t ton of planes full invasion force. If it came from china, Japan etc radars would have picked it easily as they would take ages to get there. Indonesia on the other hand needs more space and is super close to us." This makes more sense so can't be China. Japan would have been an option but how Animal states "If you read the books, it says Japan is helping the kiwis and giving them better equipment," They help the kiwis so the wouldn't help someone from themselves. Back to the rebuttal of Bat's post another piece is wrong Bat wrote and I quote "this book is extremely unrealistic and they think that Nz could hold back an invading super power when Australia couldn't, now Australia hasn't got the military to compete with China or the coalition that is claimed to be invading but we have a decent military to the point were we could hold back any country but China in the region." 'They think NZ could hold back an invading superpower.' Yes they could with help from Japan with radar and supplies. Also Aus couldn't fend the invaders off for 4 reasons. 1. They have less land and the main force would be taking Australia as the surface area of Aus is much greater than NZ. 2. They had no time to prepare. 3. Every nation was shocked the timing of the first invasion was set to a public holiday where everyone was celebrating. And for my last reason Aus had not much in relations to a defense force.Then Bat scarps all that in one or two sentences "The suggestions saying that North Korea did it is impossible they would struggle to take South Korea on. And what Australia lacks in military is made up in alliances the USA would respond along with the commonwealth Britain ect because of these alliances any country would be deterred." Yup to the first bit that is true and the same for alliances but if you read further on 'because of these alliances any country' country singular but Jhon Marsden states that it was a coalition meaning a group so a quick strike against a relatively unprotected giant landmass with the other allies across either the pacific or the other side of the world. They would have thought that a quick strike a night secure the important places make AUS unable to act then hold AUS hostage as they mislead the world saying they hold AUS hostage the Australian leaders are out of the country and the only intel the world has is the info the unknown coalition gives out and 5-8 teens that are in one area.
Shall we continue, so the next part I will pull apart is this, "Also there is no way that if China did invade that Australia nor New Zealand could stand against them let along some teens who pick up a gun that is extremely illegal in Australia. In conclusion it is China" First point yes AUS could if they had the same defense force we have now back then. China if they are this mysterious coalition? They could only move small forces into Indonesia first then they would have to launch an attack on Darwin or Cairns thus giving them an airport that would be easy to convert into an airbase. We know this didn't happen. 'Let along (alone) some teens who pick up a gun that is highly illegal' Hmm, this was difficult until I realized gun licences most of the main characters live on farms or in a farming community/ outback. This means that at least Ellie and Homer would have some experience with guns, Chris experiments with stuff in his basement and Kevin likes to blow stuff up so they could actually do some damage especially as they enemy doesn't know they exist. Last quote "I also don't understand how a country can move such an military force so Close to ur borders when in reality we detected one or two warships ages away." Umm the answer to this is that being better at stealth then the other group is better at detection also move them in small groups. Attack from the south where Australia wouldn't be looking as much. In conclusion it doesn't matter like Ginger, Natalia,
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