''Blockade'' is a 1998 novel written by Derek Hansen about logging in Australia.

Plot summary

The

protagonist A protagonist () is the main character of a story. The protagonist makes key decisions that affect the plot, primarily influencing the story and propelling it forward, and is often the character who faces the most significant obstacles. If a ...

is Miklos Bollok, a logging company owner who uses corrupt politicians to clear-fell the last remaining wilderness in

Victoria, Australia Victoria, commonly abbreviated as Vic, is a state in southeastern Australia. It is the second-smallest state (after Tasmania), with a land area of ; the second-most-populated state (after New South Wales), with a population of over 7 million; ...

. He is stymied by a

direct action Direct action is a term for economic and political behavior in which participants use agency—for example economic or physical power—to achieve their goals. The aim of direct action is to either obstruct a certain practice (such as a governm ...

campaign by conservationists. His downfall also comes about by a dark secret that is made public by his wife.

Release details

*1998, Australia, HarperCollins, (), Pub date 1 January 1998, paperback (First edition) *1999, reprinted, ().

Reception

Jean Ferguson of the Illawarra Mercury calls it "A passionate and explosive new novel from a great storyteller". Herald Sun's Simon Caterson writes "A well-spun yarn lasting 500 easily digestible pages, Blockade seems destined to repeat the commercial success of his earlier books". Stephen Prickett of the Canberra Times writes "Once set in motion, the action is fast-moving, sometimes funny, sometimes violent, but always compulsively gripping".

References

1998 Australian novels Environmental fiction books Novels set in Victoria (state) {{1990s-novel-stub