Australian author Anthony O’Connor’s post-apocalyptic novel 'Straya is being adapted into an animated series.

Set in New Sydney with a proverbial accidental hero mutant main character called Franga.

The author has this to say about the novel:

Set in the ruins of Australia, Straya tells the story of Franga, an affable mutant who is forced to care for a bunch of mutie orphans and his increasingly senile friend and mentor, Ken Ages. The story kicks off when Franga accidentally discovers an ancient technology, starting a deadly chain reaction – and unleashing a terrifying creature – that threatens the lives of everyone in New Sydney, maybe all of Straya itself!

Straya is my first original novel. It’s an odd beast, sort of a cross between Mad Max and The Castle, and contains a shitload of imaginative violence, dystopian world building and amateur theatre.

The book is inspired by a lifetime of enjoying the dystopian visions of stuff like Judge Dredd, RoboCop, Mad Max, Fallout, A Boy and His Dog, Soylent Green etc., but with a main character whose skill set could best be described as “staggeringly unsuited to the problem at hand.”

It’s the sort of thing I hope genre fans, dystopia lovers and fellow Australians enjoy, with plenty of gear to make you chuckle, gasp and maybe feel some feelings in your bitter black heart.

All looks great on paper.

Is the book any good?

It has a 4.7 rating on Goodreads and 4.9 on Amazon, though based on only 20 and 39 reviews respectively which makes it difficult to gauge.

Speaking of the series Anthony tells us:

We’re planning to deliver epic sci-fi thrills with a uniquely Aussie twist, so hold onto your daks.

Right away?

Series can easily spend years in development and we reckon our arms would literally drop off.

Meanwhile will there be zombie kangaroos?

We were thinking over the idea of a post-apocalyptic Australia making breakfast and zombie animals are something which several franchises have terrifying brought to our screens, eg. Resident Evil's zombie dogs.

Zombie kangaroos though are an untapped fountain of fear!

The Doomlands Factor

Straya isn't the first post-apocalyptic Australian animated comedy series to cross our desk.

Roku - which isn't available in Australia - has Doomlands.

We thought to look in on it just now and saw that it was renewed for a second season about a month ago.

Perhaps its success proved the viability of ozzie post-apocalyptic animated comedy and served as a launchpad for Straya.

[ Main Image: Straya cover art. Credit: Anthony O'Connor. ]

References

Amazon. Straya Paperback – 1 May 2021 by Anthony O'Connor. (viewed July 13, 2022)

Anthony O'Connor - Official Website. Homepage. (viewed July 13, 2022)

Chapman, Wilson (June 14, 2022). Roku Channel Renews ‘Doomlands’ for Season 2, Orders Two Unscripted Series (TV News Roundup). Variety.

Goodreads. Straya by Anthony O'Connor. (viewed July 13, 2022)

Slatter, Sean (July 12, 2022). Anthony O’Connor’s ‘Straya’ to be adapted into animated series. IF Magazine.