Stargazers

While some forms of satire go for the jugular, wielding their themes and real-life precedents like a sledgehammer, Duncan Sarkies’ (Scarfies, Two Little Boys) third book, Stargazers, opts for a less caustic path and is all the better for it. And despite the Star Trek-like font and cover art, the book is no cosmic exploration of our place in the universe. Instead, using the relatively niche world of alpaca breeding as his lens, Sarkies humorously examines the political machinations that govern us, and how we deal (or don’t deal) with them.

The story revolves around a cast of Kiwi alpaca breeders, the governing body ABONZ (Alpaca Breeders Organisation of NZ) that oversees their activities, and its publication, the Alpaca News. When the results of ABONZ’s election are called into question, tensions escalate between the two dominant parties: The Breeders Party (big money, status quo, possibly corrupt) and The Reformers (progressive, less money, and less power). Add in a mysterious disease affecting the alpaca population, and the smouldering flames of discontent can’t help but ignite in a comically awkward fashion.

Sarkies’ characters range from those seeking justice, to people-pleasing pushovers, to the bullies at the top of the heap, like the controlling and unshakeable Shona Tisdall, alpaca breeder and producer of VitAl Paca Health Biscuits, which may have something to do with the declining health of the alpaca population. Opposing Shona is the caring but abrasive Willemijn De Vries, firmly set on her crusade to right the listing ship that is ABONZ. But, in some wonderfully written chapters, we also spend ample time with the creatures themselves, gaining crucial insight into the very animals the whole story revolves around.

Sarkies threads his tale with humour and pathos, ultimately painting a sobering, all-too-familiar picture: the status quo will ultimately reassert itself, and those fighting the good fight will be left to lick their wounds and regroup, hopefully stronger for the next round.