Fierceland
2025 novel by Omar Musa
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Fierceland is a 2025 novel by Malaysian Australian writer and musician Omar Musa.[1] It is the winner of the top literary prize in Australia, the Miles Franklin Award.
| Author | Omar Musa |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Novel |
| Publisher | Penguin |
| Publication date | 2 September 2025 |
| Publication place | Australia |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 384 pp. |
| Awards | 2026 Miles Franklin Award, winner; 2026 Victorian Premier's Prize for Fiction, winner |
| ISBN | 9781926428796 |
Synopsis
The novel follows the children of a wealthy palm oil baron in Sabah, who are traumatised by a trip into the rainforest with their father. Living abroad as adults, they return to Kota Kinabalu for his funeral and must confront their past.[2][3] The novel addresses environmental degradation and deforestation. It follows several different time periods and locations, and includes elements of poetry and verse, with one poem written by Musa translated into several of the languages of Sabah.[4]
Written in English, it also features words from Malay, Manglish, and Tamil.[5]
Reception and accolades
The novel was reviewed in The Guardian[2] and The Edge.[6]
In 2026, it won the Victorian Premier's Prize for Fiction[7] and the Miles Franklin Award.[8] It was also shortlisted for the fiction category of The Age Book of the Year Awards.[9]