The Island of Last Things
A sci-fi novel about imagining a better world.
The Island of Last Things is a science-fiction novel by Australian author Emma Sloley. The story follows characters navigating a future marked by environmental disaster, emphasizing small acts of beauty and care rather than succumbing to despair. The novel’s central plea—a character asking another to promise to imagine a better world—has been noted as a key thematic element, though no major critical reviews from Locus Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, Library Journal, ArtsHub, or Kirkus Reviews have been published as of 2024.
Quick Facts
- Author
- Emma Sloley
- Country
- Australia
- Language
- English
- Genre
- Science Fiction Novel
- Publisher
- Text Publishing
- Release Date
- 12 August 2025
- Media Type
- Pages
- 272 pp.
- Isbn
- 9781923058606
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Island of Last Things is a science-fiction novel by Australian writer Emma Sloley. The novel's central plea, 'Promise me you’ll start imagining a better world than this one,' is a key statement. However, no confirmed reviews from Niall Harrison, Ilana Masad, or other critics have been published, as the novel has not been released as of 2024.
Reader's Guide
The Island of Last Things has been noted for its earnest hope and its refusal to let characters give in to despair, even as it presents a plausible future for the natural world. Jessica Epstein of the Library Journal praised its exploration of interconnectedness and the ways people can care for each other, giving equal space to human and animal characters. Ella Pilson of ArtsHub gave the novel 3.5/5 stars, calling it 'almost a literary take on Jurassic Park' and noting that its earnest hope draws readers in. Kirkus Reviews described it as 'an all-too-plausible look at what the future might hold for the natural world and the people who strive to protect it.' The novel's significance lies in its call to imagine a better world as a necessary step toward creating it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the author of The Island of Last Things?
Emma Sloley, an Australian writer, is the author of this science fiction novel.
What is The Island of Last Things about?
The novel follows characters living in a future scarred by environmental catastrophe, where the narrative centers on finding small moments of beauty and tenderness instead of surrendering to hopelessness.
What is the key thematic moment in The Island of Last Things?
A pivotal scene involves one character asking another to promise that they will continue to imagine a better world, which has been identified as the book's central thematic plea.
Has The Island of Last Things been published?
As of 2024, the novel has not yet been released to the public and remains unpublished.
What makes The Island of Last Things stand out in Australian science fiction?
Rather than dwelling on dystopian despair, the story foregrounds quiet acts of care and beauty as a form of resistance against an environmentally devastated future.
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