A world where a religious party has come to political power and begun to impose their religious beliefs on everyone. A world where human fertility has plunged to almost zero. In some regards, The Courier’s New Bicycle is not that original. If Sal can’t find who it is, her livelihood, the people she loves, and the small quiet safe life she’s built herself could all be destroyed in a heartbeat or two. Always risky, Sal’s world gets still more dangerous when a mysterious competitor decides to try to put her boss out of business. Either her appearance or her preferences could get her tagged as a transgressor, and both together could get her killed. She herself is androgynous, and prefers women as her sexual partners. A bicycle courier, she primarily transports illegal hormones for the fertility industry, operating in the Melbourne underground. In this world Salisbury Forth treads an increasingly dangerous path. At the same time resources such as fuel and water are in shortening supply, and this affects things such as transport – bicycles are again viable and popular forms of transport. A religious party was voted into power and once in power unveiled a number of unsavoury policies, including those banning fertility treatments, surrogacy arrangements, and indeed any remedy but prayer. A flu vaccine rolled out Australia-wide under the pressure of a deadly pandemic has had the unplanned side effect of all but destroying human fertility. The action takes place in near future Australia. To some extent, this is a crime novel in a science fictional setting. However, while the plot and setting is less unique than in The Daughters of Moab, Westwood maintains her sparse tone and occasionally dark humor.
Also, there is a warmth to this novel that was sometimes lacking in the earlier novel in particular, Westwood now offers an engaging central character. Most notably, the plot is more straightforward and uses some familiar tropes, and that’s going to make it easier for more people to read and enjoy it. It is a novel likely to win her new fans, as it is well written and in some regards more accessible than her debut, The Daughters of Moab. The Courier’s New Bicycle is the second novel from Australian writer Kim Westwood.
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