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Dirk Wittenborn blames his capacity for comic story telling on his eccentric upbringing. He felt he needed to provide light relief for his serious family. Thanks to the interview thoughtfully provided by his publisher, it was possible to learn, too, that the author craved an occupation which would permit him to sleep in. Thus, the delights of a career in professional writing enticed him. His first novel, Eclipse, was written before he began writing for Saturday Night Live, a true test of his ability to write comedy. His second novel was Zoe. Fierce People, which Wittenborn denies is autobiographical, is his third venture into novel writing. This story is told in the first person, the narrator being fifteen year-old Finn Earl. Everyone likely to read the book would know what it is like to be an adolescent, especially one with a lot of insecurities, but surely Finn's life would cast into shade most of the shortcomings of the average Australian adolescent male. Finn's father, whom he has never met, is a noted anthropologist specialising in the study of the mysterious Yanomam–, the Fierce People, a remote South American tribe living in Amazonia. Finn's thirty-three year-old mother, Liz, after a variety of careers, has settled on being a masseuse. Unfortunately, Liz, despite being great fun when in an exalted state, is a drug addict whose stability is threatened unless she can get regular hits of her preferred poison. Thus, in an attempt to placate her, Finn is caught trying to buy cocaine for her. Finn had been promised a holiday working with his father in Amazonia but that aim is thwarted by his drug bust. In order to protect both Finn and herself and to escape her manipulative, domineering parents, Liz accepts employment with a billionaire, Mr. Osborne, to be his masseuse in New Jersey, in a rich man's ghetto called Vlyvalle. Finn has immersed himself in the idea of being an anthropologist like his father and when he meets the super-rich kids of Vlyvalle initially studies them as he would a foreign tribe, taking notes on their habits and appearance. He also feels compelled to tell the most outrageous falsehoods in order to make himself socially acceptale. By accident Finn finds himself adopted into the 'tribe' and is soon on best friend terms with the Osborne grandchildren, Bryce and Maya. He falls in love with the latter and she with him. Their wild, drug taking and out of control lifestyle becomes even more out of control when Finn is criminally assaulted. Someone is stalking him and, it appears, attempting to kill either him or Bryce. Dirk Wittenborn admits he grew up in a settlement similar to Vlyvalle and that he encountered people very like the characters of his novel. At first I found the theme repugnant and the language difficult to read. I did not like Finn and I could not stand his mother. But the book grew on me. Suddenly I had great empathy for the boy who found himself being forced deeper and deeper into lies to protect himself and his mother, with each in the series of his lies becoming more and more outrageous and difficult to defend. Finn's attempts to improve himself are admirable and the bond he forms with the old man touching. The awful things that happen to Finn sent shudders up my spine. Wittenborn's characterisations are excellent although some of his people are terrifying. The fierce tribe inhabiting Vlyvalle are every bit as alarming as the Yanomam–. The fascinated reader can find it very easy to see the parallels between the behaviour of the two groups. It is also very easy to feel deeply about the bewildered youth as he attempts to fit into the world of the outrageous clan while simultaneously attempting to escape a possible killer. The tale is at once absorbing, amusing and horrifying. What more could a writer hope to achieve? Editor¼s Note: This review is based on the Australian Edition  $Au 29.95 from Bloomsbury
Reviewed by Denise Wels, June 2002
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