“Do You Want to Get Rich or Do You Want to Stay Poor?”: Peter Carey’s “Exotic Pleasures,” the Romance of Space, and The War of the Worlds

Authors

Claire Corbett, University of Technology, SydneyFollow

Abstract

This article argues that, despite widespread acclaim, the significance of Peter Carey’s early short story publications is still underappreciated. Through exploring the ways in which the powerfully imagined but critically neglected Carey short story “Exotic Pleasures” (1979) uses the template of alien invasion pioneered by H.G. Wells in The War of the Worlds to critique imperialism and colonialism in Australia, I show why critical analysis of this story illuminates the enduring importance of Carey’s science fiction short stories. Through close reading, the article shows how the story’s aesthetics deliver its political and emotional impact and that its use of telling detail anchors the story’s critique to the Australian environment and economy in ways previously unrecognized by critics.

Recommended Citation

Corbett, Claire (2024) "“Do You Want to Get Rich or Do You Want to Stay Poor?”: Peter Carey’s “Exotic Pleasures,” the Romance of Space, and The War of the Worlds," Antipodes: Vol. 37: Iss. 1, Article 12.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/antipodes/vol37/iss1/12