{{Short description|2025 novel by Omar Musa}} {{DISPLAYTITLE:''Fierceland''}} '''''Fierceland''''' is a 2025 novel by Malaysian-Australian writer and musician Omar Musa. It won the 2026 Victorian Premier's Prize for Fiction.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cain |first=Sian |date=2026-02-25 |title=Evelyn Araluen wins $125,000 for ‘politically uncompromising’ poetry at Victorian premier’s literary awards |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/feb/25/evelyn-araluen-wins-victorian-premiers-literary-awards-2026 |access-date=2026-02-25 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
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.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Heyman-Griffiths |first=Seren |date=2025-09-18 |title=Fierceland by Omar Musa review – poet and rapper’s second novel pulses with life |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/sep/19/fierceland-by-omar-musa-review-poet-and-rappers-second-novel-pulses-with-life |access-date=2026-01-14 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-21 |title=In 'Fierceland', Omar Musa returns to Sabah roots to tell a story of family |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/culture/2025/09/21/in-039fierceland039-omar-musa-returns-to-sabah-roots-to-tell-a-story-of-family |access-date=2026-01-14 |website=The Star |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bianchino |first=Giacomo |date=2026-01-11 |title=The epic novel runs amok in Omar Musa’s Fierceland |url=http://theconversation.com/the-epic-novel-runs-amok-in-omar-musas-fierceland-266790 |access-date=2026-01-14 |website=The Conversation |language=en-US}}</ref> Written in English, it also features words from Malay, Manglish and Tamil.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-15 |title=“Fierceland” by Omar Musa |url=https://asianreviewofbooks.com/fierceland-by-omar-musa/ |access-date=2026-01-14 |website=Asian Review of Books |language=en-US}}</ref> The novel was reviewed in ''The Guardian''<ref name=":0" /> and <u>''The Edge''</u>.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Australian-Sabahan poet Omar Musa’s latest novel 'Fierceland' powerfully exemplifies the ‘struggle of making’ |url=https://www.optionstheedge.com/topic/culture/australian-sabahan-poet-omar-musa%E2%80%99s-latest-novel-fierceland-powerfully-exemplifies- |access-date=2026-01-14 |website=www.optionstheedge.com |language=en}}</ref>
In 2026, it was shortlisted for the fiction category of ''The Age'' Book of the Year Awards<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-04-15 |title=The Age Book of the Year 2026 shortlists announced |url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2026/04/15/327819/the-age-book-of-the-year-2026-shortlists-announced/ |access-date=2026-04-17 |publisher=Books+Publishing}}</ref> and longlisted for the Miles Franklin Award.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-05-20 |title=Miles Franklin 2026 longlist announced |url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2026/05/20/330097/miles-franklin-2026-longlist-announced/ |access-date=2026-05-20 |publisher=Books+Publishing}}</ref>
== References == <references /> Category:Novels set in Malaysia Category:2025 Australian novels Category:Environmental fiction books Category:Novels set in Los Angeles Category:Novels set in Australia Category:Novels set in 2018 Category:Novels set in 1998 Category:Malaysian novels Category:Novels set in Borneo