War is a racket and culture is blind! This fascinating Afghani novel, a piece of contemporary war fiction, features a dual timeline that vividly explores war and culture.
Welcome to the world of contemporary war fiction where Brendon Patrick’s “AFGHANI” stands out as a lone, but powerful and uncompromising voice that dares to explore the dark side of military life.
Set against the backdrop of Australia’s longest running war, in Afghanistan, this captivating novel offers readers a visceral journey through two interconnected timelines. It is here where Brendon masterfully weaves together the modern-day experiences of soldier with the historical narrative of George Sher Gul, a 19th-century cameleer who ventures off into a collision course with a ‘White Australia’.
The Dual Timeline and Contemporary War Fiction.
Brendon combines these two characters in an intimate and innovative narrative:
Modern-day Conflict: The primary timeline follows Patterson, a young and naïve recruit who quickly finds himself dumped into the heart of the brutal Afghanistan War. His narrative offs a raw and unflinching look into the fatuous and often corrupt nature of modern war.
19th Century Australian Frontier: The secondary timeline traces George Sher Gul’s journey from a war-torn Afghanistan to outback Australia where he plays a crucial role in the country’s early development.
Brendon has employed this structure to draw deep and profound parallels between the historical contexts and the contemporary experiences of both Afghans and Australians. It is here that he can highlight themes of cultural discord, human resilience, and the enduring impact human connection.
George Sher Gul: A Pioneer and a Pariah
At the heart of the historical story, George Sher Gul arrives as a complex but integral figure. As a cameleer, in 19th-century Australia, Sher Gul also represents an often forgotten, but vitally important passage in Australia’s early history—that is the significant contribution the Afghan Cameleers made to the early exploration and development of the nation.
Brendon brings Sher Gul’s experiences to life with his colourful prose:
“I’m a goddamned Cameleer, and there’s nothing more to it!”
Affirming Sher Gul’s powerful sense of identity, with being a cameleer and his straightforward nature.
Several other aspects of Sher Gul’s story include:
The challenges faced by the Afghani under the rule of a ‘White Australia’ policy. The forgotten role of the cameleers in exploring and connecting remote regions of Australia. And the cultural discord and conflict that often occurred between the Afghani and White Australia.
Themes Which Bridge Time and Culture
By crossing over these two narratives, Brendon explores and even shines a spotlight on several overarching themes.
Afghan Cultural Heritage and Understanding
Each timeline expresses the distinct nature of the challenges, and the rewards when two foreign cultures meet. In the modern narrative, we see a young Australian grappling with his role in a misguided war. While in Sher Gul, we see the struggle, and the triumph of an immigrant navigating often hostile environments.
Brendon illustrates this through poignant moments of connection and conflict:
“This here’s Miriam, my daughter. She’s as stubborn as a Mallee Bull, and refuses to stay at home, like a good woman should. I tell yers, what she needs is strong man to straighten her out. But if I catch any of you savages messing about, I swear to God, I’ll hang you by the short and curlies.”
Resilience in the Face of Adversity
In the face of adversity, each of our protagonists display remarkable resilience. There’s the soldier’s ability to cope with the harshest realities of an unjust war. This is paralleled by Sher Gul’s grit and determination in his endeavours to carve out a life in the unforgiving Australian outback.
“I pulled aside a green Army trunk and sat on top, with a clear view West to the Sar-e Tangi Mountain. It towered over the valley, with its brown, demonic and razor-sharp craggy edges. We were sitting in the middle of hell on earth, but those mountains were the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.”
Wars Impact on Identity
In writing “Afghani” Brendon emphasises how individual interactions can have far reaching consequences, and rewards. Sher Gul’s contribution to Australia’s early development leaves behind a long-lasting legacy. While the soldier leaves Afghanistan with feelings of grief, guilt, and a crisis of identity.
Conclusion
Brendon Patrick’s “Afghani” is more than just contemporary war fiction, it’s a historical journey across generations. It’s a nuanced tale and a deep exploration into the heart of cultural interaction. And the atrocities of war, creating a legacy that stays buried within those who experience it first-hand. By bridging the experiences between those of a modern soldier, and that of a 19th-century cameleer, a rich tapestry is created. It will challenge readers to consider the complex relationships between nations, both across culture and time.
If you are looking to explore the complexities of modern warfare, and the early days of Australia’s multicultural resistances, I highly recommend “Afghani” by Brendon Patrick as an essential read. It offers a unique, and often first-hand perspective that spans centuries, connecting past and present in a thought-provoking way.
[Brendon Patrick is a retired Australian soldier. A veteran of Afghanistan and Timor-Leste campaigns, and is a descendent of the Afghan, Muslim Cameleers. “Afghani” will be available through most online retailers in July-August 2025.]
Updated design of the cover for ‘Afghani’ by Brendon Patrick
