"Carpentaria" is a sprawling and epic novel set in the fictional town of Desperance, located in the Gulf of Carpentaria in northern Australia. The story follows the lives of the powerful Phantom family, particularly the enigmatic matriarch Norm Phantom, and their interactions with the white mining company that threatens their ancestral lands. Filled with magical realism, indigenous mythology, and social commentary, the book explores themes of colonization, identity, and the struggle for survival in a harsh and unforgiving landscape.