Playgrounds: a portrait of rave culture
Playgrounds: a portrait of rave culture, is a novel by Tom Griffin, AbOUT 90's dance and rave culture. Released in 2005, the novel is set during the peak period of the culture in the late 90's. Set in Melbourne, Australia, the novel explores the warehouse rave scene and incorporates references to some of the biggest name DJ's and artists of the time. It is the first Australian novel set in real time to portray a night at a rave and the experiences that can occur.
The novel was launched at a dance festival at The Famous Kryal Castle in Melbourne in 2005. It later simply became known by its shorter title Playgrounds.
Literary significance and reception
Playgrounds: a portrait of rave culture was an underground hit amongst the dance community in Australia, although it was criticized in some circles for its portrayal of [...] use within the culture. Australia's dance music website http://www.inthemix.com.au said that readers will 'gain an insight into the heady world of rave culture, what it is like to dance eight hours straight & the stomach churning euphoria the beat of the doof can create'. DJ luminaries Binary Finary stated: 'Playgrounds: it brought back the good, the bad and the [...] right crazy'.