The first working title for The unusual life of Tristan Smith was 'Inside the mouse' and the second was 'The Dog, The Duck and The Mouse' (also known as 'Dog, Duck, Mouse'). It was first published in 1994 in Australia by University of Queensland Press and in the United Kingdom by Faber & Faber. The book was written with two sections: Book 1 'My life in Efica' (Chapters 1-58) and Book 2 'Travels in Voorstand' (Chapters 1-56).This subseries includes drafts, complete and incomplete, with details of drafts and versions in the footers of most. Drafts are mainly computer printouts with handwritten emendations, extensive on some drafts; also included are printouts of Carey's computer directory giving details of files which indicate his work schedule. Some folders of 5th and 6th draft material have interleaved sheets of handwritten notes by Alison Summers. The unusual life of Tristan Smith was winner of the Age Book of the Year Award in 1994.

This subseries consists of revised drafts, working notes, index cards, proofs and correspondence relating to the novel Bliss. This novel had several working titles: 'Heaven's door', 'A garden at the end of the world', 'On the edges of the empire', 'A wonderful fool' and 'Waiting for the Barbarians'. Bliss was published in Australia by University of Queensland Press in 1981. This was Peter Carey's first novel and won the Miles Franklin Award 1981 and New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards 1982.