The Colony novel introduces two men who want to visit a small remote island on the west coast of Ireland to explore different aspirations during their summer holidays. The first one to arrive is Jean-Pierre, a linguistic professor from France who wants to research the local Irish language. Later, Lloyd, an Englishman from London, arrives at the island to do painting work on every physical object he comes across. The two men with different agendas live in neighboring cottages and view each other as enemies.
When Lloyd sets his journey to the small Irish island, he prefers to use a small boat instead of a modern ship because he wants a full journey experience. Lloyd arrives on the west coast of Ireland and discovers that it is a remote area with less than 100 people, most of whom are Irish native speakers. Lloyd's primary task on this island is to paint every object, including cliffs, rocks, and any other favorable object he comes across.
Interestingly, Magee uses the small island on the west coast of Ireland as a bigger metaphor that represents the colonies, and Lloyd symbolizes the colonizers. Lloyd wants to paint everything he comes across, which in a broader sense, represents the interests of colonizers during that medieval era. Here comes Jean-Pierre, a linguistic professor who looks at Lloyd as a competitor and rival who has come to destroy what he has done to control the local people. Consequently, Jean-Pierre represents the adversary interests of colonizers and their competing appetite for territories.
Later, Lloyd meets James, a young man who wants to do something different from conventional fishing, like his father. James and Lloyd become good friends, and Lloyd discovers that James is a fine artist. The novel concludes when Lloyd decides to mentor James, and he goes with him to England. While in England, James emerges as one of the finest artists in history, and he achieves his dream through Lloyd's assistance.
