I read “On the beach” years ago and was struck by the fact that it was an oddly hopeful story in the face of certain death.
The Far Country (1952): A young woman travels to Australia. A condemnation of British socialism and the national health service.
In the Wet (1953); an Anglican priest tells the story of an Australian aviator. This embraces a drug-induced flash forward to Britain in the 1980s. The novel criticizes British socialism.
So Disdained (1928), written soon after the General Strike of 1926, reflected the debate in British Society about socialism and considered whether Italian fascism was an effective antidote.
Ruined City (1938; U.S. title: Kindling) a rich banker revives a town economically with a shipbuilding company through questionable financial dealings. He goes to jail for fraud, but the shipyard revives. Ruined City was distilled from Shute’s experiences in trying to set up his own aircraft company.