Gods of war by Ashok K. Banker

"Gods of war" by Ashok K. Banker. This book is published by Penguin in 2009 and has 282 pages. This is a  Sci-fi.

Aliens have attacked earth and taken over all living things. Five people from five parallel worlds survive. Santosh, a young boy from Mumbai chawl; Ruth, a lesbian welder from America; Salim, a middle aged Briton of Pakistani origin and Yoki-Akeshi, twins & creators of Manga comics in Japan. Responsibility to save the world now lies on them.

Will they meet? Can they fight the alien thing? Will they get help or guidance? Is world in danger? Can the world be saved? Why these five survive whereas all others are 'taken'?

The take over by aliens is interesting. Concept of meeting God is a novelty. Fight between science and religion for the control of heaven is also curious.

Narration and story is slow. There are long stretches when nothing happens. The description of the out of world things does not entice the readers. Although there are other beings who do not belong to earth or world or time or dimension, the explanations and references given by the 'guide' are only for earthlings. What happens to others is not known. Until you reach half way, readers don't understand who the threat is from or what the threat is. The climax is actually an anti climax. You feel like you have wasted a lot of time reading the book.

Author has used the concept of relativity in the book. Explaining theory of relativity in a novel is never easy but author has done a good job. Ashok has also tried to explain inexplicable, things that human mind can not comprehend, parallel worlds, eleven dimensions etc in this book.

Generally speaking, I am not a fan of sci-fi. I purchased this book because I liked previous books written by Ashok Banker. However after reading the book, I was disappointed, very disappointed. I completed the book only because I do not like to leave books unfinished.

The font used for this book is very small. Made reading difficult. With normal font it would have been 350 pages.

Avoid.

Mumbaistan by Piyush Jha

"Mumbaistan" by Piyush Jha. This book is published by Rupa in 2012 and has 248 pages. This book is the collection of three thriller novellas.

Bomb Day: Tanweer, a gangster, is recruited by ACP Hani to lure a prostitute in Kamathipura who is lover of Alamzeb, a Pakistani terrorist who had entered India on 26/11 in another dinghy with his accomplices and is staying in Mumbai as sleeper cell. The story is fast paced and full of double crosses and triple crosses. What is the target of the terrorists? Can ACP Hani save the day? Is Tanweer a patriot Muslim?

Injectionwala: A reputed doctor is killed by a lethal injection. After his murder it's found out that he was the mastermind of kidney racket. His doctor daughter and her fiancé know the identity of the killer. More people involved in racket are killed by injectionwala. He is liked by public. Who is injectionwala? Who's his last kill? Can inspector Virkar find the injectionwala?

Coma Man: Samir Khanna wakes up from coma after 19 years and finds the world changed frighteningly. The only thing he remembers is that it's birthday of his lovely wife Bahar. He escapes the hospital to find his wife and has harrowing experiences. With each experience some of his memory comes back. Where is his wife? Can he find her? Is she waiting for him?

Three thriller novellas in a book is an innovative idea. Generally it takes time to build a thriller. To do it in a novella (or long stories) is not easy. However one has to agree that none of these stories could be made into a full length novel without compromising on quality. So the idea of novellas was correct.

Piyush Jha is known as a talented film maker. This is his first step at writing. To my knowledge he is third film maker after Fahad Samar and Neeraj Pande who has turned author. Piyush has done well. The narration is fast, interesting and to the point. You hardly get bored.

There is a common theme in three stories. Each includes multiple deaths. Each has suspense. Each has a shock towards end when the mastermind is revealed. The mastermind is of a particular category. It is good to have a common thread in stories but here it becomes predictable. When I started third story, I more or less knew the ending.

Read if you like thrillers. Ideal if you don't like lengthy books.

Atra, Tatra, Sarvatra (अत्र, तत्र, सर्वत्र) by Aniruddha Banhatti (अनिरुद्ध बनहट्टी)

"Atra, Tatra, Sarvatra (अत्र, तत्र, सर्वत्र)" a Marathi (मराठी) book by Aniruddha Banhatti (अनिरुद्ध बनहट्टी). This book is published by Esahitya pratishthan in 2015 and has 50 pages. The booklet is a collection of 3 stories.

In 'Atra (अत्र)' meaning 'Here', Rewati, a 30 years old unmarried lady works in a mall. She finds a hidden and furnished suit in the basement mall that provides her material pleasures, all material pleasures. Is it a parallel world? Would she like to be 'here'?

In 'Tatra (तत्र)' meaning 'There', Girish, a middle aged painter starts seeing things that ask him to go 'There'. 'There' is a location where he was found unconscious and a young girl, subject of his portrait, was found dead. What is 'there'?

In Sarvatra (सर्वत्र) meaning 'everywhere', Sudheer wakes up in a hospital. He goes in and our of consciousness and in this state of delirium he revisits his memories, not only from past but from past lives as well. He also remembers each death, each a sudden death. Will he live or die and will he go 'Everywhere'?

All stories have psychological complexity. They are the thoughts which are generally not spelled out. They linger on the border of reality and fantasy.

Each story has one or more deaths. Each story has sex (श्रृंगार) in it. The description is bold. In each story the main character tries something different, something exciting, something forbidden to break away from every day life but can not really do it.

Why the name Atra, Tatra, Sarvatra (Here, there, everywhere). Well probably only to rhyme. The names of the stories could have been something else as well.

This book is published only as eBook, not printed and is free for download to everyone. A good initiative by esahitya.

Read it for a change.

The Emperor's Riddles by Satyartha Nayak

"The Emperor's Riddles" by Satyartha Nayak. This book is published by Amaryllis in 2014 and has 398 pages. This is Satyarth's debut novel.

Nine brutal murders take place. Ninth murder victim makes a mark of Om on his cheek before dying. His daughter calls Professor Om Patnaik. (Does this remind you of Da Vinci code?). The constellation (a secret organization) sends them on a quest.

What is'The constellation'? Why are they sent on a quest? What lies at the end? What is the secret society guarding? Can they do it? Who is murderer?

This is the third fiction on the "Nine unknowns" that I read in last two years. Nine unknowns was a secret society constituted by Samrat Ashok, in 261 BC, after Kalinga war, when he recognized the devastation science can cause. He handed over nine sciences to nine learned men and asked them to hide them from humanity. The nine sciences are Psychology (Psychological warfare), Physiology, Biotechnology, Alchemy, Communication (Extra terrestrial), Gravitation (Flying machines), Cosmology, Light (Laser) & Sociology

It is said that in those days science was much more advanced than today, with flying machines, nuclear weapons and what not. The nine unknowns have been hiding them ever since. 'The nine unknowns' is considered the most ancient secret society. As compared to it 'The Illuminati' or the 'Freemasons' are mere babies.

Though the concept is most interesting, the execution is not. Rather than sticking to mystery, author has tried to bring in angle of science fiction without explaining how the robots appear. The motive of murders is also weak and how two people find eight other Mahatmas who were hidden for centuries is also not elaborated.

The book did not generate interest in me and I took more than two months to read it. Since this is a book about esoteric, clues and symbols; author should have supplemented the text with figures. For example evolution of number nine.

Give it a miss.

Mumbai Avengers by S. Hussain Zaidi

"Mumbai Avengers" by S. Hussain Zaidi with Gabriel Khan. This book is published by Harper Collins publishers India in March 2015 and has 392 pages. This will soon be made into a major motion picture called 'Phantom'.

26/11 attack on Mumbai, by Pakistani terrorists, is itched deep on India's mind. Retired Lt. General Sayed Ali Waris devices a daredevil plan to eliminate four masterminds of this attack. No one from government wants to support. India is a democracy and can not act illegally. Waris puts together a team of six with tactical support of SKY (Chief of RAW).

Will this black ops team clear the bureaucratic and political hurdle? Will the team get a chance of revenge? Can India sustain pressure of world politics? Can the team enter Pakistan? Will India avenge?

The book is fast paced yet simple. The daredevil acts of Indian special agents are thrilling. Narration is dramatic. Cat and mouse game between Indian team and RAW is also thrilling. The book is written keeping in mind that it will be a motion picture soon.

Assassinations in Turkey, Sweden and Pakistan are interesting. Infiltration and exfiltration from Pakistan is also interesting. It includes disguise, deception, chases and lot of ammunition fire. I felt that the very end of book is wrapped up bit too fast.

S. Hussain Zaidi is a well known non fiction writer. This is his first first foray into fiction. Since he has written this fiction based on facts, the transition is smooth.

Any book that kindles patriotism has a good chance of being successful. If it also includes a good story, gripping narrative, daredevil thrills, secret agencies and avenging terrorists; it is a definite recipe of success.

A good thriller. Indians will love it.

Malice by Keigo Higashino

"Malice" by Keigo Higashino. This book is published by Little brown in 2014 and has 288 pages. This is a murder mystery. First of Detective Kaga series.

Osamu Nonoguchi is a children's story writer in Tokyo. He is a childhood friend of famous author Kunihiko Hidaka. One day Nonoguchi and Hidaka's second wife Rei find Hidaka dead. Detective Kyoichiro Kaga is assigned to the case.

Whodunit? Why? Is there more than what meets the eye? Is the key in the past?

This is a murder investigation but is very different from the usual whodunnits. In a normal mystery the process of investigation is concentrated on finding the murderer. Readers come to know the identity of murderer in the last few pages of novel.

This book departs from this formula. Here murder takes place, investigation starts, murderer is identified and murderer confesses; all within first 30% of the book. Then on starts the investigation to find out motive and reason of murder. That's done by the time book reaches 70%. What happens in the remaining book?

Keigo Higashino Is a famous Japanese author. I think this was my first ever book by a Japanese author set in Japan. I had some difficulty remembering Japanese names (but I had same problem when I first read American, English or Swedish novels). But it was a good change from usual.

This book had a number of twists. When you think that author has run out of all his tricks, Keigo produces more and bedazzles you. It's a complex and intricate plot. Some of the findings could have been easily determined by chemical analysis, but the detective Kaga prefers to go traditional. I found eventual motive for murder on the weaker side.

After 'Silkworm' by JK Rowling, this was my second literary thriller. Interesting! This book is first book of Inspector Kaga series. Readers can expect more to come.

It's a different murder mystery. Recommend reading.

Crooked house by Agatha Christie

"Crooked house" by Agatha Christie. This book is published by Harper in 2002 and has 416 pages. This is a Agatha Christie murder mystery not featuring Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple.

A rich old man is murdered by poisoning. He has a big family, all living in the same house. Sofia, his grand daughter is the fiancee of the narrator of the story and his father is assistant commissioner if police. A little girl knows something. Murder victim's young wife is roumored to have an affair with little girl's teacher. Company of victim's son is on the verge of bankruptcy. Other soon of victim is jealous of this son. Sister of victims first wife hates victim.

Is the murder in the family? Or is the murderer an outsider? Will there be another murder? Whodunit?

This is a typical Agatha novel. Rich man, big family, murder, many suspects, an outsider, clues scattered intelligently & revelation towards the end.

This is a relatively short novel. As a result it's decently paced making it crisp, instead of usual slow pace of Agatha novels. As I read the book, I realized that I had read it a few years ago. Since I knew the murderer, the suspense was lost on me.

This is another mystery, based on a nursery rhyme, by Agatha Christie (Others include Ten little Indians, Hickory dikory dock, Pocket full of rye etc.). The characterization is good and story is also good. Actually, for a change, there is no detective in this novel.

A good book. Recommend reading.

Unlikely Spy by Daniel Silva

"Unlikely Spy" by Daniel Silva. This book is published by  Penguin in 2003 and has 752 pages. As the name suggests, it's a spy thriller, but during World War II.

England thinks that they have rolled up the German spy network in England by either arresting or turning all known spies. Attack of allied forces on France is around the corner. But where will the forces land? Allied forces have chosen Normandy and are building large concrete structures that will be sunk at Normandy to create artificial harbor.

How to keep location of attack secret? Are there unknown German spies in England? Hitler is hell bent on finding location of attack. Can he? What can England do to salvage the plan? What is the contribution of a certain american engineer?

Although Daniel Silva is a well known name, I think this was his first book that I read. The story is set in the WW II era, about 75 years ago. Germany used an ingenious method to disguise spies. They sent spy posing as someone through regular transport. Then this spy murdered a lonely person, disfigured the body and left his passport near the corpse. The foreigner was presumed dead and the spy became one of the English citizens with no one looking for him.

Daniel has created the old English atmosphere very well. The functional bureaucracy, egoistic Churchill, academics working in war offices, rivalry between Hitler's generals etc is painted vividly.

Attack on Normandy on D-day turned the outcome of WW II in favor of allied forces and that secret is the crux of the story. In short success of this fiction was the tipping point of WW II.

Author has delivered a good thriller. The slowish pace is in line with the old times where means of instant communication were still to be invented.

A good book. Recommend reading.

Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Ascendancy by Eric Van Lustbade

"Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Ascendancy" by  Eric Van Lustbader. The book is published by Orion. in 2014 and has 400 pages. This is 12th novel in Jason Bourne series.

Jason Bourne has become a blacksmith (a person who impersonates a dignitary in hazardous situations). Soraya Moore, her daughter and husband are kidnapped and so is Jason Bourne. The mastermind wants Bourne to carry out a dangerous and outrageous task in return of Soraya's life. He has no choice.

Will Bourne carry out the task? Will he be able to save Soraya? All the world seems to have turned against him. Who can he trust? Is the plot as simple as it looks?

This is a complex plot that takes us from Qatar to America to Syria to Pakistan to Singapore. It involves American, Qatari and Israeli spy agencies, double agents, triple agents, disguise, deception, double cross, betrayal, a lot of luck and much more. The book shows that there is tension between Qatar and other Arab countries. It shows Waziristan in Pakistan as refuge for the pariahs.

It appears that in order to make the plot convoluted and complex author has left few things to luck in the story e.g. Bourn's travel from Pakistan to Singapore or precise assignment of Camilla etc.. However though you do not get very excited while reading the book, you don't get bored either.

Read only if you have read all previous books of Jason Bourne series, otherwise give this one a miss.