WRITTEN by a civil servant, this book is a part of a series of eight satires, where the author weaves together seemingly diverse strands of mythology, quantum physics, religion, microbiology, sex, evolution, violence, societal structures, nationalism, the environment, the cosmos, etc. into a tapestry of life, of history, of the future and of understanding.
He is correct when he says that as we navigate our way through life, it is impossible not to notice the constant violence, the many injustices, the many hypocrisies, the enslaving superstition and irrationality. We are mystified and occasionally horrified by it all. These traits are found not only in others but within us as well. We yearn for greater understanding – an understanding which cannot be complete but is an attempt only. In this book also, the author presents a series of satires tracing the evolution of the cosmos, of life in general, of our species in particular, of the organisation of societies as well as the genesis of some of our most sacrosanct values.
The stories are based on contemporary themes and seek to illustrate high satirical tools of ridicule, derision, comparison, irony, exaggeration, double entendre, various issues like exploitation of the State by religion, the role of humanity vis-à-vis the planet and the ‘multiverse’, the correlations between violence and sexual frustration. There is an effort to define catch words like ‘obscenity’, ‘patriotism’, ‘nationalism’, ‘terrorism’, etc. besides an attempt to interpret ourselves and the world “through the minds of the oldest living organisms, the viruses, who are the true inheritors of Earth.”
The satires are fairyish, where planets weep, the flowers preen, trees philosophise, stars dance, when the gods are both more or less than gods and where the viruses debate over life and death, and over the concept of justice that the few must die, so that the many might live, and, of course, there is a sprinkling of fairyish fairies, ogres and hobgoblins, princes and princesses.
Without preaching or being didactic, the stories remind us of our obvious follies that we as humans commit besides showing preference for nationalism over humanity; morality over humanity; and self-righteousness over understanding. -MG
(Penguin Books India Pvt Ltd, 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi-1100017; www.penguinbooksindia.com)
