Wild and Free
It’s inevitable for book claiming to be prequel of a classic to be compared to it. And while Dracul doesn’t live up to the standard of Bram Stoker’s original work, it does stand on its own as decent novel. What works for the authors of Dracul is that they simply tried to create an extension... Continue Reading →
A spectacular achievement in cinema that relies on powerful storytelling, praiseworthy acting, and stupendous cinematography. Its a rare gem in fantasy and horror pseudo-genre, making its mark without indulging in jump-scares, cheap amplification of sound (read noise), or expensive special affects. Tumbbad is deeply rooted in unique take on Indian myth as background, which only... Continue Reading →
Approaching the book without any expectation, I found Blood Song pretty much run of the mill stuff. There is no unique creative plot idea explored here and writing doesn't help the cause. Its more of a casual read that once done and dusted, would soon be forgotten. While "chosen one" metaphor has been done to... Continue Reading →
With Inkredia, what starts as an immature attempt at writing a novel, quickly escalates into academic and dry dump of author's plot conception. Its all but expected then that author fails miserably to deliver any sort of prose. Fantasy (read LotR) ingredients are used in abundance- 'Ghorks' replace 'Nazguls', 'Ghork riders' replace 'dark riders', 'The... Continue Reading →
Children of Earth and Sky offers dynamism of well sketched characters in a world that resonates Renaissance era at time of conflict between Europe and Ottoman empire. Without being derivative, Guy Gavriel achieves the richness of imagination. And while there might not be too much of twists to the plot, or over the top fantasy... Continue Reading →
The potency of Peake's composition reaches an ever rising crescendo with second book of Gormenghast. Right from the first words, prose strikes an elegant flow of imagination, scene after scene. Grotesque characters and their actions may drive the story at times, but Gormenghast may very well stand stagnant with austere seriousness, only adding to peculiar... Continue Reading →
With Gormenghast's opening book, Mervyn Peake created a new zenith in the world of fantasy literature; an apex that stand on its own with sheer majestic grandeur of prose. It’s arguably the work that has never been surpassed and perhaps never will be. Peake as a masterful word weaver draws you in to the strange... Continue Reading →
ਰਸਤੇ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਹੁੰਦੇ ਨੇ ਹਰ ਦਰ ਤੇ ਹਰ ਪੈਰ ਤੋਂ, ਦਰਵਾਜ਼ੇ ਖੁਲੇ ਰਹਿੰਦੇ ਨੇ, ਕਿਸੇ ਦੂਰ ਗਏ ਦੀ ਉਡੀਕ ਤੋਂ, ਹਰ ਮੰਜ਼ਿਲ ਤੇਰੀ ਹਾਣੀਆ, ਹਰ ਸਫਰ ਤੇਰਾ ਹਾਣੀਆ, ਇਕ ਬਲਦੀ ਜਿਹੀ ਮਸ਼ਾਲ ਹੈ, ਫ਼ਕੀਰ ਤੂੰ ਮੇਰੀ ਇਬਾਦਤ ਦਾ, ਨਾ ਡਰ ਕਿਸੇ ਅੰਜਾਮ ਤੋਂ, ਉਸ ਪਾੱਸੇਓ ਆਉਂਦੀ ਹਵਾ ਤੋਂ, ਕੁਝ ਅਸਾਂ ਉਧੇੜ ਲੇਨੇ ਹਾਂ, ਧਾਗੇ ਉਸ... Continue Reading →
Whats crude and most convenient way to approach an ideology is to of course have an absolute faith in its pioneers. So much so, that its rather common medium to bestow them with sainthood or even God's title. I won't debate here about irony of us humans judging such titles, and whether they even mean... Continue Reading →
