Signs of the Gods?

Daniken, von Erich. Signs of the Gods? London: Souvenir Press. 1980.



Origin of humankind...the missing link between chimpanzees and humans...two sets of humans living in the same prehistoric periods...the Ark of the Covenant, a machine?

A lot of mysteries still surround the humankind...were terrestrials our ancestors...do religious writings substantiate this belief? Are cave paintings pointers to an evolved, spacesuited people who are revered as god figures in religious writings? Was Eve an instance of cloning just as Adam was...a clone of God?

Are the well planned and meticulously constructed underground Malta hypogeums(built in the prehistoric period, when man was just using his flint headed spears to kill and hunt) an example of higher intelligence visiting earth and helping humankind?

This book is for believers and the non believers. Read, if you want to challenge yourself with unthought of dimensions in facts.

DEVIL MAY CARE by Sebastian Faulks

Set in the era of the Cold War, this book entertains for the simple reason that for any lover of Bond, the setting is familiar and the action familiar. It is like a howmrun.

Bond here is rejuvenating his tired senses with a sojourn, when he is asked to report for duty. Sent to the land of Persia with its baths and cruel underworld, Bond is exposed to the brutal land of Iran - along with two of the most beautiful sisters he has ever met -Scarlet and Poppy.

His adversary is cruel, unfeeling and the devil's very accomplice. Bond fights him with all the booties at hand , his wits, his gun, his shrewd logic and cool.

The pace, ofcourse is not the searing action that one is used to in the Bond movies, but the paraphernalia of all Bond action is there in plenty - girls, fights, stunts etc.

For me, it was sedate reading...this Bond did not make me drool over him, as I usually do...and if one considers the Bonds that would be suitable for this Faulk's Bond, maybe Craig, with his cool blue penetrating gaze and lips that easily twist into a smile or a sneer, might fit the bill. This is that kind of a Bond...not all fun, not all romantic, not all passionate not all caring. A little sensitive, a little cruel, a little shrewd, a little lucky...

It is good to know Bond lives on.

Jefferey Archer. A Prisoner of Birth.

For the first time in many months, I read a book at a stretch.

It was undoubtedly an unputdownable book. This man, Archer, he has strong story telling ability.

For a time, as I read the book, I kept remembering pure story tellers like Alexander Dumas and Scott, whose stories pack sheer adventure and heroics of the most unexpected and romantic kind.

These books appeal to those whose visual intelligence is strong. Archer's new book is brilliant in capturing the events and bringing them before one's eyes . One can see the escapes, the murder, the courtroom scenes, the pathos of love, the imprisonment, the term at the prison, the old world humour that is intelligent and a wronged man's focussed attempt to wreak revenge on his enemies - all unfolding before one's eyes.

Pure cinema in print.

The craft of writing absorbing stories is losing its innocence. Jeffrey Archer retains that innocence and sweetness of moral fibre and old world values. There are several places where one is caught chortling, chuckling, smiling and in general, nodding one's head in emphasis.

The climax takes your breath away. You will devour each word for fear of missing something interesting.

To an English teacher, the manner in which literature and language are subtly used by the characters as part of the narrative, makes this book something that can be recommended to one's students.

There is no lurid sex, there is no pathological violence, there are no serial killers in this story. Yet, I am sure no one will put the book down till one has finished it to the last line.

It was with a sigh of satisfaction that I finally put the book, A Prisoner of Birth down. Aah, sheer bliss.

Grisham, John. The Pelican Brief. Century Limited: UK. 1992

I chose this book from Balas Cellar not because Grisham was new to me. I've liked his 'The Firm' and 'The Client', but because this was made into a movie with Julia Roberts as the lead lady.

Darby, the lawstudent who writes a brief about the death of pelicans in Loiusiana and the possible link to the death of two Supreme Court judges is hounded by unknown killers. Who is dependable? Who is not? Who can she turn to? How does one save oneself from predators on the hunt? Darby on the run is an example of a small fish put into a tank with a shark which survives because of its survival strategies.

The book can be called The Adventures of Darby...so full of action is it. Her smart manoeuvers and quick thinking are a delight to read about. I know that I may not be followed by killers, but if I am, I think Darby will be my hero and role model. And, I think this is precisely where the book scores - its ability to make readers believe that they have the wit and intelligence of Darby and to make them want to be a Darby in times of need.

The shady world of greedy lawyers and greedier wealthy clients with enough clout to influence presidential decisions shocks one. If one tends to disbelieve the law after this, one also tends to believe in the capability of the common man to fight back such huge corporations and conglomerates.

Rating: Three and a half Stars.

Wozencraft, Kim. The Devil's Backbone. New York: St.Martin's Press.2006

The crime thriller follows the insides of Kit's mind, her thoughts, her fantasies, her unrelenting fight against the trauma of sexual abuse, attacks by masked men and the fear of losing her sanity - all these are powerfully presented. Readers begin to get into Kit's existence and find her life unfolding itself before their eyes. It is a complex world of strippers, cops, members of the club, their secret lives and longings. It does not make pretty reading. If one wanted a feel good book then this is not it. The shock keeps piling until the end when one is left with no moreability to take in all this.

Grisham,John. The Appeal. U.K: Arrow Books.2008 ISBN 9780099481768

Two lawyers, the Paytons, give their all - material and legal expertise to represent the case of Jeanette Baker, a victim of chemical contamination from deadly toxic waste dumped by a chemical company at Bowmore.

It is a dreary prospect of science vs. humans,with humans ultimately being sacrificed at the high altars of science and all the money that can be accrued from making use of science.
The defendants are the mighty chemical company backed invisibly by political support. Incredibly, the Paytons win the case with a judge who is sympathetic to the cause of Bowmore.

The case goes on appeal to the Supreme Court on the verge of its elections. The power game as the defendant decides to buy a judge is filled with legal intrigue.

It reminds one of David and Goliath, with just one difference ; David here is the clever and insidious CEO and Goliath is the cause of justice.

Gone Baby Gone. Lehane, Dennis

Lehane, Dennis. Gone Baby Gone. UK: Transworld Publishers. 1999.

Love, compassion and care in a tough cop's life? The story is a blend of these impossible combinations. Patrick and Angie, two private detectives are drawn into a tale of child kidnapping, pedophiles, killers, a hard hitting police department, an aunt and uncle bound by love to discover the truth behind their niece's disappearance and a mother's lovelessness...and, in the midst of all this is the pair's incredibly tender exploration of their own need for fulfillment of their relationship.

The narrative is taut, the dialogues funny, the characters real, chillingly real and the fear for one's own children in this cruel world - frightening.

Rating: Three Stars

Gerritsen, Tess. Harvest.

Gerritsen, Tess. Harvest. London: Transworld Publishers. 1996,2006

Yakov and his friends, underdeveloped, malnourished and sexually battered children from the back streets of Arbatskaya, Russia.

Dr.Abby Di Matteo, a second year surgical student at Bayside, the doctor with a heart.

Nina Voss, with a failing heart and the wife of a rich businessman.

Josh, the fourteen year old, desperately in need of a new heart to start living life once more as a baseball lover.

Vivian, the astute doctor.

Dr. Mark Hodell, the man whom Abby loves.

Katzka, the toughned and seasoned detective on the beat, strangely drawn to Abby.

Scalpels. Organs. Codes. ECGs. Cross matches. Ventricullar fibrillation. Transplant. Organ rejection. Greed. Money in millions.

The bare thread is here.
And, what a tale this turns out to be. Every page is a heart stopper. Every line, a shocker.

Rating: 4 stars

The Negotiator by Frederick Forsyth

Reading a book into several pages and then suddenly recalling that one has already read this book is, I hope, not an entirely new experience for a reader.

The second reading was indeed as good as the first - fast paced, thrilling, fascinating and so credible. That I think is the secret of many a good book - it must sound credible even if one is far removed from the kind of environment or atmosphere given in the story.

The fact that a small towner who has never seen the world beyond her own cities - one or two at the most, can easily be drawn into a complex tale of vicious actions, violent terrorism and political betrayals and manoeuvers is what makes Forsyth so good as a writer.

Quinn is heartbreakingly real...all his efforts seamlessly blend into one's own efforts...his daring moves make him the hero of such adventures...his battle with himself is the battle that many of us fight with ourselves...his redemption is ours too...his clever moves are the stuff that we come to expect from those whose lives are lived in the shadow of CIA or FBI...writers like Forsyth make the U.S. of A the country of unknown heroes whom we all love.

What a story, Mr.Forsyth, what a story!

Magic of a different kind - Salman Rushdie

Rushdie, Salman. The Enchantress of Florence. Jonathan Capre: Great Britain. 2008. ISBN 9780224061636

Post modern writing takes liberties with history and fiction and produces some of the most delightful books. Rushdie's latest novel is pure storytelling. There is magic of fantasy and imagination combined in canny proportions with history. Akbar and his nine gems are real enough. Mogor dell 'Amore and Qara Koz are imaginary, but in Rushdie, fact mingles so well with fiction that the borders finally vanish. One feels like one is looking at hard, real and tangible objects through the shimmering and blurring wave of heat rising from the desert sands.

Akbar as a man, as a sensuous lover, as an administrator, as a cultural enricher, as a father ever in doubt about his devious sons' plots to overthrow him and as a lover of illusory characters - this Akbar is certainly not the stately and dignified Emperor of an Empire. He is of flesh and blood and so comes closer to you than in the pages of history.

Qara Kaz, whose beauty holds men in thrall and her Mirror wield magical power over the lands that they traverse. Is it an enchantment of herbs and beauty or is it the magic of spells and incantantions? Agra and Florence come together in this Queen of Enchantment. Their fates seem intertwined...the advent of foreigners leading to the fall of the Mughal Empire and the rise of the British Empire is implied in the entry of Mogor.

For one who has found Rushdie a little difficult to understand, this book has been absolute magic.

The magic is more in the mind.

Another Cook - another thriller

Cook, Robin. Crisis. London Pan Books. 2006. ISBN 135798642

For all who believe that the Hippocratic Oath is sacrosanct and that doctors are demi-gods, Cook shakes the very foundation of such beliefs.

Dr. Jack Stapleton is SOSed by his sister to help with her doctor husband's indictment in a case of negligence and indifference leading to the death of his hypochondriachal patient. The truth behind the death shatters the idyllic concept of concierge doctors -doctors who personal medical care to hand-picked few patients.

The lives of patients who place implicit trust in their doctors who should, in principle, treat them like royalty, may be in jeopardy from these very trusted doctors. The truth, when it comes, hits you hard.

To add spice to the proceedings is the long term celibate Dr.Jack Stapleton's, the protoganist of many of Cook's stories, engagement to Laurie. To one who has been following the lives of Jack, Laurie, Lou Saldona, Chet and Warren, the question is - what next? Will it be the birth of Jack's children?

Medical mysteries and revelations are not so much a part of this story as is the medico-legal aspect. However, the court room intrigues cannot hold a candle to the Perry Mason court room battles.

The book was O.K. O.K. only.

Queen, Ellery - My new find

Queen, Ellery. The Siamese Twin Mystery: A Problem in Deduction. Victor Gollancz Ltd. Great Britain. 1993
ISBN 0 600 200752

The foreword by J.J.McG in the July 1933 edition of the book makes one wonder if this adventure did really take place. So, was Ellery Queen a real-life detective?
The locale of the story is a lodge set high on a dry mountain plateau; the lower reaches of the mountain are on a ravaging and fast spreading fire. Caught unawares by it, the Queens, father and son, take the only road there in the hope of escape from the fire.

They come to a land of no return, since the road ends at the top of the mountain plateau and the only way out is down the same road. They are forced to tak erefuge in the lodge with the seemingly eccentric and haunting presence of a scientist, his wife, a pair of Siamese twins, a monstrous servant, a silent cook and the beautiful mother of the twins.

Then comes the shock for the reader. One murder follows another. As the fire creeps closer to the lodge and the searing heat becomes unbearable, so does the anticipation of finding who the killer is.

As one guess after another by the reader falls flat, one begins to sweat it out in the heat within the pages of the book and the mind of the reader.
The neat conclusion and denouement is unexpected. The reader is left with the satisfying sense of having been there and seen it all.

There is something of a good musical piece in this - a simple opening, an exploratory middle, the rise and the fall towards the end and the lingering note at the end.

I am happy to have discovered Ellery Queen.

Haller, Richard and Rachael. The 13th Apostle. Harper Collins Publishers. India. 2007. ISBN: 978-0-00-726735-4

What begins as a conspiracy thriller ends quie unexpectedly as a universal message of hope and faith for mankind.

A diary is discovered - it sets off a trail of cybersleuthing. Gill Pearso and Sabbic Karaim decipher a scroll that the diary leads them to. The truth is set in a flashback and the story shuttles between the presetn and the past tracing Yeshua's (Jesus) death and resurrection. Myth and faith are closely interwoven and the faith takes one on the supreme yatra of discovery - the atman in the paramatman.

The message is of faith in goodness notwithstanding one's follies, foibles and frailities.

A stirring read.

Diehl, William. Reign in Hell. Ballantine Books. New York. 1997. ISBN 0-345-39506-9

The book is terrifying, not only because Aaron Stampler, a reminder of Hannibal Lector, Vail's nemesis is back, but because he is back with a religious bang...clothing terrorism in religion.

On the verge of retirement, Vail is caught up in the turmoil of American states being overpowered by religious outfits committing heinous crimes and killing hundreds of innocent citizens.

Witness protection programmes run awry...unacknoweldged soldiers of Nam assemble under a General's mentorship to take vengeance on the world that has not acknowledged them ... and the climax is totally unexpected...if one Aaron Stampler dies, there is always another to take his place.

The only good things happening are Vail surviving an attack and his getting married to Venable from the hospital bed...some consolation in the midst of chaos and hell risen from the depths of a dark and terrible world.

Absolutely chilling reading...strikes a chord with one from the modern times.

Trunk Music

Connelly,Michael.Trunk Music. St.Martin's Press:New York, 1998.

Crime thrillers that take their time to unwind may not be racy or gripping page turners...but they slowly grow one and even if they require days of reading, one keeps on because the unravelling of the mystery becomes as much of a necessity as the clearing of cobwebs in a stacked up garage. You like to see everything sparkling clean at the end of what seemed a chore.

Detective Harry Bosch returns to his job after a brief period of untouchability in his department. The file he is assigned investigates the death of a man found in the trunk of a car parked in the view of thousands of people gathered for a Philharmonic concert at the Bowl in Hollywood. It is a case of 'trunk music' - a 'wise guy saying outta Chicage...when they whack some poor slob'. The connection is not really hard to make and the curiosity begins there for the reader.

Bosch must solve this not just to regain his confidence as a detective, but also his self-esteem and dignity as a human being. He solves the crime with determined perseverance. What I liked about the book is that Bosch comes out as a detective with a heart, who finds in Eleanor Wish, another convicted cop, a woman of substance.

Connelly is brilliant at the tying up of knots of the hundreds of loose ends. Momens of dullness are interspresed with moments of brilliance.

That is one reason why I persisted with the novel.

Jayabalan stories

J.Vasanthan.Fat is Beautiful and other Jayabalan stories. Gokulam, The magazine for children. Bharathan Publications. Chennai. 2003.

Some stories are remembered long after they have been read and enjoyed...sometimes even after decades. Gokulam, a children's magazine was staple reading for children in the 1980s. I bought the magazine for my sons, hoping that they would imbibe a love for reading (the elder did).

I loved reading Gokulam too for the hilarious stories about a King Jayabalan. You smile, you chuckle, you grin and you laugh out loud...there is only one of these options when you read the Jayabalan stories.

The stories are short, don' t have moral endings, don't admonish, don't lecture and don't sermonise. That is the biggest secret of their popularity.

They tell the story of Jayabalan, the 'fat, foolish and very vain' king of Jayabalpore, whose capital has a river called Jayabalaaru and whose coastline is along the sea called Jayabalsaagar. His minister of Defence is Kavasam and in a similar fashion, we have Ayalan, Varisumai, Ganabadi, Arivili, Solmannan, Tholaipesi, Apothikari (what a play on word, this is!) , Boilslau and so on. Each has his own eccentricities and charactersitics. Does an adult reader get the feeling that one has seen or heard these characters somewhere, someplace?

Times when Jayabalan attempts to grow hair on a bald pate, to understand science, to silence a detractor, to learn English, to understand baby talk...all these are so intensely funny that one breezes through the pages without feeling the burdens of life.

The illustrations are by the author and so humourously crafted that they make one smile . I love the single hair sprouting from the kingly pate...

The stories are a joy to read...read them in silence to oneself or read them aloud to an audience of children, they are sheer fun.

Gerritsen, Tess. Body Double. Random House. New York. 2004.

Sometimes, the rush of life catches one on and then long, rambling stories will no longer suffice. One wants a rush of adrenaline in reading...something that will make one sit up and say, 'Aah, now that was interesting'. Body Double was a story of suspense..plenty of unexpected twists and turns...characters too are unexpectedly real...the fears and anxieties are real...Murders may not be the order of the day in one's life as they happen in Dr.Isles' life. But, her search for identity is something that one can relate to well. Her acceptance of what she is, is also something that one can accept without reservation.
The breath is held in suspense many a time and Tess must know that her reader felt that the book was thrilling enough to have at her side through meals, TV shows and soemtimes, once or twice, through cooking.

Is it just that sometimes one chooses the wrong books for reading or that one is not receptive to the stories and characters in the books? In the last four to five weeks, I have read only two books - one, an utterly forgettable book called, "Suspects" written by One-who-need not be - named- cos- it- was-not-noted and another by Chris Ryan.

Both were fragmentary. The former had some steamy scenes interpolated into the story using some psychological dimension. The latter was to have been a gripping tale of an insider turning murderer in one of the Government intellegence agencies. Both failed miserably in holding the reader's (me) interest. I feel it would be better to go back to old and tested stories that are stacked in the cupboards of my house. Might unearth some good ones.

In such distressed times, I turn to two Asterix books bound into a volume that I have. They have never failed to restore my faith in pleasures of reading. Oh, how well imagination flows in these books. Cacophonix's unshaken faith in his musical talents, Obelix's simplicity, Asterix's maturity, the gladiators' games with words than with muscles, Caesar's eccentricities...ah, what a balm for a tested and sore soul. I read these two books which I presented to my sons in 1988 constantly turning to them at the dinner table, at the bed and when I am watching some inane TV show. There is a warning that the books can be touched only by Shyam, Santhosh and Vijay, written in some childish scribble, probably by one of the three. What a treasure this bound volume is for me. for more than one reason.

Excitement on the high seas

Alistair Maclean. Santorini. Fontana Collins. U.K.1986.

A mysterious sinking of a plane filled with hydrogen bombs...a sinking yacht with a multilillionaire who has stashed away his millions in banks across the world...Ariadne, a NATO ship with a razorsharp captain Talbot...Santorini, a catastrophe waiting to happen...the unravelling of clues right before one's eyes, ah...all these make Maclean a writer for someone yearning for some action. The plot is intriguing enough to hold attention...

Maclean, an English Professor of Glasgow University in the early 80's, interstingly enough, uses active narration through conversations. Descriptions are far and few in between and the reader construes the thread of action through the conversations, which are humorous and vibrant. The reader is free to imagine the mood, the place, the environment, the details that one cannot see but can only hear...this makes it more enjoyable.

Captain Talbot, Admiral Hawkinsand Van Gelder are all characters with colourful personalities and one cannot have enough of their lighthearted banter and shrewd acumen.

Ofcourse, if one were expecting something on the lines of Guns of Navarone, or Where Eagles Dare, one would be a mite disappointed. No complaints though.

Celluloid on Paper

Robert Ludlum's 'The Bourne Betrayal'. Eric Van Lustbader. Uk:Orion. 2007
ISBN: 978-0-7528-8213-0

Matt Damon as Jason Bourne is a haunting presence in this book. One sees not Bourne but Damon. We do not read but see frame by frame the action unravelling itself visually as in the celluloid. There is no depth to this Bourne of the book unless one imagines Damon imparting dimension with his level, penetrating gaze and the everpresent agonising puzzle about his identity glimmering through his eyes.

Even the stunts are described in such detail that there is very little left to the imagination. Enough of this...Fadi comes across as a terrorist with a crazed mind and ideals conveniently tailored to suit his personal agenda of revenge.

Soraya, the CI agent is a perfect counterfoil to Bourne as they move from one narrow escape to another. Tyrone, surprisingly, comes as a gernuine character with his streetsamrt ways.

The car and bike chases, the moles, the prosthetic 'face-offs', the double-take by the scientist, Katya, the girl with a golden heart who dies to save Bourne, the timer that has to be defused, the heart-stopping indecision of the hero as he has to decide which wire-green or red- to pull out to disarm the miniaturised nuclear device - doesn't one get the feeling of de javu?

There is no subtlety, there is too much of predicability and yet, one reads because of the action that follows one after the other and inevitably one wants to know how this is going to end.

Irving Wallace. The Almighty. Mastermind Books. Vasan Publications. Bangalore.

Irving Wallace. The Almighty. Mastermind Books. Vasan Publications. Bangalore.

The mind is a strange thing – it makes success and power more attractive than love; it makes terrorism the weapon of those aspiring to be ‘God’. It makes Edward Armstead, suffering from imagined childhood repression and suppression consider himself the ‘Almighty’. He is not only a publisher of news, but also a creator of news – he makes conspiracies happen and he reports them as exclusives in his newspaper ‘Record’.

The book has conspiracy, crime, corruption and misplaced ambition of Armstead against the fresh-faced innocence of the young Victoria. The story races ahead explosively as Vicky and Nick combat the shadowy Armstead. There is action aplenty in the story. There are details about publishing that are well researched and combined in the narrative in an interesting manner.

The book is good for armchair reading in the comfort of one’s own home or in the midst of crowds at lounges in airports, hotels or in the plush coziness of one’s own bed.

Primal Fear. William Diehl.1993. Gunn Productions Inc. ISBN 0 345 38391 5

Martin Vail, the lawyer with incisive legal skills sharp enough to dissect a case down to its marrow is the most noticeable character in this novel. His courtroom skills are also perfect, reminiscent of Perry Mason’s. Venable, the State Prosecutor is his opponent who has to prove her worth atleast this time having lost to Vail on two previous occasions while fighting out legal battles in the courtroom. The two meet again to prove Aaron Stampler guilty or innocent. Embroiled in their face-off is Aaron Stampler’s alter ego, Roy, an aggressive boy who is a manifest of Stampler’s schizophrenic attacks. The trigger is sexual repression and sexual liberation at a very early age due to sexual exploitation in childhood by two priests and a teacher. (Nothing seems sacred to Diehl). Aaron’s guilt is proved, yet Vail proves that he is innocent of the crime since it is carried out by his alter ego.
The climax is tight and brisk – one moves back and forth between the two identities of Stampler with a sense of fear.
The primal fear is – Aaron is not Roy, Roy is Aaron.
Aren’t all human beings a wee bit schizophrenic? Martin Vail, Molly, Shoaty, Goodman? You? Me?

Next. Michael Crichton. London: Harper-Collins Publishers. 2006. ISBN 13 9780 00 7248995

Next. Michael Crichton. London: Harper-Collins Publishers. 2006. ISBN 13 9780 00 7248995

Those who see in Genetic Engineering the miracle of God through the hand of man, beware! Crichton’s novel, ‘Next’ is a blend of fact and alarming fiction that throws up possibilities of a genetically engineered living organism becoming a threat to the very moral fibre of society.

The novel is technically supported by research into the study of genes: a master gene to control other people, transgenic pets such as Giant cockroaches, permanent puppies, genetic cures for drug addiction and more such bizarre realities of the future in the realm of genetic engineering. There is also Duke, the talking chimpanzee and Gerard the parrot with uncanny human intelligence to think and feel – the prospects seem cute at first, but gradually become threatening.

The ruthless chase of the Burnetts who are pursued across the country for their cells patented by BioGen , a company which claims ownership of all future generations of Burnetts is a little creepy.

The role of universities in generating mindless research into human genomes is also highlighted in the novel. The Oxnard Judge puts an end to all such degenerative activities by ruling out the case against the Burnetts by proclaiming, “Our bodies are our individual property. In a sense, bodily ownership is the most fundamental kind of ownership we know. It is the core of our being”. That, ultimately, is what the book is about.

Patenting of genes, guidelines for the use of human tissues and the right to information on data about gene testing are dealt with in the most exciting, tense and racy style. Making the right choice in using Genetic Engineering is in our hands.

Crichton only tells us what will happen if we do not use our moral discretion.

Ken Follet. The Third Twin. London: Macmillan Publishers. ISBN 0333 66809

Cloning can be an exciting concept not only for scientists but also for writers.

Follett explores the possibility of eight clones each of whom has an eccentricity of a very serious nature. One is a rapist, one a conman, one a sadist and yet another is a normal young man.

Caught in the lives of these eight men is a young Professor researching twins to find if it is ‘nurture or nature’ that shapes the lives of such twins. She unearths a plot to draw her into a web of deceit and corruption by the University president and the trust that funds the university. How she clears the names of one of the eight and her own is what Follett has attempted in a story that keeps you reading with intense interest one moment and dozing off another.

The book was a good sedative for me. You know, that intense sense of participation in the story by the reader is missing. Yet, it has its own graces – the revelation of the sense of fear and shame in a rapist’s victim and the unscrupulous world of academics, scientists and trusts in creating monsters of science without a tinge of conscience.

Wilbur Smith – The Quest

A story that accelerates from the beginning and slows down gently to a feel-good type of stop, The Quest is the past of Egypt with all its mystical allurement and secrets of Gods.

Taita, the Eunuch with secret longings and the wisdom of hundreds of years of his life and Fenn, the re-incarnation of a queen of Smith’s earlier novel fill the pages with their pure love for each other and a dare-devil love of adventure.

The two endeavour to find the root cause of the drying of the eternally flowing River Nile, the sacred river of the Egyptians. They cross thousands of miles and find that a cataclysmic volcanic activity attributed to the evil Eos has been responsible for the mysterious disappearance. The witchcraft of the ancient Egyptians is brought out through Eos who sucks the wisdom of seers and encourages her vassals to experiment on genetic engineering using foetuses, which is called ‘ infant eating’ by the natives.

We move with Taita’s select band of men and women warriors and share the sense of excitement as they move across the distances, braving swamps, tsetse flies, barbaric cannibals and the magic of Eos all the time percolating through the senses.

I suspect that there is an allegory hidden somewhere in the storyline, but as long as I don’t examine the literary aspect, the story lifts the veil of time over the past of Egypt and reveals intriguing aspects 9albeit imagined0 of the lives of people in ancient Egypt.

It is a quest to attain immortality, for Taita and Fenn; it is a quest to understand the ethos of an Egypt which is strange mix of science cloaked in and magic mystifying science.

A good read for two to three days.