Long time back, I had read a book that had a collection of horror stories written by Edgar Allan Poe. I could not find any other book with such a collection, until I picked up the book ‘Beyond The Grey Line’ written by Niladri Shekhar Mitra.

‘Beyond The Grey Line’ is an amazing and interesting collection of scifi & horror stories. I loved each and every story penned by the author. Of which, I am calling out a few stories that really impressed me.

‘The hole in the wall’ is a story that leaves one fearing one’s very own neighbour. Infact, the story rendition reminds me of the level written by none other than Shri Satyajit Ray.

‘Crossroads’ is yet another amazing story that makes you think what if we had alien civilizations living amongst us but with different rules, time lapses and different worlds. The story brings out a very unique perspective on time relativity. Being a scifi author myself, I am a bit biased to call this out as the one that impressed me the most.

‘Maryam’ is yet another short story where the author creates enough curiosity in the minds of the readers. You may wonder if ghosts really exist. And well does it end with a twist? There’s a lot of questions the reader is left with at the end of this story.

‘Man in time’ is an amazing story with an altogether different approach to our possibility of travelling in time, while ‘Prisoner 969’ is a very well written psychotic story.

Reading ‘Blind Date’ made me wonder about the true characters of the main protagonists as they keep unfolding right till the end.

To what extent can a mother go to save her poor and hungry kids? The story ‘Mother’ is heart touching and yet can run a chill down your spine.

A strange interview that can make one go through life like a movie. This poignant story ‘The Interview’ shows how much the author has observed about life and beyond.

All the stories are beautifully narrated. I loved the narration which is fast paced, lucid and still gives enough detail about the story and the characters. The way the author starts the story, takes us through the plot line and leaves the readers at a specific point is really commendable. The stories are captivating, keeping the readers on the edge of their seats and a sure page turner. A must read for all scifi, thriller and fantasy seeking readers. And those who haven’t read such genres before, go ahead, you will definitely fall in love with the author’s work.

The kindle and paperback version is available and trending on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.in/Beyond-Grey-Niladri-Shekhar-Mitra/dp/9354902413/

After going through a good number of scifi, historic fictions and life learning books, I picked up this book for some light humour and puns. And the book provided me with just what I wanted.

The book has several chapters with short stories or should I say myriad life instances or journey through the eyes of a couple. The author’s sense of humour and wit created while sharing the couple’s experiences is amazing I must say.

I loved this book and out of all the chapters, I loved the chapter ‘Dink’ the most. The pun intended here is just too good. I could relate to the probing aunts in the neighborhood who would literally try to gather as much personal information as they possibly can. The cricket team comment was a nice one.

How many of you have been used like a doormat by others? The chapter ‘Use Me’ fits to this situation. And I think I would still support the hubby for his action.

I wonder if ‘Plunder Tale’ really happened. But yes, we do realize that sometimes we are surprised with people’s unexpected behavior.

Each chapter starts with a pun intended quote. And I think I loved Albert Einstein’s quote the most:

‘Women marry men hoping they will change. Men marry women hoping they will not. So, each is inevitably disappointed.’ LOL

Every chapter has a life situation handled and managed by the couples with a practical sense of humour, wit, and insights as well.

To sum up,

It’s relatively easy to make someone cry than to make someone smile and laugh. And the author does it amazingly well. The author is really creative in her narratives filled with pragmatism, humor with sarcasm and pun intended.

Amazon Link to the book.

Have you ever heard of a story written in the form of a poetry?

This is one such rare piece of a gem.

As I journeyed through life along with the author, to a great extent I could feel the missed childhood days that were enjoyed earlier, that gradually turned mundane as life progressed from childhood to adolescence.

‘A symbolic angel turning the life from mundane boredom to the nature’s lap and full of life and enthusiasm.’ The similies and allegories used are beautiful.

Sincerity with a touch of poignancy is how I could possibly describe in a single line. The author has explored some of the great and yet subtle ironies and nuances of life. She has also expressed her thoughts on humanity.

A wish to be liberated from the societal limitations, the author speaks of various subtle issues in the society, especially the atrocities faced by women. One can also appreciate the pragmatic approach of the author who hasn’t given any specific prescription but just simply went along with the flow and her true feelings.

The author has beautifully tried out different styles of poetry in the same book. You can observe this as you move from one chapter to another. The writing style is very original. Sometimes I got a feel of prosaic within the poetry that has been beautifully blended.

To sum up, the author seems to have poured her emotions into this beautiful book written in the form of letters maintained like a diary, giving a message to the readers on the nuances, ironies and the patterns that exist in our society.

I would highly recommend this book to all.

The book is available on Amazon.

Link: https://www.amazon.in/dp/B079LS184D/

Do you want to read a sci-fi book that runs through different timelines and parallel universes? A book that takes you through a journey of a romantic relationship between the purebred rep and his consort sent for a divine purpose? The main protagonist, a hybrid rep oscillates between his supreme and demonic tendencies, hybrid as he is who is tied between his promised one and his destined consort.

So, here’s a romantic sci-fi thriller ‘All Kaal None : Sac of Surpas – Part 1 of the trilogy’, written by Suman, with the pen name PB Flower, that takes you into a roller coaster ride through multiple timelines, parallel universes, time dilation and different civilizations across the space time continuum. The most beautiful part is the way the author explains and refers to the genesis, the preservation and the end of the universe in a contemporary style. The fundamentals on creation, preservation and destruction by the trinity, including several life lessons for individuals and those in relationships are beautifully explained by referring to the ancient Indian Texts such as Shrimad Bhagavatam, the Upanishads and the Puranas with some references to the ancient epics such as the Mahabharata.

The book also questions the dilution of the beings in this universe due to cross breed with reference to the Samudra Manthan, the churning of the galaxies as rendered in the Indian puranas that resulted in the perpetuity of the Devas, referred as Demi-Gods and the degradation of the asuras, also referred as the Demons.

The book covers time through eons. Right through the protagonist’s embryonic development to his utilization of the learnings that he gets in the Shala with a scientific approach in a more realistic and skewed universe, the author has dealt with each aspect in detail. Again, the impartment of learning at the Shala is explained in technical terms and could be very well related to that of the ancient Indian gurukul system.

The romantic sci-fi thriller is unique with the complexity of the relations explained not just due to human limitations, but also due to the factors involving the concept of superior beings, mercreatures, hybrids that are good and those that have demonic intentions and an interesting communication through the galaxies by these so called extra terrestrials. The book also looks at aliens with a very different perspective.

The author has dealt with these concepts in depth, in a unique way and yet kept a racy style in her writings. I could also feel a tinge of Sir Isaac Asimov’s style of writing in certain areas where the readers need to read between the lines.

The part 1 of this trilogy ends with a twist leaving the readers asking for more.

To sum it up, this is a romantic sci-fi thriller of epic proportion available for all to devour that results in a quest for more in its subsequent parts in the trilogy.

The book is available on Amazon.