Title: Far Beyond the Dead End
Author: Saikat Bakshi
Publisher: Srishti Publishers
ISBN: 978-93-82665-12-0
Number of Pages: 228
Price [INR] : 150
Genre: Fiction
They called it the ‘mound of dead’. In other words, Mohenjo-Daro!
But beneath those layers of ruin, once flourished a town pulsating with life. There lived Koli with her enigmatic charm, Sindhu with an eyeful of dreams, Girad with his raging passion, the decrepit priest prophesying the doom and many others. They loved, hated and chased their fixations in manic rage. A series of mysterious deaths ensued from such frenetic hunt for lust, riches and glory. Yet, the inexorable game of destruction did not cease to play, until they ventured Far Beyond the Dead End only to be discovered under a heap of rubble four thousand years later.
Far Beyond the Dead End is set against the backdrop of Indus-Saraswati Civilization. The civilization had perished leaving behind some meticulously planned deserted towns such as Mohenjo-Daro, Harappa , Lothal etc.
The story of this book takes us back to the town of Mohenjo-Daro.
Far Beyond the Dead End is the story of Koli who is beautiful, smart and intellectually inclined. Koli is talented and skilled at art and craft too. Her father wants her to marry Sindhu, who is perfect for Koli. Girad, a failed businessman lusts after Koli and is stopping at nothing to get to her. He resorts to devious methods to make her his own. After marriage, life isn’t the same for Koli, but it goes on. The town is under the threat of a doomsday and in this mayhem, a lot of animal sacrifices and murders take place.
The author has done considerable research on this civilization including the culture, art and artifacts, the architecture and infrastructure, the administration and general life, to give an authentic feel of the times then.
The story has 3 strong central characters which have been etched well. The narrative is smooth and crisp. The storyline lacks that exciting buzz for the major part of the book. And all the excitement is suddenly packed in the end and that takes you by surprise.
Set in times which dates three millennia ago, Far Beyond the Dead End, is a nicely paced book that makes for a good read. There is a rare charm in it and that’s because of its setting and thus makes for an interesting read.
Rating : [usr 3 text=”false” size=20]
30 Responses
I want to read this. I want to know what life was like in those days. I don’t mind a story wrapped around it!
Destination Infinity
Go on and check it out, Rajesh and do share your review 🙂
Sounds interesting and a little strange that all the excitement comes at the end. You would think the author would want to evenly distribute it to keep the reader interested.
It is an interesting one, surely! I mean, the story moves at nice pace and suddenly gallops towards the end!
A shock is a shock! It does not give warning…or it’s not a shock at all!
Well…jokes apart, I like the gradual swelling up of waves before it explodes in hysteric fervor.
I actually saw the replica of the ruins of Mohenjedaro just last week. Strange coincidence to chance upon this post this week 🙂 I just hope the author has the same crisp narrative that you have shown in this review. Then it would make the book worth reading 🙂
Wow! What a coincidence! It is a nice story! Do check it out!
A book from the history looks interesting for sure..Thanks for the review.
And it is without the boring lessons in history. 🙂
Believe me…this part of history is not boring at all. If you wish to get a charm of more mysterious and curious stuff about that era, please follow my facebook page…https://www.facebook.com/saikatbaksiworld
Oh this is the first time I am coming across this book. Your review makes it interesting, but then History and me are not the best of friends 😉
It does not have history lessons but the story is set in that time so one gets to know the life and culture of the period then.
Sounds interesting. Might pick it up!
Go ahead and do share your review 🙂
You know you should take up writing reviews Full time 🙂 .. become a critic 🙂
Bikram
Aah! You are too generous, Bikram. Still a long way to reach that stage 🙂
I hv a feeling I will enjoy this bokk.. lemme look out for it…
Super! Share your feedback too 🙂
Sounds good. This was an interesting topic during those history sessions back at school….. History, civilizations….. so much to learn !
I liked the fact that somebody thought of setting a story in that era. And that makes it an interesting and yes, an insightful read too!
Frankly, I was highly inspired seven years ago by Orhan Pamuk’s ‘My name is red’ as well as Umberto Eco’s ‘Name of the rose’. You can read those books too. But, I caution in advance that both gather pace incrementally. Finally, both books evolve into some all-consuming tornado.
Sounds like this book took some major research. It’s not really my topic, but it sounds interesting nonetheless.
I believe, the author has done research of that era to give that true and original feel to the story! It does not have lessons in history!
Thanks for appreciating this last point. Indeed, there is no clear picture still available in history books because the scripts are unread even this day!
Sounds like a ton of research went into this book. I love learning about new places and cultures, so this should find a home on my TBR list.
Deb@ http://debioneille.blogspot.com
Hope you enjoy reading it too, Debbie, as much as I did 🙂
Thanks for the nice review.
🙂
Fiction with a touch of history(in this case the setting I assume) is a potent mix. Sounds like an interesting read Shilpa.
It is a different and an interesting one 🙂