Strangely Familiar Tales by Vijaylakshmi Harish
The word mythology instantly conjures in us thoughts and
visions of gods, goddesses and supernatural humans. These are often stories/
narratives from the past, or of the past. What if these very myths held true
not just in the present but in the lives of the average human being just like
you or me?
Strangely Familiar
Tales by Vijaylakshmi Harish is
a compilation of 3 stories that give Hindu mythology a cool twist, one that is pertinent
to the present times we live in.
Cross- genre across crime, life, feminism, politics and
fantasy to name a few; these stories are multi-dimensional in nature just like
a classic mille-feuille, with each story exploding a jillion scenarios and
thoughts in your head.
A Fishy Affair on the outset looks like a classic detective mystery
but wait till the end for a sherlock’ian twist. And yes the word Sherlock is a
clue.
Bitter Fruit true to its name is a very bitter take on life
itself. Not just what it used to be in the past but of all the maladies that
inflict us in the present and through our progeny even our future. Unless of course,
we are able to create a world that puts a stop to it.
A Definition of Evil is an absolutely brilliantly layered
fantasy tale that is just steeped and steeped in profound wisdom.
“But
no war is ever good, and as much as it may seem that something has been
achieved, it is always at a great cost. In the forever war, much was lost. As
much as Evil lost, Good suffered erosion too. With time, the lines blurred.
Were the Devas really good? Were the Daityas really bad?
Was
the world ever so simple?”
Vijaylakshmi’s
writing style not just enlightens you across many levels; it is also so
visually rich that it transports you into the depths of the story. Each of
these tales would adapt very well to a visual medium with the last one making an
especially good SFX based fantasy series.
What also sets this book apart from other mythology based
stories is that even if the reader is unfamiliar with these familiar myths, the
author has given a short précis of the original myth on which each tale is
based. This fact actually also makes it ideal as an introduction to Indian mythology
for young adults encouraging them to see how these stories still impact us.
Fun fact I discovered is that Guhyakas, half-bird, half-horse attendants of the God of Wealth,
Kubera seem remarkably similar to Hippogriff’s which Harry Potter fans are
familiar with.
I have purposely not given any inkling of what each story is,
as to reveal more would not only give the story away but also deprive you of
making your own association with it. As this is writing, so reflective in nature
that it evolves with your own life experience, marinating and becoming your
very own.
The book is available for free download at www.pothy.com
Happy Reading☺
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