War of Lanka

The Vayuputras had agreed that the Prince of the Ikshvaku dynasty be declared as the deemed Vishnu!

The chief of the Malayaputras believed that the warrior Princess of Mithila was better suited for the role instead.

But, curiously enough, all seemed to depend on the enemy of the Aryavarta to establish the belief of the saviour in the minds of the masses that needed to be saved!

The events narrated in the book follows the three preludes that converge to a greater spectacle ahead.

With Sita kidnapped by Raavan and Ram enraged, a fierce battle is imminent. But though we eagerly await the betrayal of Vibhishan, the defiance of Indrajit as he wedges a brave aerial battle and of course, the great duel between Raavan and Ram, yet the ingenious imagination of the author in sketching the sacrifice of Kumbhakarna, the espionage of Naarad and the uniquely united stand of the diversely talented Suryavsnshi siblings against evil are the few among the many that depicts the fateful events of the Ramayana in a modern light with rationally realistic perspective. However, the compactness due of the composition thus created and the touch of subtlety that could have been enjoyable, are affected adversely by too much elaborations in descriptions and philosophies preached that hinders the satisfaction and disappoints the flow at frequent instances!

Goenda Indranath Rudra Samagra Vol IV

I had read maybe one or two or a few only Indranath Rudra stories in Anandamela and that too at a very young age. But it had something that still aroused the interest as I chanced across a collection among the final few copies left in bookfair this year. True these are old fashioned stories but how now I lament why I didn't bought a few more volumes. The only bad part is these are written with an undue emphasis on drama of the moment though the intellectual part is quite good. Sometimes the sleuth hunts in his own but sometimes he is assisted by Mriganka and his wife. But the quick observation with the analytical reasonings always keeps the detective a class apart from the rest. The stories after a brief author's introduction are arranged as

• Ghori
• Sonar Koroti
• Choti
• Momer Haat
• Nebuchadnezzarer Silmohar
• Atta Jhinuker Botam
• Shunya Kalshi
• Rakter Shaitan
• Paerakuthir Rahasya
• Chidranwesi Indranath
• Neel Chobir Chalanae

The narratives correctly blend nostalgia with the classic. Right from very first readers will be glued to the old world romance that also is used to mask yet prolongthe underlying suspense.

Samagra Kishore-Sahitya Vol. IV

• Ghoramamar Abadan
• Swayam Tinii
• Sada Hasyamukhe Thakbe
• Boltudar Utsaha Labh
• Gajakeshtababur Haasi
• Saheber Upahar
  
• The Great Ch(n)atai
• Anyamanaska Chor
• Lankanatham Kattasundaram
• Ghantadar Kablukaka
• Journey by Car
• Ticket
• Porer Poishae
• Pishemoshaer Mamar Galpo
• Kabitar Janma
• Shayataner S(n)ako
• Ghoramamar Cutlet
• Kh(n)aramoshai
• Naama Rahasya
• Rachanar Rahasya
• Haate Haatei
• Haridas aar Neel Maachi
• Ekdiner Uposh
• Pratidwandee
• Halde Bus
• Laal Ghora
• Sei Cheleta
• Cricket maane Jh(n)ijh(n)i
• Karim Mia
• Doctor Zakeer Hossain (Smritikatha)
• Chotobelar Smriti (Atmajeebanee)
• Pabitra Gangopadhyayke lekha chithi

A glance at the above will reveal that the volume is a mixture of a variety of literatures penned by the creator of Tenida, Pyala, Haub, Kyabla. Another bout of laughter galore, the volume is mostly humorous but blended, I think with just the correct proportion of nostalgic memoirs, letters, articles and some of the author's creations that he wrote during a very early age. Acknowledgement is thus due to Asha Devi and Abhijit Gangopadhyay to compile this volume. Also the majority of the smileys are not again reserved to Teni and his group's activities alone but other interesting characters have found their place suitably in the volume, that shows that if Narayanbabu had wished to start a series with any of the other characters,Bengali readers would not have been dissapointed. Of particular interest is the stories he wrote during his childhood that infact parallels many of the matured writings of the writer. Infact I think readers may find it interesting if they start savouring his stories from this volume only.

Nante Fante Collection IV

The collection contains chapters 10, 11, 12 though one of the strips has been juxtaposed incorrectly. The humorous exploits of the duo continues as they face Keltuda and his chums who try to provoke them unjustly. The superintendent sir also plays his part and as always remains all the more comical. The use of colloquial language increases the charm though the slang always remains well within the aesthetic limit. Proving once more that age is never a bar for this kind of entertainment the heart always longs for more for it. An interesting fact is that though the practical jokes remains the main theme of each strip but it is never indecent. Finally another important fact is that though the teachers sometimes becomes the unsuspecting targets of the jokes but they are always highlighted respectfully. With delightful cartoons the chapters will no doubt appeal to readers of all age.

Asterix and Cleopetra

Now is the time for Asterix to meet Cleopetra, the queen of Alexandria, also famous for her elegant nose and strangely nose seems to get the better part of the story as it offers a plausible explanation of how the nose of the Sphinx came to be broken. In this adventure Asterix and Obelix escorts Getafix to Alexandria on the request of Edifis, an architect who had been assigned the duty to build a palace for Caesar in three months. Not only is the period short but there was the added trouble of the rival architect Artifis who always creates much trouble by delaying the work. Also Caesar did not want the palace to be built in time so as to lose his bet on the building’s completion date and thus employs his army to demolish it. So it required the brain of Getafix, assisted with the muscle of Obelix and the wit of Asterix to get the job done in time and also to keep off Artifis and the Roman army from creating much trouble. It is as usual fun-filled but the comical hieroglyphics add to the humour of the texts more than many other pieces. Also this the first instance that we see Getafix allowing a few drops of magic potion to Obelix but when you consider breaking the stone walls of pyramid, this was really an emergency situation! Dogmatix also plays a good part in this adventure and he too gets the pat in the back for that.