Batukburoro Chashma

The story seemed Golmaal revisited but with more pace and more fun. The characters too seemed more amusing. The sudden appearance of green beings (literally and figuratively speaking), initially in village gossips and then in the real seemed to disturb the peaceful lives of many. Showing superior intelligence and strength, the sapient beings (remember Avatar by James Cameron!) seemed to condemn destruction of flora and fauna. Their technology, science, philosophy seemed to dwarf that of the globe, yet their requirements are simple. So why did they come here? What do they want? Is there an evil motive? Why are they so keen to communicate? To know all these you must go through the novel which sometimes jumps sequences but remains exciting throughout with its lovable characters, each showing a curious trait.

Robertsoner Ruby

This is supposed to be the final Feluda story that takes the trio to a tour that originates as a holiday but turns to an adventure protecting a ruby of historic importance and immense value. Though it was published posthumously in the book form, the appeal of Feluda lingered in the first few chapters. But disappointment will be in store near the climax which has been diluted by not so logical conclusions and an incompleteness not meant for a novel. The story follows the descendant of a British soldier in whose possession was a ruby looted during the suppression of the Sepoy Mutiny and who wanted his predecessors to return it to its place of origin. So Patrick Robertson brings the ruby back home with his friend Tom who seemed to have some ulterior motives of his own. Along came many traders willing to buy the gem at a high price and strangers eager to help the tourists. As tension grips in Tom is injured in a covert attack and the ruby is stolen. But the climax is not during recovery of the ruby but in the way Feluda solves the identity of the criminal which again seems not so rational.

Nayan Rahasya

Feluda had been introduced to fantasy from Sonar Kella but Nayan Rahasya is not at all the same classic. True it contains the sharp intelligence of Feluda but fantasy and unrealism dominates more than anything here. Another point that fades its appeal is that evidently the three musketeers have aged, not in years, but in their maturity. So the conversations and justifications seem to get the better of the novel rather than the novel itself. The story can be considered a rather ordinary one but for two instances - the first being the adventure in the caves of Mahabalipuram and the second being the way he solves a murder. Theft within theft had also been a feature of the story but quite unlike Ray novels, the fate of at least one of the characters has remained incomplete. So in all this may be an item to complete a collection but it may not be a favourite past time for several readers.