The War of the Worlds

Starting with a History of William Collins and the Life & Times of the author, comes one of the greatest classics of all times penned by one of the greatest science fiction writers of all times, H G Wells who had been the person behind coining two unique terms that we have taken for granted. Yes, the time travel and time machine may be a household name for every science addicts, but the terms were introduced by the author who also fictionalised the Mars invasions for the very 1st time. The anecdote, narrated from the perspective of the unnamed protagonist, vividly describes a Martian invasion that, with its awe and tragedy, will terrify you by its chilling feel of realistic ambience. Though, the introductions have spoiler but still the fright remains. Published in 1898, decades before lasers were conceptualized, the author designs the advanced Martian invaders to use something similar as their primary weaponry. Describing the accidental but unaccounted sighting of the launch of the fleet carrying the aliens, the author goes on to detail the discovery of the meteoric touchdown of the same and the massacre that follows. Despair engulfs the civilisation as cities are invaded and routed with humans taken as prisoners to be consumed. So when, it seems all is lost, the miraculous twist of fate will be welcome to all but the invaders. Though written as a fiction, but it warns the civilisation of the doom that awaits the selfish when the unforeseen dwarfs of the present flaunts their might as they turn giants of the future☆

Complete with a lexicon of the Victorian grammar, the novel is a classic for all ages.

George's Secret Key To The Universe

One of the fascinating science based fictions I have ever read since the Tompkins series. Basically a book for astronomy enthusiasts, it can motivate the ordinary to get a taste of the basics.
An intergalactic adventure awaits George, whose scientific ambitions had been always snubbed down by his environment conscious parents. It was about to change when his pig breaks boundaries to poke into the next door neighbours. The mysteries of the universe awaits to be unfolded soon as did the mystery of their neighbours and their computer. As George stumbles on the marvels of the universe by the chance meeting, the crooked forces are also in the move, thwarting the aims of the noble minds while trying to use science for petty advantages.
Written lucidly by the brilliant Stephen Hawking and his scientist daughter Lucy Hawking with the charming illustrations of Garry Parsons, this book, once recommended by my father, had satisfied both his son and his grandson with its facts of science presented in the package of fiction with the touch of suspense to appeal the readers of varied ages.

Curvalor Baksha

I started reading Arjun stories when it used to be only detective stories. But later on the stories became less of detection but more of sci-fi adventures. "Curvalor Baksha" is one of them.
A Ramchandra Ray suddenly hears strange audio signals emanating and disappearing every night into a box left in his house by his friend Curvalo. With this, he also feels that his chronic gout pains are vanishing. But as he realizes that for some part of the night he is acting uncontrollably under the influence of some external force he reports to the police. Though the police is a bit doubtful of the sanity of Ray, but Arjun, who had coincidentally dropped by the police station at the same time, is interested. He accompanies the complainant to his house to examine the box. As he opens the box with the help of a local, once shady, locksmith, it reveals some interesting contents. When it is ascertained that the audio signals are affecting only a few, the investigations indicates a high chance of the instruments in the box to be of alien origin.
Then starts the trail for the truth that is pleasantly mysterious yet somewhat predictable. This is one of the Majumdar's stories that is recommended for all ages. I had read the story earlier but now understand that a bit more detailing could have made the story even  more thrilling. The culmination is a bit abrupt yet unsurprising.

Pikur Diary o Onyanya

This book had been among the prohibited few that my parents asked me to keep at bay for the right age. So when that age came, at least when I felt it came, I pounced on it in the bookshop to be introduced to the writings for the adults by Ray, who is more famous for his literary creations for the young. The book consists of Pikur Diary, where the diary of Piku reveals the daily details of his family in the coarse form that is to be expected from a child of his age but which also reveals the genius of Ray as he used the dialect of the child along with the obvious spelling mistakes while revealing the mature details with subtle clues. The next is the script for the movie Piku, which actually is a major deviation from the story and is acknowledged in the introduction by the writer himself. There is also another script of Shakha-Prasakha, but it is again one of the earlier versions for the movie. There are a couple of science fiction, Sabuj Manush and Mayurkanthi Jelly, with the latter more suspenseful than the former. But the most hilarious is Aryashekharer Janma o Mrityu which shows how the intellectual impetus of an unfortunate genius becomes too much for the society as well as for his self. The book with its various hues will be enjoyable for its cohesive diversity.

Abduction

What would you feel if someday you get to know that aliens are not coming from outside earth but actually they are living deep inside the ocean floors and they are human beings, only a bit too advanced. That there had existed human race long before dinosaurs will also be a surprising revelation. Besides cities inside earth with technologies so much evolved that people do not die in the usual way will also grip your imaginations. But if all these come as an exciting revelation it will also be surprising how much boring life can be in these technologically advanced place. These and much more awaits a group of deep sea explorers, divers and a businessman when they suddenly find themselves abducted by these human and find themselves classified as the less evolved variant. With the option of spending life without actually the pain of death and with an intellectual abundance in the offing at the luxurious paradise it remains to be seen what choices do each make. A point comes where it feels that good and evil might be the same thing but depends on perspectives. With a surprising twist at the very latter stage, the novel is an easy paced adventure with unique plot that is sci-fi at its best.

Arjun @ beepbeep dot com

What started as a promising mixture of mystery and sci-fi turned quite a slow paced novel with a disappointing climax. The main theme started with Arjun purchasing a cell for himself. At the same time Major comes to India with a foreign researcher, Lucy who investigates bird calls around the globe. They seek his guidance in the forests of North Bengal. All of a sudden Amal Som contacts Arjun and requests for sending him his brain scan as well that of Habu. Mysterious calls comes at Arjun's cell from unknown locations. He also starts hearing voices. Threats seem to come from some local goons assisted by some foreigner. Arjun also gets communications from Bistusaheb. Thus as all the parties are introduced, suddenly the mystery of the calls are unfolded abruptly an the story plunges coarsely forward. The story had all the material for a thrilling suspense with the backdrop of the North Bengal depicted nicely but somehow it irritates as there is no proper justification to several doubts. The scientific rationale to the fiction is never divulged. Thus it remains an improper detective novel.

Punascha Professor Shonku

The collection contains

• Ascharjantu
• Shonku o Adim Manush
• Shonkur Parolokcharcha
• Professor Rondir Time Machine

The range of the stories span from the prehistorics to the future. Quite interestingly one of the stories actually starts with a failure of Shonku in devising a new instrument but the adventure remains supreme. Another contains an inkling of today's X-Men, maybe the visionary in Ray could also imagine the extended realms of imagination too. The shadow of a Conan Doyle theme and the afterlife becomes the theme of another exciting adventure. There is the prehistoric man and human evolution that is also investigated. A further appeal is the coloured photographs that had been a rarity in Ray classics. But altogether these are not so exciting as the older adventure. So for completing the collection this is a necessity but may not be satisfying to many.

Jabar Baro

This particular collection of Ray's dozen stories seems a bit disappointing as though it contains one of the most varied collections ranging from some of his short stories, punched with some of Tarineekhuro's narratives, culminating in the traditional style with a Feluda story and also containing, for the first time, a play and a couple of vernacular translations of Ray's english stories, but it lacks the regular Ray charm. Though Tarineekhuro returns in style with Mahim Sanyaler Ghatana, Ganatkat Tarineekhuro and Galpabolie Tarineekhuro, the twists progressing more unpredictably and enjoyably more than before but curiously Sakuntalar Kantahar lacks the characteristic Feluda wit and the Ray humour. The translations, courtesy Sreemati Bijaya Ray, titled Puraskar and Barnandha, matching in their theme and another very interesting aspect that the characters are nameless, but they are contrastingly enjoyable and gloomy respectively. Haaui is a refreshing play and as far as I can place it, this is an adaptation of one of the author's own short stories. Shilpi and Pratikriti are again thematically similar but while the first has a delightful twist the later is abrupt and disappointing. Abhiram begins with a promise of suspense augmented by its illustrations but the climax is almost totally predictable. But the best of the collection is Mrigankababur Ghatana which borders sci-fi and will be remembered by the readers for its classic blend of psychology, suspense and the signature twist which again reminds us of the master story teller. Brajaburo reflects another socio-psychological aspect which is enjoyable as a story and reveals the stark truth of loneliness.

So though it is a collector's item for completing the Ray works but some of the narratives are far from the average as far as the author is concerned. So readers may shop for it but might as well keep their expectations a few octaves low. The illustrations are though not all by the author but the others has done justice to the stories. These are at par will the original style of the author.

Swayang Professor Shonku

The compilations contain three of Shonku's two very interesting adventures and one story of invention that takes an unpredictable turn. Compu, among other things, serves as a reminder to the tech dependent human civilization in the same way that Asimov did in numerous occasions that shows us how smart machines may evolve in the most undesirable fashions possible when the inventors' control is taken up by the intelligence that is infused. That this aspect of the computer dominated society could have been foreseen by Ray in so early a time when the processors were just inching its way in the country, once more tells us about the visionary in him. This story is sandwiched between two full fledged adventures Munroe Dwiper Rahasya and Ekshringa Abhijan where Shonku teams up with other explorers to quest for the strangest whose charm seemed to appeal to me more than when I enjoyed in my younger days. In one the voyage is to a pirate's cove for the trail of the cure-all and the other is for the search of the most beautiful monastery, the Unicorns and the art of flying. The former is primarily a tragedy where a dangerous truth is uncovered while the rationale of the other is nicely explained more by the artist in Ray than by the scientist in the protagonist. Three of Shonku's recurring associates feature here viz., Saunders, Kroll and the most unscientific Abinashbabu who balances the wit of the story. The book is also a contrast to the series in the sense that discovery has the lion's share than inventions.

Selam Professor Shonku

I had always been an ardent collector of Ray's works. But the collection, published posthumously, had quite some oddities in store. Not because it contained the incomplete Intelectron where Nakurbabu would have starred promisingly as well as Drexel Islander Ghatana but for some other facts. Infact the incomplete works will be cherished forever but for the fact that the final one conflicts with Prof. Shonku's own note in Swarnaparni about the actual date of his birth. The later and Don Cristobaldyr Bhabisyatbani had been the best of the collection where his friend Saunders played a very vital role in both. Also it's very much apparent that Ray condemned Hitler's obsession as was apparent from it as well as from Shonku o Frankestein where the discovery of the scientist of the famous classic has been given a new life. The stories also feature a philosophical Ray where afterlife, rebirth, power of mind over matter, nostalgia seems to hover very similarly as Sukumar Ray's final verses. But disappointment accompanies the starter Nefrudeter Samadhi and Dr. Danielir Aviskar, the later sharing the plot of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, both of which starts with Ray style but completes abruptly, so unlike Ray without the signature finishing twist. The illustrations are mix of Ray's orginals with that of Sameer Sarkar though marked difference of the styles being prominent but both complements the other well.

Mahasankate Shonku

I've often marvelled at the choice of the title that Ray chooses for his which aptly summarises the compilation in a book and serves as an illustration of the very popular but quite complicated essay that almost every student faces - explain how the title justifies what follows! Thus it was turn for the master professor to be faced under dire circumstances in three different scenarios that starts with a curious case of a damaging impersonation in Innsbruk titled Shonkur Shanir Dosha, continues with his three friends as they explore the mysterious alleways of alchemy in Shonkur Subarna Sujog - another apt double description of what follows and finally concludes with the dangerous and eerie Hipnogen in Norway where help comes from the most unexpected quarter.

As always the Ray charm was as green as ever but there were some interesting facts that I unearthed this time. The 1st of them is a confusing event that after getting invitation from a foreign land, Prof. Shonku could start on the journey in five days - is it that in the 70s the visa processed so quickly? This is more probable as I haven't come across a Ray composition compromising in details. The 2nd is that in the concluding episode there had been references of Odin and Thor and they had been correctly described as Greek Gods. But as I knew that Thor was the son of Odin, maybe this needs clarification as I cannot imagine that Shonku, and actually Ray who had always educated us with short explanations of even the mundane, never expressing this thought. The 3rd and the 4th which just came to me were Ray's appeal to Conan Doyle novel as the climax of Hipnogen bears a slight resemblance to that of "The Black Panther" and the protgonist professor is again a Bengali compliment to the fierce Challenger, the similarity being in their confidence in science and their love of adventure.

Shabash Professor Shonku

I seem to rediscover Ray as I went thru the exploits of Shonku again after a very long time. It may be a science fiction but it is more than entertaining. The simplicity of the story echoing the simplicity of the inventions that Shonku insists on makes it more and more appealing. Though his discoveries are astounding but the sincerity of the diaries makes the events more and more realistic. Infact the research into the topics also must be appreciated that makes the stories for the children enjoyable even for the mature minds. So the evolution of the Ascharya Prani, the beastly flora of Swapnadwip, the curious adventure in Marurahasya, the avian friend in Corvus and the ingenious invention of the professor in Dr. Scheringer Smaranshakti will never cease to wonder us.

Shonku ekai 100

Robots, intelligent beings and aliens have always found a deligtful place in sci-fi. So it is only natural that Prof. Shonku will be introduced to these at some stage of his scientific adventures. The thrill of adventure mixed with the science fictions thus gave it the signature flavour but Ray's masterstroke seem to lay elsewhere. He introduced a unique character in the shape of Nakurbabu. The so ordinary Bengali accidentally gifted with not so ordinary abilities that Shonku also finds extraordinary to the extreme. This character has been a particular favourite to me and his evolution in Shonku stories has been so natural that he never seemed out of place. The stories also feature Shonku's long time associates - Saunders, a grim believer in science till he came in touch with Nakurbabu and Kroll, a scientific man but contrastingly with a strong interest in occult, voodoo and phenomenon that can't be explained by science. Another particular uniqueness of the author is the description of the well known sci-fi characters. The UFO's are of shapes that are not only characteristic but the stories actually convinces the rationale of the shapes. In fact in one of the stories I found some uncanny similarity of one of the gadgets exhibited by the UFO and its evil use (thought by Ray so long ago) that resembles the same in the film Independence Day (released quite a few years later). So the volume containing Mahakasher Dwut, Shonkur Congo Abhijaan, Nakurbabu o El Dorado, Professor Shonku o U.F.O. is again an item that collectors will crave for.

Professor Shonkur Kandokarkhana

Professor Shonku has fascinated me more and more as I grew up. He had been a magical character when I read it first but slowly as I grew up I can understand the image that he represented. The honest Indian scientist revealing to the world the brilliance of his inventions and being held in highest esteem around the globe by peers is yet so humane in heart that he cherishes his home, his cat, his servant and even the company of his fussy neighbour Abinashbabu above everything else. So when Shonku sets up on his fictitious scientific exploits we revel in the wonders that he unfolds yet never do we feel distanced from him. Illustrated by the great Ray himself the collection contains

·        Professor Shonku o Robu

·        Professor Shonku o Kochabambar Guha

·        Professor Shonku o Raktamatsya Rahasya

·        Professor Shonku o Gorilla

·        Professor Shonku o Bagdader Baksho

The stories are a mixed compilation of suspense, horror, humour and thrill balanced delicately to retain the flavor years after it was first tasted. Stories of science fiction with the first story apparently reflecting Asimov’s concern for a machine dominated society so wonderfully contrasted with the fantastic experience in the final one that an unique freshness prevails that is so absent in works of many science fiction writers. The themes of the central three are again so alien to the flanking stories yet it seems so necessary for the completeness.

Professor Shonku

This book is special in many respects. In my younger days when I started relishing works of Ray starting with Feluda through his short stories and Tarinukhuro, the science fiction hero had been something quite remote to my imaginations. In this situation there came Professor Shonku’s adventures in my collection and I was not sure whether to compare him to Feluda or to enjoy the adventures. The regime of science fiction before Shonku had been not so defined in my fantasies. Also imagining a Bengali science fiction hero carrying out exploits to the bewilderment of the entire world had also been something not very realistic to someone whose entire world of science fiction resided in watching Star Trek and Johnny Soko episodes in monochrome. So Shonku had been more than a revelation to me. He allowed me in my childhood days to feel confident that a successful Bengali scientist is also a reality. True that Ray’s work is based on fictional character carrying out fictional experiments sometimes in fictional landscapes but Ray did mould Shonku as the next door neighbor who happens to be a genius. The school goers may not be always feel motivated to read narratives on Jagadish Chandra Bose, Satyendranath Bose, Bidhan Chandra Ray, Meghnad Saha or the other greats who contributed to the evolution of science, but they will surely read Shonku. So the craziness of science and its sure path towards truth will no doubt creep into their mind and also they will not fail to understand the fun side of it. This character of Ray is not unlike his famous private investigator but he seeks truth hiding beneath the depth of nature.

Coming to the significance of this compilation, this happens to be chronologically the 1^st of the Shonku adventures. But curiously enough I could not collect it but for many years as the shops that I frequented always produced other collections but not this one to my queries. So as I was losing hope of ever getting it and seriously doubted whether this collection at all existed, it suddenly came to me. It seemed to fill up the void in my collection. Another point which I then found out was that, unlike the others being published by Ananda Publishers, it was published by New Script.

Being the 1^st in the series, the stories will grip the attention from the very 1^st introduction and the interesting manner in which completed Byomyatrir Diary came to see the light of earth. A horrifying experience awaits the reader in Professor Shonku o Haar with an immediate relief in Professor Shonku o Macaw. Then is another thrilling story of an Epytian curse in Professor Shonku o Egyptio Atanka. Following up the suspense is one of my favourites, Professor Shonku o Ascharya Putul. The next is another that I admire most, an intergalactic adventure that will keep the thrill till the last in Professor Shonku o Golok Rahasya following it up with yet another fascinating, horrifying, amusing and another of my cherished memories as I think of Professor Shonku o Chee-Ching. The rest delves in the mysteries of two very different aspects, the human mind in Professor Shonku o Khoka and in Professoru Shonku o Bhoot which delves in the spectral world.

The Complete Professor Challenger

I don’t know what attracted me most during ’97, the title that I came across for the 1^st time or the appealing price tag so much encouraging as to coax my parents easily into buying this for me. At that point of time Conan Doyle, to me, was the creator of Sherlock Holmes and a few spine chilling terrifying anecdotes. What I didn’t know was that he was equally brilliant in the realms of science fiction and when it comes to merge the limitless imagination that science offers in literature, none other than Sir Arthur will come as one of the greatest in the British literature.

Professor Challenger had been a creation of Conan Doyle whose brain matched Holmes (both Sherlock and Mycroft) and whose curiosity in the field of science seemed to match none than his own enterprising soul. On one hand his pride prevented him from mixing with the common man on the other hand a logical brain was all welcome for him. All these combined, we start with this brilliant professor as he guides an apparently odd crew of the adventurous and ever cool Lord John Roxton (very much reflecting in appearance and mannerism to Sherlock Holmes), the apprehensive professor of Comparative Anatomy, Summerlee and the young and daring Edward D. Malone of the Daily Gazette in their epic exploration of The Lost World near the perilous seclusion of the Amazon that seemed to crawl in the Jurassic Age with the pre-historic dinosaurs and the missing links abound. The plateau built on the remains of a dormant volcano offered adventure of the highest degree that gives the readers a glimpse to the age so remote that we can only imagine in our dreams. The narration was so vividly exciting and the descriptions of the flora and fauna so realistically done that one can only crave for more once the narrative ends. Mixed with the usual humour of Conan Doyle’s, the novel uses Edward Malone’s views of the adventure. This bold young man’s exploits as he discovers the new land and also his true self is most enjoyable in the sense that the readers – the new beholders in the strange land – discovers the uniqueness right with him and thus the surprises and awes that is felt by Malone transmits well to the readers. Though this had been a second read by me but still surprises blossom once more as if I was reading it anew.

The next in the series is one of the peaks of imagination in which the author so easily dwells that exposes the Earth in a shroud of The Poison Belt which pervades the world and all that is living causing apparent death to the entire living race except amoebas which though promises life in a future million year. The ingenuity of Challenger seems to delay the onset to his friends but that too for a few hours before which their living self seemed sure to perish. But the ultimate revelation of the story is sure to bring relief from a sheer tension that gradually builds to its maximum by the classic penmanship of the writer. Another important aspect of the narrative is the introduction of Mrs. Challenger in the proper sense that her personality had come to fore. Mixed with the same feeling of awe and wander the narrative once more promises an adventure of a different type that though is curious but surely enjoyable.

Following these two adventures is another most curious and more convincing in The Land of Mist where spiritualism challenges the erudite Challenger. The adventures begin with Malone as he delves as the representative of the press into the realms of various spiritual circles, both at home and abroad. Challenger, obviously is irritated at this but Malone, after being convinced of the truthfulness of the afterlife tries to persuade the professor on the path of spiritualism. Lord Roxton, a sympathizer to the cause, also joins in. Romance also is a part of the novel that goes hand in hand with the adventure. Conan Doyle has added some significant incidents in the Appendices that, along with the story itself, will no doubt, convert many a non-believer to a believer. The patient but firm way is which several of the supernatural events have been established bears the fact that the author was not only a believer but also participant in several of the rescue circles, séances and experiments concerning spiritualism. It is also noted that his wife was a medium and along with her, he had joined in several sessions of séances that helped clearing out any doubts that he may have felt. Some very remarkable experiences and evidences are being shared that will also help in establishing the truth that lies behind the misty land where the traditional scientific brain hesitates to traverse.

The fourth in the series is The Disintegration Machine, where we find Professor Challenger less as a scientist than a dutiful citizen. Requested to investigate a seemingly fantastic yet dangerous scientific invention, prudence prevails till the climax and a classic twist reflects a part of his character yet unknown to the beholders of his exploits.

But the best, at least my favourite, is When The World Screamed that at once tells us the height of fascinating imagination that the author was capable of. Truly a marvelous work of fiction this piece alters the perspective of the reader about the nature of our very own earth. The rationale seemed a little simplified and a bit less elaborate to convince the critical reader but its style of presentation is quite wonderful. Narrated from the perspective of an artesian boring expert, Peerless Jones with Malone enjoying the show as the genius’s sidekick, the adventure is aimed to find out the true nature beneath the earth’s crust. Scattered with humour the piece is a classic that I cherish fondly though I’ve read it more than once.

The entire compilation is a revelation of Conan Doyle’s versatility as several, including me before going through it, of the readers always associate him with Sherlock Holmes only. In fact, after reading Holmes I was a fan of the detective but reading this I became a fan of the author.

Avatar: Special 3D

Avatar - the incarnation of movie and its viewers in the same dimension! When technology defines entertainment, then what we get is Avatar, the ultimate thrill that sweeps past the confines of the screen and takes the viewers to a joy ride through a visual recitation. The 3D viewing from the very start mesmerizes the senses and when excitement runs high, we forget the fictitious projections and it was not once that found me shaking head lest the stones and water and leaves rustle my face.
The actual story is not so high ended concept but the clash of civilizations with one aiming to protect existence and the other to advance technology, seems a paradox to the entire presentation but the win of good over evil satisfies all.
It is the year 2154AD, RDA corporation is mining a valuable mineral unobtainium on Pandora, inhabited by 10ft tall Na'vi, sapient humanoids who harmonizes with nature and worships the Mother Goddess Eywa. To explore the civilization and its ambience scientists develops Na'vi-human hybrid avatars that are operated by mental links of geneticaly matched humans. Thus Jake Sully, a paraplegic former Marine, to replace his murdered brother who had been a scientist turned avatar operator, was introduced to this programme. He was considered no better than a bodyguard by the head, Dr. Grace Augustine. But Col. Miles Quatrich, head of the Sec-Ops, private security force of RDA had other ideas. He tried using Sully to learn about the Na'vi resources and habitats so that it would be easier to secure them when time comes. But as Jake comes closer to the Na'vi population it becomes increasingly difficult for him not to sympathize with them. He becomes intimate to Neytiri, daughter of Eytukan, leader of the clan that he is introduced into. There, her mother and the clan's spiritual leader Mo'at, orders Neytiri to teach Sully the ways of the tribe. As he grew more and more acuinted with her, Sully fell in love with her and was tortured beyond agony as he understood that his intel will just destroy the natural habitat and almost the whole tribe of the Na'vi that had so tenderly adopted him.
Thus began the new chapter of Sully where he confessed of his attempted betrayal to Eytukan and was condemned for the purpose. But then, to regain the trust that the tribe had earlier possessed of him, he tamed the flying predator Toruk and earned the title of Toruk Maktu (tamer of Toruk), a distinction held by only five of the Na've previous to him. This also earned him trust from the tribe and his future actions agains the evil Earthmen got him his desired brotherhood to Na'vi. Thus began the revolution that united the entire Pandoran Na'vi that rose against the technologically advanced humans.
The rest is a fierce yet detailed battle between the two cultures and the audience will be spellbound at the display of high paced action.
This James Cameron directed classic with its 9 min of extra graphical excitement in the special edition is a celebration of technology and of colours that unfolds its brilliant shades in a classic manner. Sam Worthington as Jack Sully was a wonderful choice as the new face matched well with the new genre of film making. Stephen Lang as Miles Quatrich also carried on the cruel character just correctly. Sigourney Weaver (Dr. Grace Augustine) carried on her part of the curt yet humane scientist to perfection. Zoe Saldana as Neyitiri played her part of the coarse yet sympathetic Na'vi with zeal. Wes Study as Eytukan was also a wonderful choice whose stature was just right for the leader of the tribe. But C.C.H Pounder was the best as Mo'at whose composed expressions derived a revered personality from her wild form.
Mauro Fiore's cinematogrpahy is another treasure that complemented the graphics both in detail and in excellence.

The Caves of Steel

Welcome to the future. Yes it is Asimov and he takes us on a journey to a near future at the wake of C/Fe civilization i.e., the human-robot civilization, the brainchild of the Spacers who had migrated from the Earth to form a world of healthy beings. Yes, the ethical part kept aside, the Spacers, humans from Earth formed a colony of their own by selecting the healthiest of the human race right from birth itself. Thus the nobility of the future, so formed, had, at once, been both the subject of fascination and hatred to the Earthmen. Infact, the human civilization too had undergone a radical change by the construction of steel caves that they named Cities which covered the entire human organization. Ambience, inside these caves, were controlled to suit the need of development and work and thus it was not surprising when we find the household kitchen being replaced by a community dining hall where all the city dwellers timely consumed their daily ration. This automatically gave birth to a sect, appropriately categorized as Mediavalists, that functioned illegally in a hope to bring back the past and crushing anything modern. That they would be against robots was natural but some of them, in course of time, modified their views when they found these choice was automatic and gradually started to cope up with the change. One of these was police officer, Elijah Lije Bailey, whose practical approach seemed to be the apparent reason for his recommendation by his friend and boss, Commissioner Enderby, to investigate the murder of one Dr. Sarton, a specialist in humanoid robots at Spacetown. Lije would have tolerated this not so encouraging task but for the ordeal of being accompanied by a detective robot Daneel Olivaw that seemed too much for him.

A gripping story follows with elaborate paragraphs detailing, for the sake of the readers, the future world in the author’s vision, that increases both in pace and mystery till the very climax. Lije seemed to be bent on accusing the Spacers of the crime but Daneel in each step refuted his views with solid counter proofs. The delicate situation of unmasking the criminal while preventing an impending riot seemed to slip of Lije’s hand at each occassion but the turn of events, each time, seemed to send him back to the right track. The sinister evil lurking behind the crime was finally unveiled by Lije and the readers will thoroughly enjoy the story though a certain amount of concentration is required if its true flavour is to be savoured.

The Rest of the Robots

I'd read Asimov only once quite some years back and that too one of his novels on the Foundation series. Maybe it was my age that was responsible but I found the novel exciting but a bit boring too. So for several years after the experience I'd avoided going thru an Asimov again. Thus it was only an impulse that guided me to pick this book up in an used book store. That my impulse was justified is evident as after all these years I again grasped this book from my shelf to indulge once more in some of the best science fiction stories ever written with the author's style of mixing humour to these anecdotes making them quite unique in its genre.

The content runs as

· The Coming of the Robots

§ Robot AL-76 Goes Astray

§ Victory Unintentional

· The Laws of Robotics

§ First Law

§ Let’s Get Together

· Susan Calvin

§ Satisfaction Guaranteed

§ Risk

§ Lenny

§ Galley Slave

The most wonderful thing of the book is that each and every story is being preceded by the author's introductions that are equally entertaining as the stories themselves. The 1st section contains two hilarious pieces though the mood is dampened somewhat by the 1st story of the 2nd section. But the 2nd one more than compensates for the excitement that was due. But the best and the most though provoking are the stories in the 3rd section where the robopsychologist Susan Calvin offers all the explanations to the apparent contradictory or erratic behaviours of certain robots. Asimov's detailing in each of the stories seemed something to be complimented about and also his theme of aversion to robots by the general public is equally well portrayed. The Three Laws governing robotics have also been clearly explained while the misinterpretations and exception of these were equally well used in some of the robot stories. The book is fascinating and will definitely provide a source of entertainment, offering a new insight into science fiction stories by crossing the border of blending science with fiction and passing on to the realm of literary excellence.
In AL-76 Goes Astray, the confused activities of a robot designed for lunar excavations that somehow was transported to Earth will keep you in all smiles as will the timed misunderstanding on the part of Jovians in Victory Unintentional due to their lack of knowledge in earthian robotics. The First Law is somewhat a trivial story in that respect but in Let's Get Together, the mystery with science fiction blends all too well for a classic climax. We get introduced to Susan Calvin in Satisfaction Guaranteed though she is more than overshadowed by the fascinating personality of the robot that this story portrys. In Risk, you will surely be more than irritated at the way Calvin persuades Gerald Black to take the risk of his life but will no doubt agree to her reasonings at the final phases of the crisis. The story Lenny is a revelation to Calvin's singular character while Galley Slave is another fascinating courtroom drama with a proofreading robot as the central figure.
After doing a bit of a research on the compilation of the Asimov's fictions, I found that I was somewhat cheated of the marvellous writings by two novels that the original edition of the book contained while the one that I purchased was just an abridged version.