The Immortals of Meluha

October 20, 2014
Amish’s debut, the first of a trilogy, made him a bestselling literary star in India. In translation, this fictionalized history of the Hindu deity Shiva’s journey to godhood is conceptually clever, but it’s sadly lackluster in execution. In 1900 B.C.E., tribal leader Shiva is tired of fending off a rival tribe’s attacks. He accepts an invitation to relocate his people from Tibet to the Indian empire of Meluha. The tribespeople drink a magical medicine that cures ailments in most, but it turns Shiva’s throat blue, marking him as the prophesied Neelkanth that will destroy the Meluhan’s evil enemies. Unfortunately, despite Amish’s creativity and the rich trove of myth from which he draws, the story gets away from him. His characters are flat, prone to clunky dialogue and expository inner monologues. The narrative tension is bogged down by heavy-handed philosophy, detracting from the straightforward plot. Those with an interest in eastern mythology will find this story interesting, but as a fantasy epic it feels amateurish.

November 1, 2014
Amish draws from India's rich culture to fictionalize the life of Shiva, the Great God Mahadev, of Hindu theology. In faraway Tibet 3,000 years ago lived Shiva, a Guna warrior-chieftain. Weary of battle with the predatory Pakrati, he agrees when Meluha, "the richest and most powerful empire in India, "invites the Guna to emigrate. Resting during the trek, Shiva drinks Somras, a restorative potion, and his throat takes on a beautiful blue color. It's a sign the Meluha believe marks him as the Neelkanth, savior and successor to immortals like Lord Ram and Lord Brahma. With that, Shiva is drawn into conflict between the Suryavanshi of Meluha and the Chandravanshi of Swadweep centered around Somras, which has created "a remarkable and near-perfect society." Amish offers a glossary and small map and, most interestingly, a synopsis on the various castes. There's much about philosophy and architecture, somewhat less about dress and food, and little about everyday life in this dense but readily understandable immersion in Hindu culture. In Meluha, a "land of abundance, of almost ethereal perfection," Shiva meets and woos Sita, the emperor's daughter. Sita's been relegated to vikrama (untouchable) caste because of personal tragedy, but Shiva ignores tradition. Parvateshwar, Meluha's chief general, proves an interesting character, a gruff and practical warrior, who refuses at first to believe Shiva's the Neelkanth. Disconcertingly, Amish's dialogue has noticeably anachronistic phrases-"can't you take a joke?"; "Yeah, right." Shiva explores philosophy with assorted temple pandits, accepts his destiny, leads Mehula to defeat the Chandravanshi, only to discover that "terrorists" making random attacks-Nagas who look "like a vulture in human form"-are not agents of the Chandravanshi, as had been assumed. With a cliffhanger conclusion, this first in a trilogy will appeal to those who enjoy delving into works like The Lord of the Rings or The Chronicles of Narnia.

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