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Baramulla Bomber
AN ANCIENT WEAPON FROM THE VEDAS & BIBLE
ONCE HUNTED BY THE NAZIS
POWERED BY THE SOUND OF UNIVERSE
REBORN WITH HELP OF QUANTUM PHYSICS
GOING TO BE UNLEASHED ON TO THE WORLD
AND KASHMIR HOLDS ITS SECRET
Multiple intelligence agencies are tracking Mansur Haider, a god-fearing aspiring cricketer from Kashmir. His girlfriend, Aahana Yajurvedi, is trying to locate her missing mountaineering team, who vanished after a mysterious earthquake strikes Shaksgam Valley.
Investigating Mansur and the Shaksgam Valley incident is Swedish intelligence officer, Adolf Silfverskiold, whose only relationship to god consists of escorting his girlfriend to Church.
A dual China-Pakistan battlefront scenario facing the Indian Home Minister, Agastya Rathore, whose ancestors carry a prehistoric secret linked to the stars. He is faced with the challenge of finding a lasting solution to the Kashmir crisis.
Which Biblical Weapon was Tested in Shaksgam Valley? Why is Mansur Haider Important? Is There a Solution to the Kashmir Crisis? Can Destiny be Controlled? Does a Cosmic Religion Exist?
ONCE HUNTED BY THE NAZIS
POWERED BY THE SOUND OF UNIVERSE
REBORN WITH HELP OF QUANTUM PHYSICS
GOING TO BE UNLEASHED ON TO THE WORLD
AND KASHMIR HOLDS ITS SECRET
Multiple intelligence agencies are tracking Mansur Haider, a god-fearing aspiring cricketer from Kashmir. His girlfriend, Aahana Yajurvedi, is trying to locate her missing mountaineering team, who vanished after a mysterious earthquake strikes Shaksgam Valley.
Investigating Mansur and the Shaksgam Valley incident is Swedish intelligence officer, Adolf Silfverskiold, whose only relationship to god consists of escorting his girlfriend to Church.
A dual China-Pakistan battlefront scenario facing the Indian Home Minister, Agastya Rathore, whose ancestors carry a prehistoric secret linked to the stars. He is faced with the challenge of finding a lasting solution to the Kashmir crisis.
Which Biblical Weapon was Tested in Shaksgam Valley? Why is Mansur Haider Important? Is There a Solution to the Kashmir Crisis? Can Destiny be Controlled? Does a Cosmic Religion Exist?
- GenresScience FictionThriller
316 pages, Paperback
First published July 27, 2012
13 people are currently reading
219 people want to read
About the author
Clark Prasad
4 books25 followersClark Prasad, alter ego of Suraj Prasad, could be called a mixed citizen. Born in a leap year (year of Rocky, All the President's Men, Omen, Hera Pheri and Kalicharan) in Lagos, Nigeria he lived most of his life in New Delhi and had his education in Lagos, Delhi, Mangalore and Kozhikode. His family background is from the town where George Orwell, author of 1984 (a dystopian fiction) was born, and where Mahatma Gandhi had re-ignited India's freedom movement - Motihari.
A pharmacist with a management degree who believes in conspiracy theories, Baramulla Bomber is his first book. His first education o he mysteries of the universe came via Carl Sagans Cosmos, and since then he never looked back on reading, watching and discussing about the universe. He grew up during the cold war days with BBC radio was one of his mysterious companions as a kid, when his father played the news regularly every day. World War II news and documentaries on CIA-KGB tussle kept him engaged that time.
As a kid he wanted to be an archaeologist or an astronaut, but fate had its own road and he got involved with Mr. Carbon akaChemistry. Currently he is a healthcare management consultant, based out of Bengaluru, Planet Earth
A pharmacist with a management degree who believes in conspiracy theories, Baramulla Bomber is his first book. His first education o he mysteries of the universe came via Carl Sagans Cosmos, and since then he never looked back on reading, watching and discussing about the universe. He grew up during the cold war days with BBC radio was one of his mysterious companions as a kid, when his father played the news regularly every day. World War II news and documentaries on CIA-KGB tussle kept him engaged that time.
As a kid he wanted to be an archaeologist or an astronaut, but fate had its own road and he got involved with Mr. Carbon akaChemistry. Currently he is a healthcare management consultant, based out of Bengaluru, Planet Earth
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
November 7, 2013
The review for this book has been posted at: http://pustakalu.wordpress.com/2013/1...
This book is a complimentary copy received as a part of Goodread’s First Reads.
I would rate this book as 2.5 out of 5.
This book has taken me the longest time to complete. The premise is good, and that was what attracted me to vote to review this book in the first place.
The first thing that struck me, and managed to get me through the first half of the book was the amount of detail and research that has gone into this book. It is reflected in the amount of background information that is given.
On the con side, this is also a drawback to large extent. The amount of detail also bogs down the story. When I did reach mid-section of the book, I almost put it aside because I didn’t want so much detail! I wanted a story that moved forward, and that’s something I wasn’t getting.
I don’t want to add any spoilers here, but I really got frustrated with not knowing the direction the story was going. Keeping suspense is fine, but not giving clarity as to why Mansur is important right until the last 20 pages was just plain silly! He’s the main character, and I just couldn’t understand why! Having clarity might have added a dimension of “what next?!” to the book, rather than give the feeling of “when next?!”
Overall I’m not overly impressed with the book. It definitely needs tighter editing. The story isn’t strong enough to hold interest for so many pages.
This book is a complimentary copy received as a part of Goodread’s First Reads.
I would rate this book as 2.5 out of 5.
This book has taken me the longest time to complete. The premise is good, and that was what attracted me to vote to review this book in the first place.
The first thing that struck me, and managed to get me through the first half of the book was the amount of detail and research that has gone into this book. It is reflected in the amount of background information that is given.
On the con side, this is also a drawback to large extent. The amount of detail also bogs down the story. When I did reach mid-section of the book, I almost put it aside because I didn’t want so much detail! I wanted a story that moved forward, and that’s something I wasn’t getting.
I don’t want to add any spoilers here, but I really got frustrated with not knowing the direction the story was going. Keeping suspense is fine, but not giving clarity as to why Mansur is important right until the last 20 pages was just plain silly! He’s the main character, and I just couldn’t understand why! Having clarity might have added a dimension of “what next?!” to the book, rather than give the feeling of “when next?!”
Overall I’m not overly impressed with the book. It definitely needs tighter editing. The story isn’t strong enough to hold interest for so many pages.
December 6, 2013
“Quantum Physics meets Bible and Vedas in Background of Kashmir and Cricket” – so says the cover, and I ask, my left eyebrow touching the roof of my temple – “Really?” A few breezy pages follow, and I get my answer. Yes, we have our very own ‘Indian Dan Brown’ among us.
Welcome Clark Prasad. Welcome to the mind, and heart of readers.
I am a sucker for thriller, and anything related to this T-letter word makes me drool. Thus, it was no surprise that my mind started playing tricks on my heart, insisting me to get this book as soon as I heard of it. One look at the cover, and God, you just couldn't resist the temptation.
A hell lot of difference can be made by the cover, as it is the first thing that grabs hold of your attention. If the cover isn't as per your liking, your senses feel dejected, and your fingers quickly move across to the next book on the shelf. It, however, won’t happen with 'Baramulla Bomber' though. It has one of the best cover designs that I have ever come across.
'Baramulla Bomber' is a ‘Science Fiction Espionage Thriller’ and marks the beginning of the Svastik Trilogy (yes, there will be more to come in this series). However, the word ‘Fiction’ stands as a misnomer here, as many events seem related to theories we have heard for real, in subjects ranging from science, technology, politics and religion. Clark has done his homework well, and it shows perfectly in the manner he has depicted the scenes in the book.
The plot moves across several locales, from India to Pakistan to US to Norway, and many more, the strings tightly connected, and the movement harmonious. Like an orchestra where the members play notes in sync with each other, the characters and the happenings in this book gel along nicely, making the book fluent and lucid to the mind.
Talking about the story-line, it is as unique as it can get, and that’s where Clark scores a perfect ten. How can you relate Cricket to an ancient weapon from the Vedas and the Bible, and recreate the history of Nazis with grains of Quantum Physics adding flavor to the whole meal? Impossible, I would have said, but not anymore. Clark Prasad does full justice to the idea, bringing out a novel that’s unique and one of its kind.
This guy really has miles to travel. Surely, there are a few areas that needs improvement, character building is one of them. Though there are several characters, none of them really leave an impression, except apart from Mansur Haider, but perhaps, that’s what the author had intended, to let the characters not take domination ovr the plot. And if that’s the case, then I would be absolutely ok on that front.
There is no denying the fact that Clark has a lot of potential to take the Indian thriller genre by storm. If this debut is anything to go by, we will surely love the rest of the parts in this Trilogy. I am really looking forward to them. Are you?
If not, give a try to the ‘Baramulla Bomber’, and you will know what I mean.
Welcome Clark Prasad. Welcome to the mind, and heart of readers.
I am a sucker for thriller, and anything related to this T-letter word makes me drool. Thus, it was no surprise that my mind started playing tricks on my heart, insisting me to get this book as soon as I heard of it. One look at the cover, and God, you just couldn't resist the temptation.
A hell lot of difference can be made by the cover, as it is the first thing that grabs hold of your attention. If the cover isn't as per your liking, your senses feel dejected, and your fingers quickly move across to the next book on the shelf. It, however, won’t happen with 'Baramulla Bomber' though. It has one of the best cover designs that I have ever come across.
'Baramulla Bomber' is a ‘Science Fiction Espionage Thriller’ and marks the beginning of the Svastik Trilogy (yes, there will be more to come in this series). However, the word ‘Fiction’ stands as a misnomer here, as many events seem related to theories we have heard for real, in subjects ranging from science, technology, politics and religion. Clark has done his homework well, and it shows perfectly in the manner he has depicted the scenes in the book.
The plot moves across several locales, from India to Pakistan to US to Norway, and many more, the strings tightly connected, and the movement harmonious. Like an orchestra where the members play notes in sync with each other, the characters and the happenings in this book gel along nicely, making the book fluent and lucid to the mind.
Talking about the story-line, it is as unique as it can get, and that’s where Clark scores a perfect ten. How can you relate Cricket to an ancient weapon from the Vedas and the Bible, and recreate the history of Nazis with grains of Quantum Physics adding flavor to the whole meal? Impossible, I would have said, but not anymore. Clark Prasad does full justice to the idea, bringing out a novel that’s unique and one of its kind.
This guy really has miles to travel. Surely, there are a few areas that needs improvement, character building is one of them. Though there are several characters, none of them really leave an impression, except apart from Mansur Haider, but perhaps, that’s what the author had intended, to let the characters not take domination ovr the plot. And if that’s the case, then I would be absolutely ok on that front.
There is no denying the fact that Clark has a lot of potential to take the Indian thriller genre by storm. If this debut is anything to go by, we will surely love the rest of the parts in this Trilogy. I am really looking forward to them. Are you?
If not, give a try to the ‘Baramulla Bomber’, and you will know what I mean.
September 18, 2013
An Interesting thriller set in India. Filled with science fiction and mythological elements - kind of Dan Brown meets Fredrick Forsyth meets Bollywood. One problem is the book attempts to cover every possible cliche overwhelming the reader at times. Otherwise a decent read.
January 9, 2014
Baramulla Bomber
By Clark Prasad
Review By Ila Garg
Baramulla Bomber is a novel by the debutant writer Clark (Suraj) Prasad, published by Niyogi Books. Looking at the cover of the book you will come across two eyes staring directly at you. There is a symbol of AUM - the primordial sound around which the plot is set. And just above it, is the caption which declares ‘SCIENCE FICTION ESPIONAGE THRILLER’. Yes, Baramulla Bomber, is the debut thriller by Clark (Suraj) Prasad and is the first of the Svastik Trilogy.
Ofcourse, I loved the cover. I liked the colour combination, the font, and the paper quality. That hard mysterious face tells a story of its own. When I got this book, I was rendered speechless. I am a sucker for thriller, so when Nimi asked me if I would like to review it, I could not say no! I was nervous as I started reading the blurb to get a taste of this book, though.
The blurb reads as, ‘AN ANCIENT WEAPON FROM THE VEDAS & BIBLE ONCE HUNTED BY THE NAZIS POWERED BY THE SOUND OF UNIVERSE REBORN WITH HELP OF QUANTUM PHYSICS GOING TO BE UNLEASHED ON TO THE WORLD AND KASHMIR HOLDS ITS SECRET.
Multiple intelligence agencies are tracking Mansur Haider, a god-fearing aspiring cricketer from Kashmir. His girlfriend, Aahana Yajurvedi, is trying to locate her missing mountaineering team, who vanished after a mysterious earthquake strikes Shaksgam Valley.
Investigating Mansur and the Shaksgam Valley incident is Swedish intelligence officer, Adolf Silfverskiold, whose only relationship to god consists of escorting his girlfriend to Church.
A dual China-Pakistan battlefront scenario facing the Indian Home Minister, Agastya Rathore, whose ancestors carry a prehistoric secret linked to the stars. He is faced with the challenge of finding a lasting solution to the Kashmir crisis.
Which Biblical Weapon was Tested in Shaksgam Valley? Why is Mansur Haider Important? Is There a Solution to the Kashmir Crisis? Can Destiny be Controlled? Does a Cosmic Religion Exist?’
I can't tell much about the plot as this is supposed to be a spoiler free review as per the request of the author mentioned inside the book. What impressed me about it is the fact that the author has well researched for writing the book and it is evident in the plot.
The cover has a tag line - “Quantum Physics meets Bible and Vedas in Background of Kashmir and Cricket”, which clearly makes it the amalgamation of various themes and yet the story has a smooth flow for the readers.
The plot moves across several locales, from India to Pakistan to US to Norway, and many more, so the reader has to be attentive to grasp all the details. There are various maps, illustrations, and other such stuff to aid the understanding of the story. The characters and the happenings in this book gel along nicely, making the book fluent and lucid to the mind.
This book gets a bit complicated because it has a lot of characters, from Mansur Haider (the protagonist) to Kurt; the author has created memorable characters and used them efficiently to move the plot further. Every single character has contributed in some way or the other to the story (including Kasha and Ann). Also, I feel a deep thinking was involved while naming the characters as the names are superb and they suit the characters well. For example, Adolf Silfverskiod is a perfect name for an intelligence officer from Sweden and the name has also got a certain degree of command.
This story is complex, meant for intelligent readers. Pace is very important aspect when it comes to a novel which I felt can be worked upon in a little better manner in future by the author. This book was uneven in terms of pace.
Initially it came across as a scary affair to me, as I read till about 100 to 150 pages, I was exhausted. It was like the author has almost stuffed the readers with enormous amount of facts till page 150 and it is a heavy read till there. Till the end of the novel, a reader has to turn back pages to refer.
There onwards, the pace becomes comfortable and the story too becomes light to read, though. Due to the heaviness of the facts the book is not a single sitting read. You need to take breaks in between, though the plot is tempting and manages to keep you hooked.
It was gripping, thrilling at times and in the middle it lost the initial fervor, but gained the momentum towards the end again. Yes, the story is interesting, partially because it’s a new kind of genre, well written. Author is really good with words and has a command over the language. He manages to keep the readers in awe till the end.
Quantum Physics, Bible, Vedas, Kashmir, so much in one book. A commendable job done by the author. Though I would like to see some improvements in the second and third book of the trilogy. The author needs to work on making the story smoother, the little lighter or evenly paced. He needs to level up with the readers.
The 316 page book is filled with a lot of facts. I mainly loved the book because of the element of thrill and an apt cover. First few pages tested my patience but soon it engulfed me into its world. It is an action-packed quirky-witty-techno-mythical head spinner which takes you on a roller coaster ride and leaves you breathless. I liked the author’s quirky style and the research that he has done. Loved and really appreciate the meaningful use of maps, instances, and quotations from Vedas and Bible. The way he has linked these topics is an ambitious task that the author managed to accomplish well. Hats off! As a debutant, he has done a good job and the flaws can be ignored. Best wishes!
Rating: 3.5/5
This (Unbiased) book review is a part of "The Readers Cosmos Book Review Program". To get free books log on to thereaderscosmos.blogspot.com. Thanks Nimi Vashi for giving me the opportunity to read such a nice book!
By Clark Prasad
Review By Ila Garg
Baramulla Bomber is a novel by the debutant writer Clark (Suraj) Prasad, published by Niyogi Books. Looking at the cover of the book you will come across two eyes staring directly at you. There is a symbol of AUM - the primordial sound around which the plot is set. And just above it, is the caption which declares ‘SCIENCE FICTION ESPIONAGE THRILLER’. Yes, Baramulla Bomber, is the debut thriller by Clark (Suraj) Prasad and is the first of the Svastik Trilogy.
Ofcourse, I loved the cover. I liked the colour combination, the font, and the paper quality. That hard mysterious face tells a story of its own. When I got this book, I was rendered speechless. I am a sucker for thriller, so when Nimi asked me if I would like to review it, I could not say no! I was nervous as I started reading the blurb to get a taste of this book, though.
The blurb reads as, ‘AN ANCIENT WEAPON FROM THE VEDAS & BIBLE ONCE HUNTED BY THE NAZIS POWERED BY THE SOUND OF UNIVERSE REBORN WITH HELP OF QUANTUM PHYSICS GOING TO BE UNLEASHED ON TO THE WORLD AND KASHMIR HOLDS ITS SECRET.
Multiple intelligence agencies are tracking Mansur Haider, a god-fearing aspiring cricketer from Kashmir. His girlfriend, Aahana Yajurvedi, is trying to locate her missing mountaineering team, who vanished after a mysterious earthquake strikes Shaksgam Valley.
Investigating Mansur and the Shaksgam Valley incident is Swedish intelligence officer, Adolf Silfverskiold, whose only relationship to god consists of escorting his girlfriend to Church.
A dual China-Pakistan battlefront scenario facing the Indian Home Minister, Agastya Rathore, whose ancestors carry a prehistoric secret linked to the stars. He is faced with the challenge of finding a lasting solution to the Kashmir crisis.
Which Biblical Weapon was Tested in Shaksgam Valley? Why is Mansur Haider Important? Is There a Solution to the Kashmir Crisis? Can Destiny be Controlled? Does a Cosmic Religion Exist?’
I can't tell much about the plot as this is supposed to be a spoiler free review as per the request of the author mentioned inside the book. What impressed me about it is the fact that the author has well researched for writing the book and it is evident in the plot.
The cover has a tag line - “Quantum Physics meets Bible and Vedas in Background of Kashmir and Cricket”, which clearly makes it the amalgamation of various themes and yet the story has a smooth flow for the readers.
The plot moves across several locales, from India to Pakistan to US to Norway, and many more, so the reader has to be attentive to grasp all the details. There are various maps, illustrations, and other such stuff to aid the understanding of the story. The characters and the happenings in this book gel along nicely, making the book fluent and lucid to the mind.
This book gets a bit complicated because it has a lot of characters, from Mansur Haider (the protagonist) to Kurt; the author has created memorable characters and used them efficiently to move the plot further. Every single character has contributed in some way or the other to the story (including Kasha and Ann). Also, I feel a deep thinking was involved while naming the characters as the names are superb and they suit the characters well. For example, Adolf Silfverskiod is a perfect name for an intelligence officer from Sweden and the name has also got a certain degree of command.
This story is complex, meant for intelligent readers. Pace is very important aspect when it comes to a novel which I felt can be worked upon in a little better manner in future by the author. This book was uneven in terms of pace.
Initially it came across as a scary affair to me, as I read till about 100 to 150 pages, I was exhausted. It was like the author has almost stuffed the readers with enormous amount of facts till page 150 and it is a heavy read till there. Till the end of the novel, a reader has to turn back pages to refer.
There onwards, the pace becomes comfortable and the story too becomes light to read, though. Due to the heaviness of the facts the book is not a single sitting read. You need to take breaks in between, though the plot is tempting and manages to keep you hooked.
It was gripping, thrilling at times and in the middle it lost the initial fervor, but gained the momentum towards the end again. Yes, the story is interesting, partially because it’s a new kind of genre, well written. Author is really good with words and has a command over the language. He manages to keep the readers in awe till the end.
Quantum Physics, Bible, Vedas, Kashmir, so much in one book. A commendable job done by the author. Though I would like to see some improvements in the second and third book of the trilogy. The author needs to work on making the story smoother, the little lighter or evenly paced. He needs to level up with the readers.
The 316 page book is filled with a lot of facts. I mainly loved the book because of the element of thrill and an apt cover. First few pages tested my patience but soon it engulfed me into its world. It is an action-packed quirky-witty-techno-mythical head spinner which takes you on a roller coaster ride and leaves you breathless. I liked the author’s quirky style and the research that he has done. Loved and really appreciate the meaningful use of maps, instances, and quotations from Vedas and Bible. The way he has linked these topics is an ambitious task that the author managed to accomplish well. Hats off! As a debutant, he has done a good job and the flaws can be ignored. Best wishes!
Rating: 3.5/5
This (Unbiased) book review is a part of "The Readers Cosmos Book Review Program". To get free books log on to thereaderscosmos.blogspot.com. Thanks Nimi Vashi for giving me the opportunity to read such a nice book!
February 2, 2016
Sounds quite intriguing doesn't it? When I first came across the book via BlogAdda's book review program, I was very much curious as to how can a plot be carved around such a diverse range? For Baramulla Bomber claimed to have one "that revolves around Kashmir, Pakistan, China, cricket, ancient secret societies, and espionage". Well, the end result is bit of hopscotch.
Frankly speaking, the initial 20-30 pages gave me a headache. I hate chapters that start off in the middle of nowhere & then the next one too begins wham! in the midst of something else. Nevertheless having gone through that, I was glad the author picked up pace & did turn this into the racy thriller that it claimed to be.
Baramulla Bomber has a political backdrop with our neighbours China & Pakistan being involved, but of course. Not to mention the CIA. The ancient weapon is sonic in nature, one that had been used since ancient history. But now the secret of its use has been revealed to the wrong people who are planning to use it against India. I'd read about the spiritual power of the Hindu scared chant of 'Aum' but the author has given a much more detailed explanation of the same. The description of the beautiful land of Kashmir is what I enjoyed the most. Though this book does reflect the in-depth research done by the author, it somehow fails to do so in a clean, smooth manner.
Coming back to the story, Mansur Haider is the protagonist & unlike normal thrillers, we do not come across him until a few pages have been read. And even then we don't realize that he's the lead for he comes across as just a calm, deeply religious human with a natural talent for cricket. I liked the way the others like Samir-his best friend, Aahana-his girlfriend as well as Adolf-the Swedish intelligence officers Adolf, have been given fair amount of introduction & as much importance in the story.
To sum it up I'd say that this book being a debut is fairly good barring some typos, the lagging first few chapters that try to feed you with too much information that one can keep track of at a time & some rather far-fetched scenario(specially related to the cricket team selection). Suraj Prasad who goes by the pen name of Clark Prasad has done a fair amount of research into this &; you can see that the author holds promise as the book starts to get better at the end with an apt climax. Baramulla Bomber is the first of the Svastik trilogy. I just hope the next time Suraj Prasad would definitely cut down on all the information-cramming in the first few chapters. For now I'd give Baramulla Bomber a decent 3/5 rating.
Frankly speaking, the initial 20-30 pages gave me a headache. I hate chapters that start off in the middle of nowhere & then the next one too begins wham! in the midst of something else. Nevertheless having gone through that, I was glad the author picked up pace & did turn this into the racy thriller that it claimed to be.
Baramulla Bomber has a political backdrop with our neighbours China & Pakistan being involved, but of course. Not to mention the CIA. The ancient weapon is sonic in nature, one that had been used since ancient history. But now the secret of its use has been revealed to the wrong people who are planning to use it against India. I'd read about the spiritual power of the Hindu scared chant of 'Aum' but the author has given a much more detailed explanation of the same. The description of the beautiful land of Kashmir is what I enjoyed the most. Though this book does reflect the in-depth research done by the author, it somehow fails to do so in a clean, smooth manner.
Coming back to the story, Mansur Haider is the protagonist & unlike normal thrillers, we do not come across him until a few pages have been read. And even then we don't realize that he's the lead for he comes across as just a calm, deeply religious human with a natural talent for cricket. I liked the way the others like Samir-his best friend, Aahana-his girlfriend as well as Adolf-the Swedish intelligence officers Adolf, have been given fair amount of introduction & as much importance in the story.
To sum it up I'd say that this book being a debut is fairly good barring some typos, the lagging first few chapters that try to feed you with too much information that one can keep track of at a time & some rather far-fetched scenario(specially related to the cricket team selection). Suraj Prasad who goes by the pen name of Clark Prasad has done a fair amount of research into this &; you can see that the author holds promise as the book starts to get better at the end with an apt climax. Baramulla Bomber is the first of the Svastik trilogy. I just hope the next time Suraj Prasad would definitely cut down on all the information-cramming in the first few chapters. For now I'd give Baramulla Bomber a decent 3/5 rating.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 7, 2014
4 1/2 to 5. This is true science fiction - fiction with science - not [though I enjoy Star Wars and Star Trek] cowboys and indians in space, not ghosts and vampires and werewolves and zombies, not something that starts, "Oog shook his magic sword at the Castle of Granfalloon." It was also nice to get an Eastern perspective, and a religious perspective other than Judeo-Christian [or Islam, if I count "Dune"]. The author has asked plot details not be discussed;. I do not think I would be violating this to say, before I read it, it would have been useful [though not essential] to have read a Wikipedia article about the game of Cricket. There are two more to come in this series, and I will read them.
February 28, 2018
Prasad deserves credit for his very well-researched debut. But I would have loved it more if the story was tighter.
July 29, 2020
Musy read for Fiction lovers. Go for it.
June 30, 2020
Baramulla Bomber by debutant author Clark Prasad (Suraj Prasad) is a marvelous fast paced thriller that you are compelled to read on. It is a heady mix of espionage, cricket, mythology and science.
It inspires hope, creates nostalgia for an ancient Indian knowledge and prowess, and entertains as we follow Mansur Haider, Samir, Adol Silfverskiold, Aahana Yajurvedi, Agastya Rathode and others on their journey to stop an ancient weapon from destructing the world.
The book is well researched and the writing is intelligent and comprehensive. Though the concepts in quantum physics, religion and mythology are chosen, it is not difficult to comprehend. It makes you wonder what will happen next in the three book series! Definitely thumbs up for Clark Prasad for writing the kind of riveting espionage thriller. So much in a debut novel!
The book is fast paced and keeps on the edge of your seat till the very end. Character sketches are perfect thriller and every character is well used. The story explores intelligence agencies other than the much explored CIA, and yet does complete justice to it.
Full review here: https://intheclassroomoflife.blogspot...
It inspires hope, creates nostalgia for an ancient Indian knowledge and prowess, and entertains as we follow Mansur Haider, Samir, Adol Silfverskiold, Aahana Yajurvedi, Agastya Rathode and others on their journey to stop an ancient weapon from destructing the world.
The book is well researched and the writing is intelligent and comprehensive. Though the concepts in quantum physics, religion and mythology are chosen, it is not difficult to comprehend. It makes you wonder what will happen next in the three book series! Definitely thumbs up for Clark Prasad for writing the kind of riveting espionage thriller. So much in a debut novel!
The book is fast paced and keeps on the edge of your seat till the very end. Character sketches are perfect thriller and every character is well used. The story explores intelligence agencies other than the much explored CIA, and yet does complete justice to it.
Full review here: https://intheclassroomoflife.blogspot...
November 8, 2013
Read the full review @ Baramulla Bomber review @ Booklok Coffee
(I am giving 3.5 coffee mugs to the story and .5 to the amazing cover, impactful use of maps and quotation from Vedas and Bible.)
First you eat with eyes then you gobble down the food, right! Yes, it's just that with this hellova book cover. I loved the cover that I devoured it first then devoured the book. That hard mysterious face tells a story, and I wondered after reading the book blurb what it could possibly be, and whatever I expected right then, I was dead wrong. I tried many connections/combination between mythology and the politics and the rival nations and bible, Vedas and Quantum physics and cricket but this book surprised me like anything. I remember my first word when I received the book from Blogadda.com, it was "WOW". I was that impressed. The fonts go with the word 'Swastik' very well and being an art lover I really like the experiment with the fonts and color scheme is beyond doubt amazing.
NOTE: I am late in putting up this review, due to many other reasons revolving around festive seasons one of the reason is that this is not an easy-breezy read. No, this is one serious action-packed thriller and I enjoyed and devoured each page.
Now let's talk about the Story line, plots and sun-plots, author's writing style etc, though I can't tell much in story-line department because this is a spoiler free review, I can tell one thing, the story line is very well researched. Author Clark Prasad didn't just picked his pen and began writing, No, he knew very well what he was getting into, he made a point to weave the facts and fiction so poignantly and dynamically that in-spite of many sub-plots it never distracted me or irritated me. In fact the effective use of maps to make a reader understand the location of the situation at hand and proverbs from Vedas and Bible both by the beginning of a chapter made the whole experience much more interesting.
At some points story was predictable possibly due to the mix of facts or possibly because I was so into the story that I was almost part of it and predicting next step was easy which in some twisted way a big plus point in my opinion.
I can't say this book was evenly paced because first 120 or so pages were head on collision causing fast, giving heaps of information but then it slowed a bit in comparison giving my mind a rest then picked up, so yeah it was very well paced and spellbinding in some terms but I wouldn't say it was Dan Brown-ish paced but for a debutante, it was good .
The protagonist Mansur Haider is supposed to be the guy on the cover and in many ways he did match up to the details it was revealing, he is indeed interesting as he hails from an ordinary family, is a cricket lover. It's quite intriguing to see him weaving the web of Baramulla Bomber. The other characters like Adolf (one of my favs from the book) Agastya, Ahana, Samir and others were nicely formed who played their roles pretty well though I would have liked to see more of Adolf. Since it's a trilogy and this book had so many sub-plots I am not giving much thought to character development but next book better show some good developments in the personalities specially of Mansur :) .
The writing style of the author is quirky, witty, smirk-ish and Though there were some loopholes here and there which can be questioned by an avid thriller lover, otherwise for a regular reader it will definitely do and Author being debutante, I guess I can give it a pass.
Action-packed quirky-witty-techno-mythical head spinner,well paced to cause a head-on-collision. Poignant use of Maps and quotation from Vedas and Bible.
(I am giving 3.5 coffee mugs to the story and .5 to the amazing cover, impactful use of maps and quotation from Vedas and Bible.)
First you eat with eyes then you gobble down the food, right! Yes, it's just that with this hellova book cover. I loved the cover that I devoured it first then devoured the book. That hard mysterious face tells a story, and I wondered after reading the book blurb what it could possibly be, and whatever I expected right then, I was dead wrong. I tried many connections/combination between mythology and the politics and the rival nations and bible, Vedas and Quantum physics and cricket but this book surprised me like anything. I remember my first word when I received the book from Blogadda.com, it was "WOW". I was that impressed. The fonts go with the word 'Swastik' very well and being an art lover I really like the experiment with the fonts and color scheme is beyond doubt amazing.
NOTE: I am late in putting up this review, due to many other reasons revolving around festive seasons one of the reason is that this is not an easy-breezy read. No, this is one serious action-packed thriller and I enjoyed and devoured each page.
Now let's talk about the Story line, plots and sun-plots, author's writing style etc, though I can't tell much in story-line department because this is a spoiler free review, I can tell one thing, the story line is very well researched. Author Clark Prasad didn't just picked his pen and began writing, No, he knew very well what he was getting into, he made a point to weave the facts and fiction so poignantly and dynamically that in-spite of many sub-plots it never distracted me or irritated me. In fact the effective use of maps to make a reader understand the location of the situation at hand and proverbs from Vedas and Bible both by the beginning of a chapter made the whole experience much more interesting.
At some points story was predictable possibly due to the mix of facts or possibly because I was so into the story that I was almost part of it and predicting next step was easy which in some twisted way a big plus point in my opinion.
I can't say this book was evenly paced because first 120 or so pages were head on collision causing fast, giving heaps of information but then it slowed a bit in comparison giving my mind a rest then picked up, so yeah it was very well paced and spellbinding in some terms but I wouldn't say it was Dan Brown-ish paced but for a debutante, it was good .
The protagonist Mansur Haider is supposed to be the guy on the cover and in many ways he did match up to the details it was revealing, he is indeed interesting as he hails from an ordinary family, is a cricket lover. It's quite intriguing to see him weaving the web of Baramulla Bomber. The other characters like Adolf (one of my favs from the book) Agastya, Ahana, Samir and others were nicely formed who played their roles pretty well though I would have liked to see more of Adolf. Since it's a trilogy and this book had so many sub-plots I am not giving much thought to character development but next book better show some good developments in the personalities specially of Mansur :) .
The writing style of the author is quirky, witty, smirk-ish and Though there were some loopholes here and there which can be questioned by an avid thriller lover, otherwise for a regular reader it will definitely do and Author being debutante, I guess I can give it a pass.
Action-packed quirky-witty-techno-mythical head spinner,well paced to cause a head-on-collision. Poignant use of Maps and quotation from Vedas and Bible.
December 6, 2013
Is this for real?
That is precisely the question that crept up in my mind throughout the course of this book, which is by no means what I consider an encouraging sign.
'Baramulla Bomber', the first book of the Svastik Trilogy, follows the story of Mansur Haider, an aspiring cricketer from Kashmir who is being monitored by various intelligence agencies around the world, for he might be the key to an ancient secret. His girlfriend Aahana is investigating the disappearance of her mountaineering team following a mysterious incident at Shaksgam Valley in PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir). Swedish intelligence officer Adolf has been dispatched to keep an eye on both of them after his bosses receive an encrypted message from a fellow undercover agent breathing his last. In the meantime, India faces a dual military threat from its neighbours Pakistan & China as the men in power try to defuse the situation & resolve it before it escalates to all-out war. In the middle of all this is an ancient secret weapon developed from the knowledge in the Vedas, once coveted by the Nazis & now perhaps in the wrong hands as an international terrorist threat looms large.
The cover of 'Baramulla Bomber' claims the book is a 'science fiction espionage thriller'. Espionage, of course. But sci-fi? Perhaps not. The thing is that the amount of 'sci-fi' is just not enough to lay claim to the genre, for it requires much more than just an ancient weapon to be so. The plot is evenly paced & moderately engaging with its share of twists (some I never saw coming), though I cannot say it's a total page-turner. The multitude of characters & international conspiracies being hatched in every corner of the world (something that reminded me of Ashwin Sanghi's debut novel 'The Rozabal Line') ensure there is something always going on, though it became sort of perplexing after a point to keep track of so many parallel narratives simultaneously. The writing seems to be verging on being pulp fiction at times, though overall it passes muster.
The book explores themes like the ultimate quest to understand the origins of the world as well as concepts of quantum physics, like universal determinism which is well elaborated & can be understood by the average reader without much difficulty. Even though it doesn't exactly emerge with flying colours, the scope this novel aspires to is nonetheless worth of appreciation.
And then comes the climax. Unfortunately for the novel, it stays true to its name by bombing right where it shouldn't, making it rather an anti-climax. A thrilling climax often makes amends for the story's earlier failings & makes the reader reflect upon the book in a positive light overall. As the old saying goes, "All's well that ends well." Instead, what we get is a hurried, contrived climax in which each of the protagonists seem to transform into super agents (with the exception of Adolf, who is already one) out to save the world, which looks straight out of a film that would probably be directed by Michael Bay. The final chapter & the epilogue plugs some of the gaps in the plot & leaves some unattended, possibly hinting at further answers in the sequel.
I'm going for 2 & a half stars for Clark Prasad's debut novel 'Baramulla Bomber'. Even though infused with healthy doses of espionage, cricket, politics & thrills, the final outcome is less of a melange & more of a mishmash and one cannot help feeling this could have been so much more. Recommended for readers of Indian popular fiction looking for something different than the usual fare of candy floss romances.
P.S. I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway & I solemnly maintain that my review was in no way influenced by the same.
That is precisely the question that crept up in my mind throughout the course of this book, which is by no means what I consider an encouraging sign.
'Baramulla Bomber', the first book of the Svastik Trilogy, follows the story of Mansur Haider, an aspiring cricketer from Kashmir who is being monitored by various intelligence agencies around the world, for he might be the key to an ancient secret. His girlfriend Aahana is investigating the disappearance of her mountaineering team following a mysterious incident at Shaksgam Valley in PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir). Swedish intelligence officer Adolf has been dispatched to keep an eye on both of them after his bosses receive an encrypted message from a fellow undercover agent breathing his last. In the meantime, India faces a dual military threat from its neighbours Pakistan & China as the men in power try to defuse the situation & resolve it before it escalates to all-out war. In the middle of all this is an ancient secret weapon developed from the knowledge in the Vedas, once coveted by the Nazis & now perhaps in the wrong hands as an international terrorist threat looms large.
The cover of 'Baramulla Bomber' claims the book is a 'science fiction espionage thriller'. Espionage, of course. But sci-fi? Perhaps not. The thing is that the amount of 'sci-fi' is just not enough to lay claim to the genre, for it requires much more than just an ancient weapon to be so. The plot is evenly paced & moderately engaging with its share of twists (some I never saw coming), though I cannot say it's a total page-turner. The multitude of characters & international conspiracies being hatched in every corner of the world (something that reminded me of Ashwin Sanghi's debut novel 'The Rozabal Line') ensure there is something always going on, though it became sort of perplexing after a point to keep track of so many parallel narratives simultaneously. The writing seems to be verging on being pulp fiction at times, though overall it passes muster.
The book explores themes like the ultimate quest to understand the origins of the world as well as concepts of quantum physics, like universal determinism which is well elaborated & can be understood by the average reader without much difficulty. Even though it doesn't exactly emerge with flying colours, the scope this novel aspires to is nonetheless worth of appreciation.
And then comes the climax. Unfortunately for the novel, it stays true to its name by bombing right where it shouldn't, making it rather an anti-climax. A thrilling climax often makes amends for the story's earlier failings & makes the reader reflect upon the book in a positive light overall. As the old saying goes, "All's well that ends well." Instead, what we get is a hurried, contrived climax in which each of the protagonists seem to transform into super agents (with the exception of Adolf, who is already one) out to save the world, which looks straight out of a film that would probably be directed by Michael Bay. The final chapter & the epilogue plugs some of the gaps in the plot & leaves some unattended, possibly hinting at further answers in the sequel.
I'm going for 2 & a half stars for Clark Prasad's debut novel 'Baramulla Bomber'. Even though infused with healthy doses of espionage, cricket, politics & thrills, the final outcome is less of a melange & more of a mishmash and one cannot help feeling this could have been so much more. Recommended for readers of Indian popular fiction looking for something different than the usual fare of candy floss romances.
P.S. I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway & I solemnly maintain that my review was in no way influenced by the same.
October 27, 2013
I am not a huge fan of spy/mystery thrillers (but have read quite a few of them) and possibly wouldn't have read this book had it not been for the Goodreads giveaway program.
Overall I would rate the book a 1.2/5 - a very juvenile presentation. Like before, I will attempt to condense my points into a pros and cons list:
First the pros:
1. A good enough plot with the makings of a great one. The support for the same is a bit weak but I guess that is understandable when you have to explain. It's always a challenge to bring in the exact mix of fantasy into the picture.
2. Great secondary research. Almost all the scenes in the book are well laid-out (even if not well thought-out) with excruciating attention to details.
Cons:
1. There is just too much unnecessary details for a thriller. The problem is, thrillers should have a higher level of detail since authors often would use these as ways of connecting back to the earlier plot and therefore any seasoned reader would try and keep it all in his/her mind. So you keep a few details as misdirection which is understandable. But the Baramulla Bomber is riddled with thousands of unnecessary references and details which sort of makes the reader loose track of the important parts (if not a nincompoop). It almost seems like the author has tried to present his googling prowess
2. Almost zero primary research is evident. I have no idea whether any primary research was done or not but from whatever I have at my disposal (the book) it seems like there was none. There are no intricacies mentioned of how things work in any of the government bodies or other organizations being discussed. Also Kashmir's beauty seemed a tad under-described (especially given the attention to detail in other sections)
3. A weak storyline or connectivity - the scientific theories though factually correct are not fully tied into the plot flawlessly. The reader has to "wade through the muck" to get to the plot-line
4. Thrill - something which I guess is essential for all thrillers (go figure) is missing throughout the entire journey of the book. You can actually see that the author has tried to induce thrill into the reader's mind from the way the stories are paced and the style of narration - however he has failed to do so. Mainly, I think, on account of the aforementioned unnecessary details - readers (most of them at least) usually would try and understand these details which acts as speed-bumps to the adrenaline rise
5. No character development other than Mansur and Aahana and a little bit of Adolph. The rest of the characters are very sketchy - not in description of physical appearance (which is quite good) but on their character sketches. I would have loved to see the other side-characters being developed a bit more
6. Side-plots are missing or totally under-utilized throughout. Thrillers need side-plots to distract the reader and add some color to the main plot as well - something this bland story desperately needed
7. Action sequences are built on details and given the amount of detail in the rest of the story, I was hoping to at least get to read some such good sequences. But surprisingly throughout the story, the action sequences are devoid of much detail. Except for the one where
Overall a book which I would not probably recommend reading if you are not very patient. The graphics are good though :)
Overall I would rate the book a 1.2/5 - a very juvenile presentation. Like before, I will attempt to condense my points into a pros and cons list:
First the pros:
1. A good enough plot with the makings of a great one. The support for the same is a bit weak but I guess that is understandable when you have to explain. It's always a challenge to bring in the exact mix of fantasy into the picture.
2. Great secondary research. Almost all the scenes in the book are well laid-out (even if not well thought-out) with excruciating attention to details.
Cons:
1. There is just too much unnecessary details for a thriller. The problem is, thrillers should have a higher level of detail since authors often would use these as ways of connecting back to the earlier plot and therefore any seasoned reader would try and keep it all in his/her mind. So you keep a few details as misdirection which is understandable. But the Baramulla Bomber is riddled with thousands of unnecessary references and details which sort of makes the reader loose track of the important parts (if not a nincompoop). It almost seems like the author has tried to present his googling prowess
2. Almost zero primary research is evident. I have no idea whether any primary research was done or not but from whatever I have at my disposal (the book) it seems like there was none. There are no intricacies mentioned of how things work in any of the government bodies or other organizations being discussed. Also Kashmir's beauty seemed a tad under-described (especially given the attention to detail in other sections)
3. A weak storyline or connectivity - the scientific theories though factually correct are not fully tied into the plot flawlessly. The reader has to "wade through the muck" to get to the plot-line
4. Thrill - something which I guess is essential for all thrillers (go figure) is missing throughout the entire journey of the book. You can actually see that the author has tried to induce thrill into the reader's mind from the way the stories are paced and the style of narration - however he has failed to do so. Mainly, I think, on account of the aforementioned unnecessary details - readers (most of them at least) usually would try and understand these details which acts as speed-bumps to the adrenaline rise
5. No character development other than Mansur and Aahana and a little bit of Adolph. The rest of the characters are very sketchy - not in description of physical appearance (which is quite good) but on their character sketches. I would have loved to see the other side-characters being developed a bit more
6. Side-plots are missing or totally under-utilized throughout. Thrillers need side-plots to distract the reader and add some color to the main plot as well - something this bland story desperately needed
7. Action sequences are built on details and given the amount of detail in the rest of the story, I was hoping to at least get to read some such good sequences. But surprisingly throughout the story, the action sequences are devoid of much detail. Except for the one where
Overall a book which I would not probably recommend reading if you are not very patient. The graphics are good though :)
January 3, 2014
By Clark Prasad. #1 in Svastik Trilogy. Grade: A
The ambitious tagline, “Quantum Physics meets Bible & Vedas in Background of Kashmir & Cricket”, first inspires scorn, then disbelief, eventually awe and finally applause. There are espionage novels, and they have a huge following and there are sci-fi novels, they too have a huge following. Novels of both these genres have immense potential, if they’re well written. Imagine what the potential could be if a novel combines elements of both the genres, and it is well-written.
There are three concrete elements which work in favour of Baramulla Bomber:
Pace – Baramulla Bomber is barely above 300 pages, plus the plot moves at a pace worthy of a thriller. There are no morose descriptions or scenes of chemistry (even though there are two female companions). With a possible exception of one or two scenes, the novel throughout doesn’t talk too much about the allied paraphernalia and has maintained its focus absolutely on the task at hand.
Connect – As mentioned in its tagline, the book has three core elements – religion, Kashmir and cricket. These three core elements have a very strong connect with the Indian audience, but they all ping three very different emotions among us Indians. Cricket, with or without victories in reality, evokes passion amongst us; religion is something which a majority of are very conservative and to a certain extent, possessive about; Kashmir is no doubt a very sensitive issue, but at the same time, arouses in us a very strong sense of patriotism.
Structure – This is one of the most underrated factors when it comes to judging or even writing a novel. A structure to the plot can add so much to the impact that a novel makes on its readers. The sequencing of events is so very organised that it makes it very easy for the reader to connect the dots at the right time. Full points here as well.
I would have raised the issue of lack of exploration – the author put up many ideas but didn’t go into their depth, probably due to dearth of character space. This issue is however still a question mark as Baramulla Bomber is the first in the trilogy, so hopefully the exploration is done in the sequels. A very strong complaint that I have to make is the weakness in character sketching. A plot which was extremely well-knit deserved very strong faces to be in the fore, something which was lacking; this is invariably the case with all the characters, right from Mansur to Agastya Rathore.
At the risk of sounding extremely sceptical, I rarely find Indian authors writing fiction novels which are worthy of even qualifying to compete at the global scene, leave alone competing there. This novel, by the man of nom de plume Clark Prasad, is one of those rare novels which are worthy of representing Indian fiction worldwide. Kudos to the author for his brainchild and its crafting. He has shown great promise and I sincerely hope that Mr. Prasad sticks to this genre.
The book was received as part of Reviewers Programme on The Tales Pensieve.
Originally reviewed at Vaultofbooks.com, a close-knit community of fanatical readers. We are looking for perceptive readers who can write well, and we are eager to provide lots of free books in exchange for reviews. Shoot us a mail at contact@vaultofbooks.com
The ambitious tagline, “Quantum Physics meets Bible & Vedas in Background of Kashmir & Cricket”, first inspires scorn, then disbelief, eventually awe and finally applause. There are espionage novels, and they have a huge following and there are sci-fi novels, they too have a huge following. Novels of both these genres have immense potential, if they’re well written. Imagine what the potential could be if a novel combines elements of both the genres, and it is well-written.
There are three concrete elements which work in favour of Baramulla Bomber:
Pace – Baramulla Bomber is barely above 300 pages, plus the plot moves at a pace worthy of a thriller. There are no morose descriptions or scenes of chemistry (even though there are two female companions). With a possible exception of one or two scenes, the novel throughout doesn’t talk too much about the allied paraphernalia and has maintained its focus absolutely on the task at hand.
Connect – As mentioned in its tagline, the book has three core elements – religion, Kashmir and cricket. These three core elements have a very strong connect with the Indian audience, but they all ping three very different emotions among us Indians. Cricket, with or without victories in reality, evokes passion amongst us; religion is something which a majority of are very conservative and to a certain extent, possessive about; Kashmir is no doubt a very sensitive issue, but at the same time, arouses in us a very strong sense of patriotism.
Structure – This is one of the most underrated factors when it comes to judging or even writing a novel. A structure to the plot can add so much to the impact that a novel makes on its readers. The sequencing of events is so very organised that it makes it very easy for the reader to connect the dots at the right time. Full points here as well.
I would have raised the issue of lack of exploration – the author put up many ideas but didn’t go into their depth, probably due to dearth of character space. This issue is however still a question mark as Baramulla Bomber is the first in the trilogy, so hopefully the exploration is done in the sequels. A very strong complaint that I have to make is the weakness in character sketching. A plot which was extremely well-knit deserved very strong faces to be in the fore, something which was lacking; this is invariably the case with all the characters, right from Mansur to Agastya Rathore.
At the risk of sounding extremely sceptical, I rarely find Indian authors writing fiction novels which are worthy of even qualifying to compete at the global scene, leave alone competing there. This novel, by the man of nom de plume Clark Prasad, is one of those rare novels which are worthy of representing Indian fiction worldwide. Kudos to the author for his brainchild and its crafting. He has shown great promise and I sincerely hope that Mr. Prasad sticks to this genre.
The book was received as part of Reviewers Programme on The Tales Pensieve.
Originally reviewed at Vaultofbooks.com, a close-knit community of fanatical readers. We are looking for perceptive readers who can write well, and we are eager to provide lots of free books in exchange for reviews. Shoot us a mail at contact@vaultofbooks.com
January 5, 2014
Reviews at http://vaisakhimishra.blogspot.in/201...
Espionage thrillers and Indian authors are a weird combination, and this thought has been embedded in my mind for years now. Being a voracious reader and a big time fan of spy and suspense thrillers, I can confidently say Espionage thrillers by Indian authors have strongly disappointed me over the years and thus my mind set. But what if I tell you, I am ready to let go of this belief finally? Readers like me would find this to be a joke, but brace yourself because Baramulla Bomber is here to change our beliefs.
The book Baramulla Bomber by Clark Prasad was sent to me by Readers Cosmos and I can’t thank them enough for sending this amazing book to me(not to forget, all gift wrapped)! Anyways the book impressed me in the first look itself. I have to say its cover design is awesome, but like it is said never judge the book by its cover, I dived straight into the story. The story begins with the ill fated meeting of an royal decendants’ group called Chos Skyong. There is a blast while the meeting is on and most of the group members are killed. But in the survivers is a man named Abhimanyu Kashyap who cheats death with his determination to preserve the secret. But what secret?
Soon this incident gets tied up with Mansur Haider who is nothing but an aspiring cricketer from Kashmir. But as the story moves we know Mansur is being tracked by intelligence agencies around the world. Adolf Silfverskiold, a swedish intelligent officer turn out to be tracking Mansur and a mysterious earthquake that happened in the Shaksgam Valley. Also Shaksgam valley incident is being investigated by Mansur’s girlfriend Aahana who lost her mountaineering team there. The readers realize the small hole drilled by the bombing is nothing but a stepwell with steps going from anywhere to everywhere, storylines joined to form a huge web of danger.
Pros:
1. The book is fast paced and keeps on the edge of your seat till the very end.
2. Character sketches are perfect to the ‘T’ and every character is well used.
3. The story explores intelligence agencies other than the much explored CIA, and yet does complete justice to it.
4. The integration of quantum physics, history and modern world spies is the whole and sole of the book, and personally I loved it.
5. The looming secret of Shaksgam valley and the much talked about weapon, as I am not allowed to give spoilers(though I am dying to) is too engrossing.
Cons:
1. Too much to digest and too much used – movies, cricket ,physics, Kashmir, Sweden, India, politics and so much more. It just felt a bit cramped.
2. Editing could have been crisp. Dialogues didn’t seem powerful or memorable.
The author explores a lot in a very short time, or so it seems as the book is super racey. He also does full justice to all the characters of the story as they are given ample time to evolve and the story is thoroughly entertaining and engrossing. I would give the book a 4 on 5 rating and am desperately waiting for the next books. I hope the editing of the other two books is better but at the same time don’t want them to turn out to be a disappointment like the 3rd book of Shiva Trilogy. Best of luck to the Author, may you succeed in giving us awesome stories always..:D
Espionage thrillers and Indian authors are a weird combination, and this thought has been embedded in my mind for years now. Being a voracious reader and a big time fan of spy and suspense thrillers, I can confidently say Espionage thrillers by Indian authors have strongly disappointed me over the years and thus my mind set. But what if I tell you, I am ready to let go of this belief finally? Readers like me would find this to be a joke, but brace yourself because Baramulla Bomber is here to change our beliefs.
The book Baramulla Bomber by Clark Prasad was sent to me by Readers Cosmos and I can’t thank them enough for sending this amazing book to me(not to forget, all gift wrapped)! Anyways the book impressed me in the first look itself. I have to say its cover design is awesome, but like it is said never judge the book by its cover, I dived straight into the story. The story begins with the ill fated meeting of an royal decendants’ group called Chos Skyong. There is a blast while the meeting is on and most of the group members are killed. But in the survivers is a man named Abhimanyu Kashyap who cheats death with his determination to preserve the secret. But what secret?
Soon this incident gets tied up with Mansur Haider who is nothing but an aspiring cricketer from Kashmir. But as the story moves we know Mansur is being tracked by intelligence agencies around the world. Adolf Silfverskiold, a swedish intelligent officer turn out to be tracking Mansur and a mysterious earthquake that happened in the Shaksgam Valley. Also Shaksgam valley incident is being investigated by Mansur’s girlfriend Aahana who lost her mountaineering team there. The readers realize the small hole drilled by the bombing is nothing but a stepwell with steps going from anywhere to everywhere, storylines joined to form a huge web of danger.
Pros:
1. The book is fast paced and keeps on the edge of your seat till the very end.
2. Character sketches are perfect to the ‘T’ and every character is well used.
3. The story explores intelligence agencies other than the much explored CIA, and yet does complete justice to it.
4. The integration of quantum physics, history and modern world spies is the whole and sole of the book, and personally I loved it.
5. The looming secret of Shaksgam valley and the much talked about weapon, as I am not allowed to give spoilers(though I am dying to) is too engrossing.
Cons:
1. Too much to digest and too much used – movies, cricket ,physics, Kashmir, Sweden, India, politics and so much more. It just felt a bit cramped.
2. Editing could have been crisp. Dialogues didn’t seem powerful or memorable.
The author explores a lot in a very short time, or so it seems as the book is super racey. He also does full justice to all the characters of the story as they are given ample time to evolve and the story is thoroughly entertaining and engrossing. I would give the book a 4 on 5 rating and am desperately waiting for the next books. I hope the editing of the other two books is better but at the same time don’t want them to turn out to be a disappointment like the 3rd book of Shiva Trilogy. Best of luck to the Author, may you succeed in giving us awesome stories always..:D
August 9, 2016
First a big thanks to Ms. Nimi of the readers cosmos for the opportunity to review the book.
There is this stereotype, that most of the Indian books in the fiction genre seem to have followed the path of Vedic mythology meets modern physics with action thrown around all the places the author has been.
Ok, so how different is the "Baramulla Bomber" from the above cliche. To be frank it ain't that different. Thank god it ain't that different!!!! I am biased towards this, as Sanskrit is slowly but steadily marching into the mainstream. Its sort of the pop language that is trying to grab its space from scatological pseudo-Dravidian trash. Ok.. now lets move on ay.
Steve Jobs said that opening of any product should be a spiritual experience. I got this book from flipkart so it was not spiritual to say the least. But hey, i got a card from the author welcoming me to the family. Not bad, not bad at all. I open the book, there was one warning and one request.
1. The warning was not to skim through the book, as it will give away the plot by just looking at some diagrams/maps. ( Me thinks it was over done)
2. The request was not to reveal too much on blogs & social media. (Hmmm it was akin to killing a mosquito with a grenade)
To cut the long story short: Respecting the author i would like to cut it short. This is a thriller with some elements of science fiction embedded in it. It involves India, Pakistan & China, an age old weapon of mass destruction with Kashmir as the center piece of the whole conflict.
Things i liked about the book
A. There were multiple story lines and they fit well within the overall story.
B. The pace was good, really really good for about 75% of the book.
C. The overall maps, organizations and incidents given in the book are relevant and do exist or have existed sometime in history.
D. The usage of Sanskrit within the book. Probably an immense service being provided. I thank him from the bottom of my heart.
E. The author has worked extremely hard on the marketing part of it, with the usual fb page, a marketing video etc.
F. The cricket matches and the method it was described were really good.
Things that need to improve
A. The characters need depth and connectivity to the story. Towards the end they are in places where they are not supposed to be and without reasons which if they exist are not given.
B. The overall science fiction component even though well researched needs to be made more interesting.
C. The pace towards the end start sagging and the roller coaster ride becomes a test drive of wagon R in peak monday morning traffic.
The author to focus more on the flow of the story and its connectivity to the overall story, with shortening the length of the book.
Few free bits of advice that i would like to give the author
A. The price of the book to be reduced by half and sold in a easy to ready format. Say like Rajesh Kumar novels from Tamil Nadu. Multiple translations to be made available.
B. There are many books that are available with the same format & genre. Run of the mill just won't do. Too many people wanting to become a Bhagat or Amish these days. I am not sure what or how? But apart from the usual something different is required.
I would rate this book 3 stars out of 5
There is this stereotype, that most of the Indian books in the fiction genre seem to have followed the path of Vedic mythology meets modern physics with action thrown around all the places the author has been.
Ok, so how different is the "Baramulla Bomber" from the above cliche. To be frank it ain't that different. Thank god it ain't that different!!!! I am biased towards this, as Sanskrit is slowly but steadily marching into the mainstream. Its sort of the pop language that is trying to grab its space from scatological pseudo-Dravidian trash. Ok.. now lets move on ay.
Steve Jobs said that opening of any product should be a spiritual experience. I got this book from flipkart so it was not spiritual to say the least. But hey, i got a card from the author welcoming me to the family. Not bad, not bad at all. I open the book, there was one warning and one request.
1. The warning was not to skim through the book, as it will give away the plot by just looking at some diagrams/maps. ( Me thinks it was over done)
2. The request was not to reveal too much on blogs & social media. (Hmmm it was akin to killing a mosquito with a grenade)
To cut the long story short: Respecting the author i would like to cut it short. This is a thriller with some elements of science fiction embedded in it. It involves India, Pakistan & China, an age old weapon of mass destruction with Kashmir as the center piece of the whole conflict.
Things i liked about the book
A. There were multiple story lines and they fit well within the overall story.
B. The pace was good, really really good for about 75% of the book.
C. The overall maps, organizations and incidents given in the book are relevant and do exist or have existed sometime in history.
D. The usage of Sanskrit within the book. Probably an immense service being provided. I thank him from the bottom of my heart.
E. The author has worked extremely hard on the marketing part of it, with the usual fb page, a marketing video etc.
F. The cricket matches and the method it was described were really good.
Things that need to improve
A. The characters need depth and connectivity to the story. Towards the end they are in places where they are not supposed to be and without reasons which if they exist are not given.
B. The overall science fiction component even though well researched needs to be made more interesting.
C. The pace towards the end start sagging and the roller coaster ride becomes a test drive of wagon R in peak monday morning traffic.
The author to focus more on the flow of the story and its connectivity to the overall story, with shortening the length of the book.
Few free bits of advice that i would like to give the author
A. The price of the book to be reduced by half and sold in a easy to ready format. Say like Rajesh Kumar novels from Tamil Nadu. Multiple translations to be made available.
B. There are many books that are available with the same format & genre. Run of the mill just won't do. Too many people wanting to become a Bhagat or Amish these days. I am not sure what or how? But apart from the usual something different is required.
I would rate this book 3 stars out of 5
November 11, 2013
“Quantum Physics meets Bible and Vedas in Background of Kashmir and Cricket!” the cover picture screamed at me. While one part of me was inquisitive about this combination of faith, terrorism, ancient weapon, science and logic the other part was treading slowly, wondering what this book was going to hurl back at me. Was I going to survive it unharmed? Would I complete the journey of reading the book enticed to read more? Or, would the whole concept of this “Scientific Fiction Espionage Thriller” just blow over my head?
The protagonists are many in the novel but the ones that we are made to follow are Mansur, Aahana and Adolf.
Mansur Haider is a man of faith from Kashmir aspiring to become a cricketer. Is it possible for a man from troubled Kashmir to aspire and convert his dream into reality?
Unknown to him, intelligence agencies from across the globe are trailing him for their own selfish purposes. His girlfriend Aahana Yajurvedi is working hard to locate her friends from the mountaineering team that vanished mysteriously during an earthquake. The Swedish intelligence officer, Adolf Silfverskiold is investigating the mysterious disappearance and Mansur.
So, what is so thrilling about this espionage novel? Well! For one, it is very realistic and the moment you begin reading it albeit after a few moments of confusion you are thrown into the conspiracy of a novel filled with characters and situations that seem to have jumped straight out of a thriller movie.
The manipulation of the chant AUM along with some Sanskrit mantras is used to take control of another matter. So, were Dr. Nasir Raja, a predominant scientist and thinker, the ISI and China getting together to create a weapon based on the combination of the primordial sound and modern contemporary science? Was it possible to kill by using an infrasound?
Writing more would be revealing the plot which will prove to be a spoiler for this unique book. The author, Clark aka Suraj Prasad has done a great deal of research to make this wonderful book as realistic as possible. It is as if he himself is on a mission. That is why I cannot refrain myself from mentioning a few lines which a character in the novel representing India at the UN Assembly says:
“Pervez, there are people like you who feel that by shouting a few threatening words, and then using religion as a tool to manipulate emotions, you can blackmail the world. But I stand here to tell you and people like you that we Indians are an ancient race. A race that not only values its own culture, but also respects every other culture. We do not need lectures on it. If you way of thinking was right, then why aren’t you the most prosperous country on the planet? Why aren’t your people the happiest people on Earth?”
Once you are through the first part of the Swastik Trilogy don’t miss out on the Dvitiya part of the novel titled, The Consultant: Shopno Paradox.
Happy Reading!!
The protagonists are many in the novel but the ones that we are made to follow are Mansur, Aahana and Adolf.
Mansur Haider is a man of faith from Kashmir aspiring to become a cricketer. Is it possible for a man from troubled Kashmir to aspire and convert his dream into reality?
Unknown to him, intelligence agencies from across the globe are trailing him for their own selfish purposes. His girlfriend Aahana Yajurvedi is working hard to locate her friends from the mountaineering team that vanished mysteriously during an earthquake. The Swedish intelligence officer, Adolf Silfverskiold is investigating the mysterious disappearance and Mansur.
So, what is so thrilling about this espionage novel? Well! For one, it is very realistic and the moment you begin reading it albeit after a few moments of confusion you are thrown into the conspiracy of a novel filled with characters and situations that seem to have jumped straight out of a thriller movie.
The manipulation of the chant AUM along with some Sanskrit mantras is used to take control of another matter. So, were Dr. Nasir Raja, a predominant scientist and thinker, the ISI and China getting together to create a weapon based on the combination of the primordial sound and modern contemporary science? Was it possible to kill by using an infrasound?
Writing more would be revealing the plot which will prove to be a spoiler for this unique book. The author, Clark aka Suraj Prasad has done a great deal of research to make this wonderful book as realistic as possible. It is as if he himself is on a mission. That is why I cannot refrain myself from mentioning a few lines which a character in the novel representing India at the UN Assembly says:
“Pervez, there are people like you who feel that by shouting a few threatening words, and then using religion as a tool to manipulate emotions, you can blackmail the world. But I stand here to tell you and people like you that we Indians are an ancient race. A race that not only values its own culture, but also respects every other culture. We do not need lectures on it. If you way of thinking was right, then why aren’t you the most prosperous country on the planet? Why aren’t your people the happiest people on Earth?”
Once you are through the first part of the Swastik Trilogy don’t miss out on the Dvitiya part of the novel titled, The Consultant: Shopno Paradox.
Happy Reading!!
December 14, 2013
Book source: received for review via Reader's Cosmos
Book: Baramulla Bomber
Author : Clark Prasad
Publisher : Niyogi Books
Genre : Mystery
Ratings : 4/5
ISBN : 9789381523971
Number of Pages: 316
Review Date: 2nd December 2013
Review on behalf of - ReadersCosmos
My Ratings:
Plot – 4.5/5
Characters – 4/5
Style – 5/5
Climax – 3.5/5
Cover Page – 4/5
My Review:
The Novel, "Baramulla Bomber" is a larger than life one. I am Thankful to the Author for sending me a copy of the book for review. The book had been an amazing journey. I completed reading it in a span of 2 days, I remained totally involved in the characters, the way each moment have been portrayed and pictured. As a reader, I had something critical, some tweak in the story, some changes to put a bit more interest into the story in every alternative page. One cannot let go the book till finished reading completely. The most interesting part of this novel is that it grows in the reader gradually and the plot becomes more interesting as we read ahead.
The number of pages are towards the higher side. The diagrams and maps are very well described. The cover page is the best part of the book. An attractive, rich and action packed cover page, the readers will get drawn by the look of it in the first place.
The Author has exhibited extreme skills with The Maps, the diagrams and the character sketching, all has been done perfectly. It offers the readers a sense of location and time. He has defined each and every character in the novel with a striking outline. He has created a powerful character and strongly delivered the protagonist Mansur.
The author has put in a lot of effort and done amazing research of physics, quantum, psychology, history and geography. While there is a lot of information in the book, at times it feels like a white paper reading rather than a novel. The first 50-75 odd pages have a lot to offer and to carry them till the end of the Novel, a reader has to turn back pages to refer. But still, this is a book one cannot keep down till finished completely. The author has been successful to completely engage the readers with a lengthy one like this.
This is a new Genre altogether. Indian fiction writing has a new theme now and as the 1st one of the Svastik Trilogy, author has done an amazing job. I wish Mr. Clark Prasad Congratulations for the amazing work of the "Baramulla Bomber" and would love to recommend this Novel to all the readers. This is a must read.
Book: Baramulla Bomber
Author : Clark Prasad
Publisher : Niyogi Books
Genre : Mystery
Ratings : 4/5
ISBN : 9789381523971
Number of Pages: 316
Review Date: 2nd December 2013
Review on behalf of - ReadersCosmos
My Ratings:
Plot – 4.5/5
Characters – 4/5
Style – 5/5
Climax – 3.5/5
Cover Page – 4/5
My Review:
The Novel, "Baramulla Bomber" is a larger than life one. I am Thankful to the Author for sending me a copy of the book for review. The book had been an amazing journey. I completed reading it in a span of 2 days, I remained totally involved in the characters, the way each moment have been portrayed and pictured. As a reader, I had something critical, some tweak in the story, some changes to put a bit more interest into the story in every alternative page. One cannot let go the book till finished reading completely. The most interesting part of this novel is that it grows in the reader gradually and the plot becomes more interesting as we read ahead.
The number of pages are towards the higher side. The diagrams and maps are very well described. The cover page is the best part of the book. An attractive, rich and action packed cover page, the readers will get drawn by the look of it in the first place.
The Author has exhibited extreme skills with The Maps, the diagrams and the character sketching, all has been done perfectly. It offers the readers a sense of location and time. He has defined each and every character in the novel with a striking outline. He has created a powerful character and strongly delivered the protagonist Mansur.
The author has put in a lot of effort and done amazing research of physics, quantum, psychology, history and geography. While there is a lot of information in the book, at times it feels like a white paper reading rather than a novel. The first 50-75 odd pages have a lot to offer and to carry them till the end of the Novel, a reader has to turn back pages to refer. But still, this is a book one cannot keep down till finished completely. The author has been successful to completely engage the readers with a lengthy one like this.
This is a new Genre altogether. Indian fiction writing has a new theme now and as the 1st one of the Svastik Trilogy, author has done an amazing job. I wish Mr. Clark Prasad Congratulations for the amazing work of the "Baramulla Bomber" and would love to recommend this Novel to all the readers. This is a must read.
December 4, 2013
Foreword:
There are lot of trilogies coming these day, aren't they? It was Shiva Trilogy and now Swastik trilogy. The only trait they share is that while the former has a great tinge of mythology to it, the predecessor is multi-faceted, including 'Mythology'.
Before I got this book for reviewing, there was lot of talk about this book that was going around. I thought it was just not over-rated book. Come on, too much talk gives that impression to me. But then, after reading the book, I take all those words back.
"Science Fiction Espionage Thriller". Well, that is pretty new for me in Indian writing. I had very high hopes when I open the cover and started the book...
Plot (from the jacket):
AN ANCIENT WEAPON FROM THE VEDAS & BIBLE
ONCE HUNTED BY THE NAZIS
POWERED BY THE SOUND OF UNIVERSE
REBORN WITH HELP OF QUANTUM PHYSICS
GOING TO BE UNLEASHED ON TO THE WORLD
AND KASHMIR HOLDS ITS SECRET
Multiple intelligence agencies are tracking Mansur Haider, a god-fearing aspiring cricketer from Kashmir. His girlfriend, Aahana Yajurvedi, is trying to locate her missing mountaineering team, who vanished after a mysterious earthquake strikes Shaksgam Valley. Investigating Mansur and the Shaksgam Valley incident is Swedish intelligence officer, Adolf Silfverskiold, whose only relationship to god consists of escorting his girlfriend to Church.
A dual China-Pakistan battlefront scenario facing the Indian Home Minister, Agastya Rathore, whose ancestors carry a prehistoric secret linked to the stars. He is faced with the challenge of finding a lasting solution to the Kashmir crisis.
Which Biblical Weapon was Tested in Shaksgam Valley? Why is Mansur Haider Important? Is There a Solution to the Kashmir Crisis? Can Destiny be Controlled? Does a Cosmic Religion Exist?
About the author (from GoodReads):
Clark Prasad, alter ego of Suraj Prasad, could be called a mixed citizen. Born in a leap year (year of Rocky, All the President's Men, Omen, Hera Pheri and Kalicharan) in Lagos, Nigeria he lived most of his life in New Delhi and had his education in Lagos, Delhi, Mangalore and Kozhikode.....................................
To read the whole review, click here...
There are lot of trilogies coming these day, aren't they? It was Shiva Trilogy and now Swastik trilogy. The only trait they share is that while the former has a great tinge of mythology to it, the predecessor is multi-faceted, including 'Mythology'.
Before I got this book for reviewing, there was lot of talk about this book that was going around. I thought it was just not over-rated book. Come on, too much talk gives that impression to me. But then, after reading the book, I take all those words back.
"Science Fiction Espionage Thriller". Well, that is pretty new for me in Indian writing. I had very high hopes when I open the cover and started the book...
Plot (from the jacket):
AN ANCIENT WEAPON FROM THE VEDAS & BIBLE
ONCE HUNTED BY THE NAZIS
POWERED BY THE SOUND OF UNIVERSE
REBORN WITH HELP OF QUANTUM PHYSICS
GOING TO BE UNLEASHED ON TO THE WORLD
AND KASHMIR HOLDS ITS SECRET
Multiple intelligence agencies are tracking Mansur Haider, a god-fearing aspiring cricketer from Kashmir. His girlfriend, Aahana Yajurvedi, is trying to locate her missing mountaineering team, who vanished after a mysterious earthquake strikes Shaksgam Valley. Investigating Mansur and the Shaksgam Valley incident is Swedish intelligence officer, Adolf Silfverskiold, whose only relationship to god consists of escorting his girlfriend to Church.
A dual China-Pakistan battlefront scenario facing the Indian Home Minister, Agastya Rathore, whose ancestors carry a prehistoric secret linked to the stars. He is faced with the challenge of finding a lasting solution to the Kashmir crisis.
Which Biblical Weapon was Tested in Shaksgam Valley? Why is Mansur Haider Important? Is There a Solution to the Kashmir Crisis? Can Destiny be Controlled? Does a Cosmic Religion Exist?
About the author (from GoodReads):
Clark Prasad, alter ego of Suraj Prasad, could be called a mixed citizen. Born in a leap year (year of Rocky, All the President's Men, Omen, Hera Pheri and Kalicharan) in Lagos, Nigeria he lived most of his life in New Delhi and had his education in Lagos, Delhi, Mangalore and Kozhikode.....................................
To read the whole review, click here...
February 17, 2017
http://www.b00kr3vi3ws.in/2013/12/Bar...
The book cover and the blurb promise its reader Science Fiction, Espionage and Thriller. As a mystery/thriller fan that is all that I needed to pick up this one.
Mansur Haider, an aspiring cricketer from Kashmir is being tracked and investigated by multiple takes intelligence agencies. At the same time his girlfriend Aahana is looking into the matter of a team of mountaineers that disappeared after an earthquake that hit Saksgam Valley. These two seemingly parallel incidents are enough to get the readers curious enough to turn the pages of the book. But then lands the Swedish intelligence officer, Adolf, who is looking into both these situations… What follows then revolves around a mysterious weapon, some cricket and some politics set in a multiple locations that build up a story that promises a rollercoaster journey.
The good parts first. The best thing about the book is its plot – interesting and had huge scope. Kudos to the author for coming up with it. There are many facets to it which kept it from becoming monotonous over time. The second thing that I liked was the accompanying diagrams. As voracious readers we are quite used to forming a mental image of everything that we read, but accompanying diagrams of symbols do help it to make it clear and easy to understand and remember. I also enjoyed the build-up of the story that which was rather exciting. Now, am moving on to the not so nice parts of the book. There are a whole lot of characters involved in this story but they were all very bland and uninspiring. If I had to choose one, I would probably say that Adolf was the one I liked out of them but even he is very much a forgettable character once you put down the book. Also, the climax was a rather let down after the build-up that the novel provided.
End of the day, this is a debut novel and as such this can be regarded as a good book. The author still has time to work on his characters in the upcoming two installments of the trilogy. Hopefully he will mature over the time and provide us with more hours of reading pleasure and lovable characters.
The book cover and the blurb promise its reader Science Fiction, Espionage and Thriller. As a mystery/thriller fan that is all that I needed to pick up this one.
Mansur Haider, an aspiring cricketer from Kashmir is being tracked and investigated by multiple takes intelligence agencies. At the same time his girlfriend Aahana is looking into the matter of a team of mountaineers that disappeared after an earthquake that hit Saksgam Valley. These two seemingly parallel incidents are enough to get the readers curious enough to turn the pages of the book. But then lands the Swedish intelligence officer, Adolf, who is looking into both these situations… What follows then revolves around a mysterious weapon, some cricket and some politics set in a multiple locations that build up a story that promises a rollercoaster journey.
The good parts first. The best thing about the book is its plot – interesting and had huge scope. Kudos to the author for coming up with it. There are many facets to it which kept it from becoming monotonous over time. The second thing that I liked was the accompanying diagrams. As voracious readers we are quite used to forming a mental image of everything that we read, but accompanying diagrams of symbols do help it to make it clear and easy to understand and remember. I also enjoyed the build-up of the story that which was rather exciting. Now, am moving on to the not so nice parts of the book. There are a whole lot of characters involved in this story but they were all very bland and uninspiring. If I had to choose one, I would probably say that Adolf was the one I liked out of them but even he is very much a forgettable character once you put down the book. Also, the climax was a rather let down after the build-up that the novel provided.
End of the day, this is a debut novel and as such this can be regarded as a good book. The author still has time to work on his characters in the upcoming two installments of the trilogy. Hopefully he will mature over the time and provide us with more hours of reading pleasure and lovable characters.
June 15, 2015
The story begins with three prominent characters - Adolf Silfverskiold, a Swedish intelligence officer, Aahana Yajurvedi, a mountaineer and girlfriend of one Mansur Haider, who is a cricketer from Kashmir and a prime suspect being tracked by multiple intelligence agencies and Agastya Rathore, the then Indian Home Minister – all jump off a bomber plane to destroy what is called the Ancient Biblical-Vedic weapon. And slowly are we introduced to the different people of the story as we turn the pages.
The story kicks off after a mysterious earthquake struck Shaksgam Valley. But is it an earthquake? Or was a biblical weapon tested in there? There’s probabilty of Indo-China war breaking out? But why? Why is Mansur Haider important? Is there a solution to the Kashmir crisis? Can destiny be controlled? Does a cosmic religion exist?
The author creates solid illustrations to tell the story and i found the narrative device compelling. The pace is brisk and there is very little dwelling on some of the ridiculous and illogical actions scenes which follows. The editing is tight and even though author manages to catch your attention with detailing, it ultimately lets to its downfall by pouring in too much of unnecessary jargon and unrelated plot points. All of this in total drags the narrative and even though at times you feel the pace picking up and things getting back on track, the narrative hinges and makes you weary.
The book is left with a little something about the Svastik Trilogy. The series of three books – Eka, the Baramulla Bomber, Dvitiya – The Consultant and the third book or Tritiya (Yet to be titled) are all concerned with a question – What is the power behind the creation of Universe and human origins? The main protagonists of the first two books are different – you can start with either one or two, but the culmination of the story will happen in the third one.
I am going with 3/5 for Clark Prasad's 'Baramulla Bomber'. The length needs to be shortened and plot had to be less convoluted. Otherwise, it is a quick espionage thriller which deserves more of your time in the future with other books in the series about to come.
The story kicks off after a mysterious earthquake struck Shaksgam Valley. But is it an earthquake? Or was a biblical weapon tested in there? There’s probabilty of Indo-China war breaking out? But why? Why is Mansur Haider important? Is there a solution to the Kashmir crisis? Can destiny be controlled? Does a cosmic religion exist?
The author creates solid illustrations to tell the story and i found the narrative device compelling. The pace is brisk and there is very little dwelling on some of the ridiculous and illogical actions scenes which follows. The editing is tight and even though author manages to catch your attention with detailing, it ultimately lets to its downfall by pouring in too much of unnecessary jargon and unrelated plot points. All of this in total drags the narrative and even though at times you feel the pace picking up and things getting back on track, the narrative hinges and makes you weary.
The book is left with a little something about the Svastik Trilogy. The series of three books – Eka, the Baramulla Bomber, Dvitiya – The Consultant and the third book or Tritiya (Yet to be titled) are all concerned with a question – What is the power behind the creation of Universe and human origins? The main protagonists of the first two books are different – you can start with either one or two, but the culmination of the story will happen in the third one.
I am going with 3/5 for Clark Prasad's 'Baramulla Bomber'. The length needs to be shortened and plot had to be less convoluted. Otherwise, it is a quick espionage thriller which deserves more of your time in the future with other books in the series about to come.
December 5, 2013
The book deals with multiple threads which are woven into one beautiful tapestry by wonderfully interconnected threads. At the heart of it, this is a story of an ancient divine weapon which has the potential to change the world as we know it. The lives of Mansur Haider, an up and coming cricketer from Kashmir, his girlfriend Aahana Yajurvedi, Swedish intelligence officer Adolg Silfverskiold are inexplicably changed when they get involved with each other and with the weapon due to entirely different circumstances. And when the Indian Home Minister Agastya Rathore also gets involved with the happenings, more spice is added to the already spicy dish that the plot really is.
Hopping from Pakistan occupied Kashmir to Sweden, the book deals with hardcore cloak and dagger stuff being dealt in by intelligence agencies around the world with players such as politicians and intelligence chiefs getting involved. This is the stuff that we usually read about in Frederick Forsyth thrillers and coming from an Indian debutant, it truly does herald a new wave in Indian literature.
Given that this is the first part of a trilogy which unusually need not necessarily be read in sequential order according to the author, I am surely going to pick up the remaining two books. Am not giving away anything more of the plot here due to a specific request by the author not to do so and allow all readers of the book to enjoy it to its fullest by themselves.
Suffice to say that the author dabbles with fields such as politics, espionage, archeo-astronomy and human relationships with such ease that you would be forgiven to think that he is a veteran of many books of one or more of these genres. The amount of research that he has done on the various fields that this book deals with is all listed out in the appendix and is truly commendable. For anybody who thought writing a spy-thriller book was cake walk, think again, as Clark Prasad truly has set the benchmark, at least for Indian authors in this genre.
Hopping from Pakistan occupied Kashmir to Sweden, the book deals with hardcore cloak and dagger stuff being dealt in by intelligence agencies around the world with players such as politicians and intelligence chiefs getting involved. This is the stuff that we usually read about in Frederick Forsyth thrillers and coming from an Indian debutant, it truly does herald a new wave in Indian literature.
Given that this is the first part of a trilogy which unusually need not necessarily be read in sequential order according to the author, I am surely going to pick up the remaining two books. Am not giving away anything more of the plot here due to a specific request by the author not to do so and allow all readers of the book to enjoy it to its fullest by themselves.
Suffice to say that the author dabbles with fields such as politics, espionage, archeo-astronomy and human relationships with such ease that you would be forgiven to think that he is a veteran of many books of one or more of these genres. The amount of research that he has done on the various fields that this book deals with is all listed out in the appendix and is truly commendable. For anybody who thought writing a spy-thriller book was cake walk, think again, as Clark Prasad truly has set the benchmark, at least for Indian authors in this genre.
December 16, 2013
Baramulla Bomber is the sci-fi thriller revolving around the Kashmir crisis while running around multiple dimensions of quantum physics, Vedas, Hindu religion, cricket, films, politics and so much. One might relate a bit to Da vinci code, but I must say India has found its own Dan Brown in Clark Prasad. The illustrations are good and it does seem that the author has put in a lot of meticulous effort in designing the details through the diagrams and maps. The characters are serious and well crafted. The story moves at a fast pace, though it does take a few 50 pages to get a grip of it. The first chapters seem very complex and heavy as the writer tries to give too many details while still concealing the plot, but eventually you start enjoying the story as it races to its climax.
I must say there that I am more of a romance person and do not enjoy reading thrillers. However, I did like Baramulla Bomber. I would have loved to talk about a few characters including the lead Mansur, cricketer and the vulnerable politician Agastya, but the disclaimer of the author. He requested the reviewers to refrain from revealing any details of the plot or characters in the review. There are a few dabangg dialogues too which charge you every now and then.
This is the first part of the Swastik trilogy. I look forward to reading the Part 2 and part 3. I am glad that I was provided the reviewers copy, otherwise being a romance addict I would never have known that Indian writers are presenting such great work too.
A few negatives - I feel there was too much to absorb in the first few pages, which could be a turn off for new readers, though the story went very smoothly once we get a hang of the charecters. Also, the cover page shows two fiery eyes of a terrorist, could have been a bit positive.
All in all, nice book. Keep writing and good luck.
I must say there that I am more of a romance person and do not enjoy reading thrillers. However, I did like Baramulla Bomber. I would have loved to talk about a few characters including the lead Mansur, cricketer and the vulnerable politician Agastya, but the disclaimer of the author. He requested the reviewers to refrain from revealing any details of the plot or characters in the review. There are a few dabangg dialogues too which charge you every now and then.
This is the first part of the Swastik trilogy. I look forward to reading the Part 2 and part 3. I am glad that I was provided the reviewers copy, otherwise being a romance addict I would never have known that Indian writers are presenting such great work too.
A few negatives - I feel there was too much to absorb in the first few pages, which could be a turn off for new readers, though the story went very smoothly once we get a hang of the charecters. Also, the cover page shows two fiery eyes of a terrorist, could have been a bit positive.
All in all, nice book. Keep writing and good luck.
March 3, 2014
I liked the first hundred or so pages a lot. Robert Oppenheimer, his apprentice, the experiments and the findings, Mansur of Haider family and the family’s history, again the Sweden agencies and the entry of Adolf was all very interesting for me. Actually at first, as I was so excited to read the book, the starting chapters felt like reading another Rozabel Line. Even though having a free mind while reading is what I had meant to do, I couldn’t help but compare. The chapters juggled between past and present, or let’s just simply say different time frames, which I managed through. While the first 100 pages build up my curiosity and attention for the themes and subjects in the plot, the next 100 pages failed to keep that alive. Not much effort was taken to reveal the mini mysteries one by one in the mini subplots in this span of 100 pages.
There were repetitive sentences in the deduction process, which seemed quite slow at times. I felt there was a minimum progress to the story line while just numerous events were getting added to the timeline. So I think that the length of the book has been quite unnecessarily extended and that it could well do without 50 or 60 pages. And though I liked the facts used for the story from different cultures and field of studies, the many repetitions of the same data sometimes irritated me. This book took me the longest time to read. Still I would like to add that the illustrations, the maps, the symbols were good.
Having said all that, I think for a debut author Clark Prasad, as Suraj Prasad likes to call his alter ego, ‘Baramulla Bomber’ is a huge feat achieved through so much of struggle and hard work. I do hope to read and like his second book of the Svastik trilogy.
There were repetitive sentences in the deduction process, which seemed quite slow at times. I felt there was a minimum progress to the story line while just numerous events were getting added to the timeline. So I think that the length of the book has been quite unnecessarily extended and that it could well do without 50 or 60 pages. And though I liked the facts used for the story from different cultures and field of studies, the many repetitions of the same data sometimes irritated me. This book took me the longest time to read. Still I would like to add that the illustrations, the maps, the symbols were good.
Having said all that, I think for a debut author Clark Prasad, as Suraj Prasad likes to call his alter ego, ‘Baramulla Bomber’ is a huge feat achieved through so much of struggle and hard work. I do hope to read and like his second book of the Svastik trilogy.
July 13, 2016
The first thing that caught my attention was this note in the beginning which had this this request from the author to the reviewers to not give away the plot of the story and that’s what I am going to do…there will be no details of the story in this review except whatever is mentioned in the blurb.
The story revolves around Mansur Haider, an aspiring cricketer from Kashmir. For some reason multiple intelligence agencies are tracking him. His girlfriend, Aahana Yajurvedi, is trying to locate her missing mountaineering team, who vanished after a mysterious earthquake strikes Shaksgam Valley. Investigating Mansur and the Shaksgam Valley incident is Swedish intelligence officer, Adolf Silfverskiold. In the middle of all this is Agastya Rathor, Indian home minister who is facing a dual China-Pakistan battlefront scenario and the challenge of finding a lasting solution to the Kashmir crisis.
Even though the story has a sci-fi angle and is based in India, the plot is very strong and you don’t really get the feeling that “oh, i don’t think that can happen”. The author has definitely put in a lot of effort to research the different subjects that the story touches to make it very believable.
A lot is going on in the story, there are a lot of sub plots, characters and countries but the pace of the story remains very balanced and you want to keep going. Even though there are a lot of character, each of them......Read complete review here: http://www.coml13.com/index.php/2014/...
The story revolves around Mansur Haider, an aspiring cricketer from Kashmir. For some reason multiple intelligence agencies are tracking him. His girlfriend, Aahana Yajurvedi, is trying to locate her missing mountaineering team, who vanished after a mysterious earthquake strikes Shaksgam Valley. Investigating Mansur and the Shaksgam Valley incident is Swedish intelligence officer, Adolf Silfverskiold. In the middle of all this is Agastya Rathor, Indian home minister who is facing a dual China-Pakistan battlefront scenario and the challenge of finding a lasting solution to the Kashmir crisis.
Even though the story has a sci-fi angle and is based in India, the plot is very strong and you don’t really get the feeling that “oh, i don’t think that can happen”. The author has definitely put in a lot of effort to research the different subjects that the story touches to make it very believable.
A lot is going on in the story, there are a lot of sub plots, characters and countries but the pace of the story remains very balanced and you want to keep going. Even though there are a lot of character, each of them......Read complete review here: http://www.coml13.com/index.php/2014/...
December 12, 2013
A science fiction espionage thriller coming from a debutant Indian author was another interesting factor for me to check out the book. The story starts with an interesting prologue which sets the stage for a series of thrilling events where Mansur Haider, a Kashmiri who dreams of becoming a cricketer for his love for the game & to fulfill his father’s wish & Adolf Silfverskiold, a Swedish secret agent, play important roles. Then there are many others like Aahana, Samir, Abhimanyu Kashyap, Agastya Rathore, Carina Leijonhufvud, etc. who also play significant roles. Each of the characters has been given ample space in the story & hence we understand their involvement in the main plot. Also, the few illustrations used here & there helped in understanding better.
When I started reading, the story seemed to be just fine, but slowly as I flipped through the pages things started to happen and mysteries and suspense began to build up. The author keeps the motives of the characters well under wraps & keeps us guessing ‘who is with whom’? However, I felt that the narration could have been much more gripping since the plot was so strong. Also in some parts indulging in minute details, when not very necessary, was something I did not enjoy.
Read full review here - http://dreamzandclouds.wordpress.com/...
When I started reading, the story seemed to be just fine, but slowly as I flipped through the pages things started to happen and mysteries and suspense began to build up. The author keeps the motives of the characters well under wraps & keeps us guessing ‘who is with whom’? However, I felt that the narration could have been much more gripping since the plot was so strong. Also in some parts indulging in minute details, when not very necessary, was something I did not enjoy.
Read full review here - http://dreamzandclouds.wordpress.com/...
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November 6, 2013Since the reader has been clearly advised against giving the details of the plot, I will just try and take you through the essence of the book. The tagline of Baramulla Bomber reads: Quantum Physics meets Bible & Vedas in background of Kashmir and Cricket. Part Eka (one) of the Swastik trilogy, this science fiction espionage thriller revolves around subjects as varied as Quantaum Physics, Mythology, Politics and Cricket. Not just these, there's a fair bit of Religion and Technology too.
The plot opens in the year 1947 in a remote misty Scotland cave, where a meeting of the Chos Skyong - a secret Council of Royalties established thousands of years ago, is on. As the 12 royal descendants from across the world sit discussing the affairs of the world, a blast rips the meeting apart. Everyone dies, but their secret survives through Abhimanyu Kashyapa, a teenager who goes on to play a significant role in the development of the plot, which is spread across the world - Norway, Sweden, China, Pakistan, the USA, and of course India.
More here : http://solitaryreading.blogspot.in/20...
The plot opens in the year 1947 in a remote misty Scotland cave, where a meeting of the Chos Skyong - a secret Council of Royalties established thousands of years ago, is on. As the 12 royal descendants from across the world sit discussing the affairs of the world, a blast rips the meeting apart. Everyone dies, but their secret survives through Abhimanyu Kashyapa, a teenager who goes on to play a significant role in the development of the plot, which is spread across the world - Norway, Sweden, China, Pakistan, the USA, and of course India.
More here : http://solitaryreading.blogspot.in/20...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2014
For Full and Detailed review, read http://cynthology.blogspot.com/2014/0...
I was curious to read Baramulla Bomber by Clark Prasad. Most reviews raved about its virtues in such glowing terms that I simply had to see for myself whether it was worth all that hype.
I have never been so disappointed in a book. The plot was a hodgepodge of subplots, all loosely tied together.
I must give credit where it is due. Making one thread meaningful through the course of a plot is hard enough. Here Prasad puts together such elements as cricket, metaphysics, history and politics, and the threat of war and terrorism. He shows well his knowledge of cricket and his research on the origin of sound and languages. He manages to get the action sequences right too.
But the language is far from perfect. The sentence construction is awkward, heavy and convoluted. Punctuation is often absent. The dialogue is weak.
All the cricket commentary was unnecessary. It does nothing to take the story forward.
The ending of the book is a huge letdown, with the climax being completely anti-climactic.
I was curious to read Baramulla Bomber by Clark Prasad. Most reviews raved about its virtues in such glowing terms that I simply had to see for myself whether it was worth all that hype.
I have never been so disappointed in a book. The plot was a hodgepodge of subplots, all loosely tied together.
I must give credit where it is due. Making one thread meaningful through the course of a plot is hard enough. Here Prasad puts together such elements as cricket, metaphysics, history and politics, and the threat of war and terrorism. He shows well his knowledge of cricket and his research on the origin of sound and languages. He manages to get the action sequences right too.
But the language is far from perfect. The sentence construction is awkward, heavy and convoluted. Punctuation is often absent. The dialogue is weak.
All the cricket commentary was unnecessary. It does nothing to take the story forward.
The ending of the book is a huge letdown, with the climax being completely anti-climactic.
October 27, 2013
The build-up was good but the climax very very anti-climactic.
A lot seemed like a waste ...
Deception and Misdirection are often the cornerstone of suspense and drama ... but if the deception and misdirection seems trivial and not strong or logical enough, it has the anti-climactic effect of being felt useless. Such was my experience of the Bomber's end. It bombed !!!
None of the characters in the novel comes out strongly enough for you to remember them ... not a single memorable character. The author forgot character development. Although there is a 'feeling' of pace in the story, but when the book ends and you look back, you realize that little happened in the 300 pages so there couldn't have been any pace in the writing style.
The whole hype about the biblical and vedic weapon also turns out to be a dud.
There are unnecessary mysteries and suspense built around events and people and secret organizations and seemingly useless inclusion of the CIA etc. THAT or I might something in the story.
A lot seemed like a waste ...
Deception and Misdirection are often the cornerstone of suspense and drama ... but if the deception and misdirection seems trivial and not strong or logical enough, it has the anti-climactic effect of being felt useless. Such was my experience of the Bomber's end. It bombed !!!
None of the characters in the novel comes out strongly enough for you to remember them ... not a single memorable character. The author forgot character development. Although there is a 'feeling' of pace in the story, but when the book ends and you look back, you realize that little happened in the 300 pages so there couldn't have been any pace in the writing style.
The whole hype about the biblical and vedic weapon also turns out to be a dud.
There are unnecessary mysteries and suspense built around events and people and secret organizations and seemingly useless inclusion of the CIA etc. THAT or I might something in the story.
June 30, 2015
I've read a few "hit" Indian mythology --> sci-fi based novels - this is a book to reckon with among them. It is definitely many notches above the much lauded "The Krishna Key" (which I found extremely poorly edited and written).
The "BB" (Baramulla Bomber) jogs through the 1st 100 pages and then picks up pace (like 10km/hr --> 100 km/hr !) post the 100th page - I couldn't wait to read what happened next!
What is very interesting, is the author's theory of a religious conspiracy , very much in line with what's happening in the world today. Plus, the research done, shows - the pictorial depiction in the beginning of every chapter - a very unique concept.
The idea of melding science and a known Hindu chant , in a manner that it actually makes sense - is refreshing, especially compared to the others that forcibly try to mold it into a construct (and hence is totally unbelievable).
I just wish Mansur Haider had a more involved role - but the end of the book indicates he might, in the second book. Hope to get my hands on that as well soon !
The "BB" (Baramulla Bomber) jogs through the 1st 100 pages and then picks up pace (like 10km/hr --> 100 km/hr !) post the 100th page - I couldn't wait to read what happened next!
What is very interesting, is the author's theory of a religious conspiracy , very much in line with what's happening in the world today. Plus, the research done, shows - the pictorial depiction in the beginning of every chapter - a very unique concept.
The idea of melding science and a known Hindu chant , in a manner that it actually makes sense - is refreshing, especially compared to the others that forcibly try to mold it into a construct (and hence is totally unbelievable).
I just wish Mansur Haider had a more involved role - but the end of the book indicates he might, in the second book. Hope to get my hands on that as well soon !
June 4, 2016
When you look at the cover of the book you will see two eyes staring at you (still no idea whose eyes they are). Then there is a symbol of AUM- the primordial sound around which the plot is set. And just above it, is the caption which declares ‘SCIENCE FICTION ESPIONAGE THRILLER’. These are the descriptions of the cover page of Baramulla Bomber. Baramulla Bomber, the debut thriller by Clark (Suraj) Prasad is the first of the Svastik Trilogy. Published by Niyogi Books, it is truly an espionage thriller involving multiple intelligence agencies around the world. Following the path of Dan Brown and Ashwin Sanghi, Mr. Prasad has also got a lot of research done for his books. But the book doesn’t get boring as there are only the necessary details. The book had initially been published in Amazon’s Createspace.
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