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Carnival: Short Stories
Question is, what do you do when life gives you choices.
A man starving for a week has nothing but rotting banana peels with him.
A surgeon operating on his peer who has been threatening to expose his malpractice.
Three best friends after one girl in a college where boys outnumber girls three to one.
Last man on Earth reasons with Robots to preserve relics of human civilization.
Disillusionment a young woman feels the night before her Clitoridectomy
A little boy who just cant keep out of trouble, his uncles way or the family mango room.
A man on a macabre island where humans are hunted for vicarious pleasure.
In Carnival, characters routinely find themselves in tight situations, some hilarious, some sombre and some downright chilling. When you read how they deal with it, youll wonder: Would I have acted the same way?
Isnt it amazing to start a story when you dont even know the genre? Thats carnival for you
Following in the footsteps of Labyrinth: Short Stories, Carnival is a collection of fifteen tales that cover genres like adventure, science fiction, fantasy, thrillers, literary, historical, humor and many more. As you go from one story to another in Carnival, itll feel like jumping from a beautiful carousel and to a fire breathing roller-coaster.
A man starving for a week has nothing but rotting banana peels with him.
A surgeon operating on his peer who has been threatening to expose his malpractice.
Three best friends after one girl in a college where boys outnumber girls three to one.
Last man on Earth reasons with Robots to preserve relics of human civilization.
Disillusionment a young woman feels the night before her Clitoridectomy
A little boy who just cant keep out of trouble, his uncles way or the family mango room.
A man on a macabre island where humans are hunted for vicarious pleasure.
In Carnival, characters routinely find themselves in tight situations, some hilarious, some sombre and some downright chilling. When you read how they deal with it, youll wonder: Would I have acted the same way?
Isnt it amazing to start a story when you dont even know the genre? Thats carnival for you
Following in the footsteps of Labyrinth: Short Stories, Carnival is a collection of fifteen tales that cover genres like adventure, science fiction, fantasy, thrillers, literary, historical, humor and many more. As you go from one story to another in Carnival, itll feel like jumping from a beautiful carousel and to a fire breathing roller-coaster.
235 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
2 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 14, 2014
Is it acceptable to review books of which you are a contributor?
I loved the book so much that I could not help writing about it.
I am a huge fan of Labyrinth, the first publishing endeavor of Litizen.com and was desperate be a part of Carnival. I am happy to say that not only has Litizen.com been able to match the standards set by Labyrinth, but have actually managed to better the quality of stories. Reading this book restores my faith in the future of Indian writing in English.
My take on the lucky 15 that have made it to the book.
1) The book starts with some explosive writing by Rishabh Chaturvedi in the maddeningly enticing Rhode Island, a mysterious island with a strange custodian, where animals and humans are hunted for pleasure. The story is fast and furious. The ending is slightly murky, (I had to read the last page again) but makes perfect sense in the end.
2) Smile by Aparna Sunderesan ( who has done a commendable job as the editor of the book), is again a simple tale which teases, tantalizes and eventually seduces your mind.
3) The Music shop by Sharath Komaraju is another wonderfully original plot. The execution is near perfect, almost leaving nothing to desire. I would have preferred a crisper ending though.
4)Morarka House by Rishabh Chaturvedi, is another little gem, the black humour mocking and entertaining at the same time.
5) Black Sails by Dushyant Shekhawat, a tale of adventure, deceit and double-cross; entertains well.
6) Ayesha by Vivek Banerjee - No comments as I wrote the story.
7) Envy, a futuristic science fiction by Sharath Komaraju, a tale spun with great skill and originality, is reminiscent of Robot stories by Isaac Asimov.
8) Grandma’s Secret , by Rohit Das, is a good interesting read with a shock ending.
9) To Tango with mango, by Shawn Pereira, provides some much needed comic relief.
10) Skin by Muna Hussen is a disturbing portrayal of an out-dated religious tradition. Very well written though!
11) The Girl on the train, by Ketaki Patwardhan, is well woven. For a moment I thought that I was reading a ghost or a con story, but the writer surprised me with the twist in the tail.
12) Opportunity knocks but once, by Sheela Jaywant, is the best story of the book. Innovative, well narrated, this tantalizingly close to life story of a surgeon, told with disarming simplicity; is a winner all the way.Being a Doctor, I identified strongly with the story.
13) End of an Era by Sharath Komaraju, an irreverent college romance, is kind of funny.
14) I am usually wary of feminist writing, but Sreelatha Chakrabarty scores in Angi with this sensitive but hard hitting portrayal of Sita’s agni pareeksha.
15) Carnival, the last story of the collection, by Rishabh Chaturvedi again, is a complicated story with philosophical overtones. It perhaps, is the most cerebral story of the entire collection.
I have only one recommendation for prospective readers, do not miss.
I loved the book so much that I could not help writing about it.
I am a huge fan of Labyrinth, the first publishing endeavor of Litizen.com and was desperate be a part of Carnival. I am happy to say that not only has Litizen.com been able to match the standards set by Labyrinth, but have actually managed to better the quality of stories. Reading this book restores my faith in the future of Indian writing in English.
My take on the lucky 15 that have made it to the book.
1) The book starts with some explosive writing by Rishabh Chaturvedi in the maddeningly enticing Rhode Island, a mysterious island with a strange custodian, where animals and humans are hunted for pleasure. The story is fast and furious. The ending is slightly murky, (I had to read the last page again) but makes perfect sense in the end.
2) Smile by Aparna Sunderesan ( who has done a commendable job as the editor of the book), is again a simple tale which teases, tantalizes and eventually seduces your mind.
3) The Music shop by Sharath Komaraju is another wonderfully original plot. The execution is near perfect, almost leaving nothing to desire. I would have preferred a crisper ending though.
4)Morarka House by Rishabh Chaturvedi, is another little gem, the black humour mocking and entertaining at the same time.
5) Black Sails by Dushyant Shekhawat, a tale of adventure, deceit and double-cross; entertains well.
6) Ayesha by Vivek Banerjee - No comments as I wrote the story.
7) Envy, a futuristic science fiction by Sharath Komaraju, a tale spun with great skill and originality, is reminiscent of Robot stories by Isaac Asimov.
8) Grandma’s Secret , by Rohit Das, is a good interesting read with a shock ending.
9) To Tango with mango, by Shawn Pereira, provides some much needed comic relief.
10) Skin by Muna Hussen is a disturbing portrayal of an out-dated religious tradition. Very well written though!
11) The Girl on the train, by Ketaki Patwardhan, is well woven. For a moment I thought that I was reading a ghost or a con story, but the writer surprised me with the twist in the tail.
12) Opportunity knocks but once, by Sheela Jaywant, is the best story of the book. Innovative, well narrated, this tantalizingly close to life story of a surgeon, told with disarming simplicity; is a winner all the way.Being a Doctor, I identified strongly with the story.
13) End of an Era by Sharath Komaraju, an irreverent college romance, is kind of funny.
14) I am usually wary of feminist writing, but Sreelatha Chakrabarty scores in Angi with this sensitive but hard hitting portrayal of Sita’s agni pareeksha.
15) Carnival, the last story of the collection, by Rishabh Chaturvedi again, is a complicated story with philosophical overtones. It perhaps, is the most cerebral story of the entire collection.
I have only one recommendation for prospective readers, do not miss.
February 16, 2014
Anthology. Grade A
When I picked up this book to read, I didn’t have any inkling as to what to expect. Though I was very well aware that it’s a short story collection, and that I will encounter tales belonging to varied genres, I wasn’t exactly prepared for what was to come. Some surprises are good; ‘Carnival’ is definitely one of those.
Rishabh Chaturvedi’s ‘Rhode Island’ starts the proceedings, narrating the events on an island where human and animal are hunted for pleasure. Now, what would you do if you are stuck in such a place? The author connects well with his words, making the scenes look real and mocking you with subtle feelings of dread.
Aparna Sundaresan manages to make you ‘Smile’, and proves the story is aptly named. It has a feel good storyline, an aura of mysticism, and a simple yet effective narration that augments the beauty of this piece. ‘Smile’ is just like those fresh drops of rain on petals, soft and sweet.
You experience a different kind of music in ‘The Music Shop’, something that you had never experienced before. The story, by Sharath Komarraju, provides unimaginable questions, and packs them with answers, and yet you feel like asking for more. This is a very well devised plot that allures you as well as intrigues you.
Rishabh’s ‘Morarka House’ is a comedy, albeit with shades of grey. The characters find themselves in a bizarre situation, and as time progresses, the protagonists are standing at the wrong end, as if fate is making a mockery of their plight. This is a story that you wouldn’t let go without a hearty laugh.
‘Sails’ by Dushyant Shekhawat is a dark tale of treachery and betrayal, and how eventually you get what you give. The concept revolves around the notion of Karma, and highlights the fact that being evil definitely has its consequences. The narration is sharp, and keeps one hooked to the story.
I have read Dr. Vivek Banerjee before, and as expected, he again bowled me over with his fluency and mastery over storytelling. ‘Ayesha’ is a well thought-of plot, not letting you a chance to guess, and guess correctly, and keeps you glued to the story. It’s one of those what-happens-next kind of a story, and even after reading the last word, your mind still asks, “What happens next?”
‘Envy’ by Sharath is a Science-Fiction tale, highlighting the relationship between human and robots in the near future. The author, very wisely, has not adhered to the tried and tested formula used in such genres, and have applied a more emotional theme in the plot. A good plot, and a different one.
Rohit Das enthralls the readers with ‘Grandma’s Secret’. It again has a shocking twist towards the end, something that you couldn’t have fathomed. The story initially strikes an emotional chord with you, and as you progress towards the end, you know everything isn’t what it seems to be. A very interesting story-line.
Shawn Pereira provides you some comic relief in the form of ‘To Tango With Mango’. An essential ingredient of a good comedy is quick and crispy narration, and Shawn scores a perfect ten in that area. This story will certainly tickle your funny bones, and often put you into fits of laughter.
‘Skin’ by Muna Hussen is a sensitive portrayal of a girl, set in the backdrops of an age-old tradition. The story hits you hard, and makes you sit up and notice the duality of the so called ‘modern’ society. The author writes about a bold topic such as clitorectomy, clearly questioning the mind-set of the people of our country.
Dr. Ketaki Patwardhan’s ‘The Girl on Train’, thrills and holds on to your suspense till the very end. At one point, the story has a different ending in sight, and all of a sudden the author turns the table with a brilliant twist. The storytelling is swift, and the scenes play before your eyes.
Sheela Jaywant excels in ‘Opportunity Knocks But Once’, highlighting the personal and professional turmoil in the mind of a surgeon, as he performs probably the most testing surgery of his medical career. The last line in the story is sheer brilliance, living up to all your expectations of a perfect story.
Sharath’s ‘End of an Era’ is a delicious tale of love, where two friends, best friends actually, fall for the same girl, and all hell breaks loose. They talk of sacrificing their love for each other, but who knows what really goes on in their mind. The ending, though, is perfect for a young romantic comedy, and this story again is one that makes you smile with its crisp and quirky narration.
I love epics, and I loved Sreelatha Chakravarty’s ‘Agni’, based on an episode of the Ramayana, where Sita was put to a fire-test to prove her purity. This tale highlights how women are always mistreated and considered with a tinge of doubt. The tale pinches you hard, and makes you think. A very beautiful take on the epic.
I just have one word to say for Rishabh’s ‘Carnival’, the last story in the book, and that is W-O-W. Never ever, and I say NEVER EVER, have I come across a short story that dances with such unimaginable aura of brilliance, a magnificence that can’t be defined via words, but can only be felt if you read it. It’s a perfect closure to the anthology, and you, as a reader, couldn’t have asked for more.
My three favourite stories from the collection would be:
Carnival
Opportunity Knocks But Once
Ayesha
The editing is perfect, and there is hardly any error. I also loved the story behind the cover image. All in all, this is a must-read anthology, by new age writers who really have the potential to emerge highly successful in the literary world in the near future.
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
When I picked up this book to read, I didn’t have any inkling as to what to expect. Though I was very well aware that it’s a short story collection, and that I will encounter tales belonging to varied genres, I wasn’t exactly prepared for what was to come. Some surprises are good; ‘Carnival’ is definitely one of those.
Rishabh Chaturvedi’s ‘Rhode Island’ starts the proceedings, narrating the events on an island where human and animal are hunted for pleasure. Now, what would you do if you are stuck in such a place? The author connects well with his words, making the scenes look real and mocking you with subtle feelings of dread.
Aparna Sundaresan manages to make you ‘Smile’, and proves the story is aptly named. It has a feel good storyline, an aura of mysticism, and a simple yet effective narration that augments the beauty of this piece. ‘Smile’ is just like those fresh drops of rain on petals, soft and sweet.
You experience a different kind of music in ‘The Music Shop’, something that you had never experienced before. The story, by Sharath Komarraju, provides unimaginable questions, and packs them with answers, and yet you feel like asking for more. This is a very well devised plot that allures you as well as intrigues you.
Rishabh’s ‘Morarka House’ is a comedy, albeit with shades of grey. The characters find themselves in a bizarre situation, and as time progresses, the protagonists are standing at the wrong end, as if fate is making a mockery of their plight. This is a story that you wouldn’t let go without a hearty laugh.
‘Sails’ by Dushyant Shekhawat is a dark tale of treachery and betrayal, and how eventually you get what you give. The concept revolves around the notion of Karma, and highlights the fact that being evil definitely has its consequences. The narration is sharp, and keeps one hooked to the story.
I have read Dr. Vivek Banerjee before, and as expected, he again bowled me over with his fluency and mastery over storytelling. ‘Ayesha’ is a well thought-of plot, not letting you a chance to guess, and guess correctly, and keeps you glued to the story. It’s one of those what-happens-next kind of a story, and even after reading the last word, your mind still asks, “What happens next?”
‘Envy’ by Sharath is a Science-Fiction tale, highlighting the relationship between human and robots in the near future. The author, very wisely, has not adhered to the tried and tested formula used in such genres, and have applied a more emotional theme in the plot. A good plot, and a different one.
Rohit Das enthralls the readers with ‘Grandma’s Secret’. It again has a shocking twist towards the end, something that you couldn’t have fathomed. The story initially strikes an emotional chord with you, and as you progress towards the end, you know everything isn’t what it seems to be. A very interesting story-line.
Shawn Pereira provides you some comic relief in the form of ‘To Tango With Mango’. An essential ingredient of a good comedy is quick and crispy narration, and Shawn scores a perfect ten in that area. This story will certainly tickle your funny bones, and often put you into fits of laughter.
‘Skin’ by Muna Hussen is a sensitive portrayal of a girl, set in the backdrops of an age-old tradition. The story hits you hard, and makes you sit up and notice the duality of the so called ‘modern’ society. The author writes about a bold topic such as clitorectomy, clearly questioning the mind-set of the people of our country.
Dr. Ketaki Patwardhan’s ‘The Girl on Train’, thrills and holds on to your suspense till the very end. At one point, the story has a different ending in sight, and all of a sudden the author turns the table with a brilliant twist. The storytelling is swift, and the scenes play before your eyes.
Sheela Jaywant excels in ‘Opportunity Knocks But Once’, highlighting the personal and professional turmoil in the mind of a surgeon, as he performs probably the most testing surgery of his medical career. The last line in the story is sheer brilliance, living up to all your expectations of a perfect story.
Sharath’s ‘End of an Era’ is a delicious tale of love, where two friends, best friends actually, fall for the same girl, and all hell breaks loose. They talk of sacrificing their love for each other, but who knows what really goes on in their mind. The ending, though, is perfect for a young romantic comedy, and this story again is one that makes you smile with its crisp and quirky narration.
I love epics, and I loved Sreelatha Chakravarty’s ‘Agni’, based on an episode of the Ramayana, where Sita was put to a fire-test to prove her purity. This tale highlights how women are always mistreated and considered with a tinge of doubt. The tale pinches you hard, and makes you think. A very beautiful take on the epic.
I just have one word to say for Rishabh’s ‘Carnival’, the last story in the book, and that is W-O-W. Never ever, and I say NEVER EVER, have I come across a short story that dances with such unimaginable aura of brilliance, a magnificence that can’t be defined via words, but can only be felt if you read it. It’s a perfect closure to the anthology, and you, as a reader, couldn’t have asked for more.
My three favourite stories from the collection would be:
Carnival
Opportunity Knocks But Once
Ayesha
The editing is perfect, and there is hardly any error. I also loved the story behind the cover image. All in all, this is a must-read anthology, by new age writers who really have the potential to emerge highly successful in the literary world in the near future.
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
June 15, 2015
'Carnival' is a collection of fifteen short stories written by multiple authors in various genres. The initial idea of bringing around these stories is to put them on the website 'Litizen.com' where authors seek feedback on the content and overall quality. The best of the lot is then published in this book named 'Carnival' (first being 'Labyrinth' released earlier). As a personal opinion, i am not a great fan of multiple genres anthologies. I feel as a reader they demand greater concentration and you tend to drag the book into multiple sessions which take away slightly from the overall experience of enjoying the book. However, the quality of short stories in Carnival is overwhelming and most of the stories stand out for their unique storytelling style.
Rishabh Chaturvedi, who has written 3 stories (also the co-founder of Litizen) explores sci-fic genre the most- 'Rhode Island' is about an oil millionaire hunting for pleasure and the detailing of the imagery of the island is well captured. 'Carnival' as the last story explores sci-fic genre and time travel through a father and a son. 'Morarka House' is a bitter sweet tale about the greed of lawyers and property dispute of two brothers.
'Opportunity knocks but once' by Sheela Jaywant throws in an interesting premise of choosing between bad and the evil while keeping your morals tucked in a medical world. 'Agni' by Sreelatha Chakravarthy take us back to the times of Ramayana and show us the mind of Sita before the Agni Pariksha she has been unscrupulously subjected to. 'Ayesha' by Vivek Banerjee explore the dark machinations of the mind and eagerness to draw wrong conclusions. 'Grandma's Secret' explores the schizophrenic mind of the head of a family looking to bond ties with her granddaughter.
However, my personal favourite vote goes to Sharath Komarajju' who shows great potential in dealing with diverse genres. 'The Music Shop' deals with the concept of time travel while pushing your luck to infinite limits. 'Envy' deals with the last person/robot on earth and his personal taste in music. 'End of an Era' deals with college crushes and the writer keeps the narrative tight, peppered with humour not to allow the story to sunk into stereotype romance.
Overall, the book delivers on providing us quality short stories even though the number of stories exploring science fiction and time travel sound repetitive and borderline boring at times in the narrative. Couple of stories seems underdeveloped and does not delve too much exploring the emotional quotient of their lead protagonists. But these are mere nitpicking's in an otherwise solid anthology exploring different genres. If you are a short story fan, it is one book you should not miss this year.
Rishabh Chaturvedi, who has written 3 stories (also the co-founder of Litizen) explores sci-fic genre the most- 'Rhode Island' is about an oil millionaire hunting for pleasure and the detailing of the imagery of the island is well captured. 'Carnival' as the last story explores sci-fic genre and time travel through a father and a son. 'Morarka House' is a bitter sweet tale about the greed of lawyers and property dispute of two brothers.
'Opportunity knocks but once' by Sheela Jaywant throws in an interesting premise of choosing between bad and the evil while keeping your morals tucked in a medical world. 'Agni' by Sreelatha Chakravarthy take us back to the times of Ramayana and show us the mind of Sita before the Agni Pariksha she has been unscrupulously subjected to. 'Ayesha' by Vivek Banerjee explore the dark machinations of the mind and eagerness to draw wrong conclusions. 'Grandma's Secret' explores the schizophrenic mind of the head of a family looking to bond ties with her granddaughter.
However, my personal favourite vote goes to Sharath Komarajju' who shows great potential in dealing with diverse genres. 'The Music Shop' deals with the concept of time travel while pushing your luck to infinite limits. 'Envy' deals with the last person/robot on earth and his personal taste in music. 'End of an Era' deals with college crushes and the writer keeps the narrative tight, peppered with humour not to allow the story to sunk into stereotype romance.
Overall, the book delivers on providing us quality short stories even though the number of stories exploring science fiction and time travel sound repetitive and borderline boring at times in the narrative. Couple of stories seems underdeveloped and does not delve too much exploring the emotional quotient of their lead protagonists. But these are mere nitpicking's in an otherwise solid anthology exploring different genres. If you are a short story fan, it is one book you should not miss this year.
September 8, 2019
Carnival - an anthology of 15 short stories from Litizen.com - is a book that will stay by your side until you have read it till its last tale. It is rare to find a short short collection that has such a wide and varied inclusion of genres and situations without losing its grip on its main theme - "What do you do when life gives you a choice?" The characters in these stories are all struggling in different ways with life having thrown at them either a gambit or a trap. Stories like Rhode Island, Ayesha and Opportunity Knocks But Once represent this collection as tales that will intrigue and capture you as a reader. Smile, Skin and Agni are poignant in their gentle sensitivity and will stay with you even after having finished reading them. The final story, Carnival, is a perfect conclusion to this book that enchants, entertains and haunts in equal measures - much like its stunning book cover illustration which is the perfect invitation into it. This book is just right for anyone who needs a dose of delightful reading.
April 26, 2015
The collection of stories here are above average from many anthologies in market. But it have not lived up to the expectation Labyrinth: Short Stories have created.
Few stories are good but few are bellow average. I loved the following stories most:
1. Smile
2.The Music Shop
3.Envy
4.To Tango with Mango
5.Skin
Few stories are good but few are bellow average. I loved the following stories most:
1. Smile
2.The Music Shop
3.Envy
4.To Tango with Mango
5.Skin
February 9, 2014
Does the Carnival manage delight and enthrall? Read
here
.
April 13, 2014
Great collection of short stories by new authors! Highly recommended.
June 4, 2015
Almost a complete waste of time except a few stories.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews