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The Black Dwarves of the Good Little Bay
There is a city on the western shores of India where it no longer rains . . .
The sea has invaded its boundaries and its inhabitants reside in a towering structure called the Bombadrome, which hovers above the barren land. Theirs is an artificially equated society; they lead technologically directed lives; they have no memory of the past. They don't remember that this place was once called Bom Bahia, or Bombay, or Mumbai.
Except for one man, the last civil servant of the India of old, a witness to the time when it all fell apart, now bitter, filled with regret and thought to be mad. For decades he has remained silent, but now a moment has come - which comes but rarely in history - that prompts him into a final act of service: To remind people of what happened all those years ago, of the events that unmade the city, then the nation, and finally their lives . . .
Sharp, layered and scathing, The Black Dwarves of the Good Little Bay will grab you by the scruff of your neck and force you to listen. Because the sins of the past can never be fully hidden. Because the end can never justify the means.
The sea has invaded its boundaries and its inhabitants reside in a towering structure called the Bombadrome, which hovers above the barren land. Theirs is an artificially equated society; they lead technologically directed lives; they have no memory of the past. They don't remember that this place was once called Bom Bahia, or Bombay, or Mumbai.
Except for one man, the last civil servant of the India of old, a witness to the time when it all fell apart, now bitter, filled with regret and thought to be mad. For decades he has remained silent, but now a moment has come - which comes but rarely in history - that prompts him into a final act of service: To remind people of what happened all those years ago, of the events that unmade the city, then the nation, and finally their lives . . .
Sharp, layered and scathing, The Black Dwarves of the Good Little Bay will grab you by the scruff of your neck and force you to listen. Because the sins of the past can never be fully hidden. Because the end can never justify the means.
336 pages, Paperback
Published August 1, 2019
11 people are currently reading
234 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 29 reviews
September 23, 2019
Why is that all Dystopian societies are a result of an Utopian dream?
I realised this as I read the account of Bombay in Varun Mathew‘s brilliant book, The Black Dwarves of the Good Little Bay, an Indian Dystopia. The title had me all curious and what came my way was obviously beyond what anyone would imagine it to be. Let’s keep the future filled with eerie aside, now remain the deeds of the past on political and social fronts that were reminded to us by our protagonist in the book. I wasn’t able to tell if anything different is happening today in the name of a “better” future. The ultimate objective of the characters made all sense to me but what turned of it in a long run was a frightening Mayhem. Makes me wonder if we can ever find an alternate progression into an ameliorated future. We cannot be very hopeful, perhaps.
The Black Dwarves among everything else piqued my interest greatly, made me realize the eloquent competency of an artistic resistance with that of a violent one. I had somehow hoped through the Black Dwarves for an Utopian future towards the end of the book but that said again, we must not be hopeful if we cannot be prudent.
I was surprised by the book in many ways and would without a doubt recommend it highly!
I realised this as I read the account of Bombay in Varun Mathew‘s brilliant book, The Black Dwarves of the Good Little Bay, an Indian Dystopia. The title had me all curious and what came my way was obviously beyond what anyone would imagine it to be. Let’s keep the future filled with eerie aside, now remain the deeds of the past on political and social fronts that were reminded to us by our protagonist in the book. I wasn’t able to tell if anything different is happening today in the name of a “better” future. The ultimate objective of the characters made all sense to me but what turned of it in a long run was a frightening Mayhem. Makes me wonder if we can ever find an alternate progression into an ameliorated future. We cannot be very hopeful, perhaps.
The Black Dwarves among everything else piqued my interest greatly, made me realize the eloquent competency of an artistic resistance with that of a violent one. I had somehow hoped through the Black Dwarves for an Utopian future towards the end of the book but that said again, we must not be hopeful if we cannot be prudent.
I was surprised by the book in many ways and would without a doubt recommend it highly!
May 18, 2020
4.5/5
Quite simply, one of the most original books to come out of India in recent years. That it hasn't won any prizes (that I know of) is a crying shame. The slight cop-out of an ending aside, this one was five-star material throughout. A sparkling, self-assured debut. Highly recommended.
Quite simply, one of the most original books to come out of India in recent years. That it hasn't won any prizes (that I know of) is a crying shame. The slight cop-out of an ending aside, this one was five-star material throughout. A sparkling, self-assured debut. Highly recommended.
August 29, 2020
Fascinating read
Trigger warning :Graphic description of sexual Assault, violence
Trigger warning :Graphic description of sexual Assault, violence
September 2, 2019
The blurb did not give much of a notice that this debut book would be an insightful look at the dystopia that the country is living in. Most will assume from the blurb that the dystopia world being described is the fall out of an ecological track but the narrative and the plot remains firmly political in nature.
The book is set in 2041 and the place by the sea is populated by people who live isolated but peaceful lives with no remembrance of past histories of strife and differences, their thoughts kept in check by technology that has erased everything that can lead to flare ups amongst people. One man, a civil servant who has seen the situation come to pass tries to make people see where they are headed.
The narrative pulls in readers with the play between the dystopian world and the past. The track that focuses on the main protagonist starting from his childhood and then his education and entry to the world of the Civil Services makes for fascinating reading. The dystopian track is a clever mix of the horrors of the cost of a forced uniformity and flags off various aspects of India: corruption, mob action, people protests and political gimmicks, casteism, xenophobia and racism. Recommended!
The book is set in 2041 and the place by the sea is populated by people who live isolated but peaceful lives with no remembrance of past histories of strife and differences, their thoughts kept in check by technology that has erased everything that can lead to flare ups amongst people. One man, a civil servant who has seen the situation come to pass tries to make people see where they are headed.
The narrative pulls in readers with the play between the dystopian world and the past. The track that focuses on the main protagonist starting from his childhood and then his education and entry to the world of the Civil Services makes for fascinating reading. The dystopian track is a clever mix of the horrors of the cost of a forced uniformity and flags off various aspects of India: corruption, mob action, people protests and political gimmicks, casteism, xenophobia and racism. Recommended!
August 16, 2019
Of all the books that fascinated me, I think this is the one that made me brood over a little longer. The Black Dwarves Of The Good Little Bay is an epic dystopia set in India, Bombay to be exact. Things are not the same anymore with people living high above and the sea has eaten off the shore. There is no rain anymore and only one man is doomed with the memories of the past. The mistakes, failures, wrongs and mishaps, everything is embedded into his mind and he is armed with the task of reminding all those who are oblivious.
I can't thank the author enough for venturing into a topic that is seldom probed into and sketching up a story around it. The new world is terrifying and let this be a lesson for everyone to not make things the way it might turn out. A city, no matter how enamoured of we are, can change in the blink of an eye if we don't mind our ways and dare to change the way things are run.
Absolutely engrossing narration and an enumerated curation of the past and present, this book is a wholesome platter.
I can't thank the author enough for venturing into a topic that is seldom probed into and sketching up a story around it. The new world is terrifying and let this be a lesson for everyone to not make things the way it might turn out. A city, no matter how enamoured of we are, can change in the blink of an eye if we don't mind our ways and dare to change the way things are run.
Absolutely engrossing narration and an enumerated curation of the past and present, this book is a wholesome platter.
February 3, 2020
Find this and other reviews at Feminist Quill
If you didn't already know it, it would be difficult for even the most discerning reader to recognize this as a debut novel. It is refreshing to find a book that forces your mind to engage with it, to rebel against it, to grapple with its contents until you reach understanding, or at least tire yourself out. It is equally refreshing to find a book that is well written, containing a strong voice and a compelling narrative. The Black Dwarves of the Good Little Bay contains all of these things and more, and it is a relief to be able to pronounce something a good book without having to think about it.
That's not to say I didn't have any problems with this book, but I'll talk about those later.
A number of things come together to make this a compelling work. For one thing, the deeply emotional undertones cannot help but bleed into the actual words. For another, it does not easily fall into cliches - this is not a morality play that coincides its definitions of good and evil neatly with those of our world. It is certainly a political book, about political phenomena, and enacted by political characters, but the politics of the right and the left enmesh, producing a definition of good and evil that is characterized by our approach to our politics, rather than the content thereof. The author tries to tell us that it isn't just important to strive for equality and equity. How we get there matters, and the ends don't justify the means.
And this is where I probably fall into the evil side of things, from the book's perspective. For as exhausted as I am by the horrors of mankind, I don't necessarily think of a drugged up, complacent population as a bad thing. As long as they're not harming themselves or each other, I couldn't care less what people do.
But if only that were the only price paid for the Bombadrome.
The well-intentioned evil doer believes in "freeing this nation from the evils that enslave it."
The ruthless evil doer, on the other hand, believes firmly that "this country needs to die before it is reborn." They piggyback on the faces and reputations of those who are blinded by their hunger for justice, and on the backs of the concerned centrists who cannot be bothered to do anything about their concerns. They ultimately build an impartial paradise free of hunger or pain on a foundation of innocent lives.
But justice writ in blood is no justice at all.
The narrator's unique personal history is also compelling, and his Malayali background and the references to so many things Keralite ring a note of comfort. Equally uncomfortable were the descriptions of Mumbai as it used to be. Uncomfortable personal memories colour my reactions to that city, and I spent the entire book shying away from picturing the city. And that sort of emotional response evoked in a reader is exactly what ties them to a book permanently. (Case in point: Please remind me to force myself to discuss Lessons in Forgetting at some point.)
What also really got me about the narrator is the absolute, complete, hatefulness of him. This seems counter intuitive, considering he's the lone voice in the crowd trying to right wrongs that are decades-old. But the fact is, there are no good guys in this story - only the oppressed, and a bunch of people with saviour complexes, each doing whatever they think is best for the oppressed, and condescendingly retelling the stories of those pitiable people. Is it surprising that what these saviours end up creating takes into account whatever is most convenient to them, as opposed to for those they claim to help?
Don't get me wrong. The book is well aware of this, and makes no effort to hide it, or to present its characters as righteous upholders of morality. CG, the narrator, has spent decades being a spineless coward, and the line he has chosen to draw in the sand is a rather pointless one. He has spent years standing by and silently assenting to all the things he claims to hate - to all things Bombadrome. And yet, as soon as he admits this, his tone turns injured, and he begins to blame the populace for participating in their own (perceived) disenfranchisement. Small wonder then, that his great nemesis doesn't even bother to stop him from telling his story.
Magical realism, fantasy and sci-fi are seamlessly woven into the fabric of our reality in this book. They are correlated to real life events in a way that doesn't cause the reader's mind to reject the entire premise as outlandish, and that, to me, is a sign of masterful writing.
Having said all this, I would be deeply interested in reading a few reviews of this book that are written from a more intersectional standpoint. There are some issues that are always very difficult to avoid for an author writing about matters that do not personally affect them, and I'm not sure the author has entirely dodged that bullet here.
CW: Short discussion of sexual assault
I especially disliked the graphic description and overall treatment of a scene involving rape. While no sexual assault is alike, and no one subjected to it reacts in the same way, reading this portion of the book seemed to repeatedly reinforce the impression that the author is writing about something he has heard about but not experienced. The aspects of the scene that were from the narrator's perspective rang true, whereas descriptions of the victim's behaviour did not. (I do not want to go into more detail and risk traumatizing anyone else, so I'll leave it at that.)
I do feel that if you're going to put people in the position of reading about something traumatic, and be potentially triggered by it, it should be as genuine as possible. And as Thirteen Reasons Why has amply and ignorantly demonstrated, less is usually more in these situations. You don't need to use a graphic description to try and strike a chord with the reader, and you certainly don't need to drive home the point with all the subtlety of a hammer.
The author also deals with descriptions of abuse committed along the lines of caste and religious identities, along with the relevant intersections. I'm less likely to pick up on dissonant notes in those parts of the book as compared to a reader who belongs to those marginalized identities, so I'd love to see any other perspectives on this, if they're out there.
But all that said, I come back to my original point: this is a deeply moving, originally crafted book, and I look forward to a second novel from this author that will hopefully be even better.
If you didn't already know it, it would be difficult for even the most discerning reader to recognize this as a debut novel. It is refreshing to find a book that forces your mind to engage with it, to rebel against it, to grapple with its contents until you reach understanding, or at least tire yourself out. It is equally refreshing to find a book that is well written, containing a strong voice and a compelling narrative. The Black Dwarves of the Good Little Bay contains all of these things and more, and it is a relief to be able to pronounce something a good book without having to think about it.
That's not to say I didn't have any problems with this book, but I'll talk about those later.
A number of things come together to make this a compelling work. For one thing, the deeply emotional undertones cannot help but bleed into the actual words. For another, it does not easily fall into cliches - this is not a morality play that coincides its definitions of good and evil neatly with those of our world. It is certainly a political book, about political phenomena, and enacted by political characters, but the politics of the right and the left enmesh, producing a definition of good and evil that is characterized by our approach to our politics, rather than the content thereof. The author tries to tell us that it isn't just important to strive for equality and equity. How we get there matters, and the ends don't justify the means.
And this is where I probably fall into the evil side of things, from the book's perspective. For as exhausted as I am by the horrors of mankind, I don't necessarily think of a drugged up, complacent population as a bad thing. As long as they're not harming themselves or each other, I couldn't care less what people do.
But if only that were the only price paid for the Bombadrome.
The well-intentioned evil doer believes in "freeing this nation from the evils that enslave it."
The ruthless evil doer, on the other hand, believes firmly that "this country needs to die before it is reborn." They piggyback on the faces and reputations of those who are blinded by their hunger for justice, and on the backs of the concerned centrists who cannot be bothered to do anything about their concerns. They ultimately build an impartial paradise free of hunger or pain on a foundation of innocent lives.
But justice writ in blood is no justice at all.
The narrator's unique personal history is also compelling, and his Malayali background and the references to so many things Keralite ring a note of comfort. Equally uncomfortable were the descriptions of Mumbai as it used to be. Uncomfortable personal memories colour my reactions to that city, and I spent the entire book shying away from picturing the city. And that sort of emotional response evoked in a reader is exactly what ties them to a book permanently. (Case in point: Please remind me to force myself to discuss Lessons in Forgetting at some point.)
What also really got me about the narrator is the absolute, complete, hatefulness of him. This seems counter intuitive, considering he's the lone voice in the crowd trying to right wrongs that are decades-old. But the fact is, there are no good guys in this story - only the oppressed, and a bunch of people with saviour complexes, each doing whatever they think is best for the oppressed, and condescendingly retelling the stories of those pitiable people. Is it surprising that what these saviours end up creating takes into account whatever is most convenient to them, as opposed to for those they claim to help?
Don't get me wrong. The book is well aware of this, and makes no effort to hide it, or to present its characters as righteous upholders of morality. CG, the narrator, has spent decades being a spineless coward, and the line he has chosen to draw in the sand is a rather pointless one. He has spent years standing by and silently assenting to all the things he claims to hate - to all things Bombadrome. And yet, as soon as he admits this, his tone turns injured, and he begins to blame the populace for participating in their own (perceived) disenfranchisement. Small wonder then, that his great nemesis doesn't even bother to stop him from telling his story.
He takes a step forward, but stops. His face is creased. I can sense true anguish there. "I feel that guilt, Godse. Every single moment. But if I had to, I'd do it all, all over again."
Magical realism, fantasy and sci-fi are seamlessly woven into the fabric of our reality in this book. They are correlated to real life events in a way that doesn't cause the reader's mind to reject the entire premise as outlandish, and that, to me, is a sign of masterful writing.
Having said all this, I would be deeply interested in reading a few reviews of this book that are written from a more intersectional standpoint. There are some issues that are always very difficult to avoid for an author writing about matters that do not personally affect them, and I'm not sure the author has entirely dodged that bullet here.
CW: Short discussion of sexual assault
I especially disliked the graphic description and overall treatment of a scene involving rape. While no sexual assault is alike, and no one subjected to it reacts in the same way, reading this portion of the book seemed to repeatedly reinforce the impression that the author is writing about something he has heard about but not experienced. The aspects of the scene that were from the narrator's perspective rang true, whereas descriptions of the victim's behaviour did not. (I do not want to go into more detail and risk traumatizing anyone else, so I'll leave it at that.)
I do feel that if you're going to put people in the position of reading about something traumatic, and be potentially triggered by it, it should be as genuine as possible. And as Thirteen Reasons Why has amply and ignorantly demonstrated, less is usually more in these situations. You don't need to use a graphic description to try and strike a chord with the reader, and you certainly don't need to drive home the point with all the subtlety of a hammer.
The author also deals with descriptions of abuse committed along the lines of caste and religious identities, along with the relevant intersections. I'm less likely to pick up on dissonant notes in those parts of the book as compared to a reader who belongs to those marginalized identities, so I'd love to see any other perspectives on this, if they're out there.
But all that said, I come back to my original point: this is a deeply moving, originally crafted book, and I look forward to a second novel from this author that will hopefully be even better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2019
The black dwarves of good little bay Varun Thomas Mathew
About the book
The book is about how IAS officer CG has seen the change of everything has in Bombay and he has tried to note it all with his speaking-writing gadget .
CG is one of the thousands of Civil service aspirants who cleared the exam and got selected after three tries . His first posting was in urban Bombay . Through CG we get a vivid picture of Bombay's political scenario . And The Case of "Black dwarves" is also disclosed . So,The Black Dwarves, are the people who believe to change the world and act according to it. They come from different parts of the society and make art, their words, songs as their weapons.
In this calamity, CG meets his long-lost school friend, Saad. Saad is a journalist and also the Black dwarves' movement enthuses him. Through him CG meets two more important people who are the reasons for the change of everything. One of them is Radheyan a famous Lawyer and another one is Alas , the nephew of the previous CM .
Alas makes them all believe his words ! Together they established a new political Party, The Dus Shabd Pary, DSP . The DSP create new history. Everything has turned upside down but CG remains Alone- with none to call his.
My views
First of all , the author is a great storyteller . He has taken the story to a new level . The story is extremely first placed and forces you to turn the next page . The more I read the more I was amused by the concept !
I like the entries of the news articles which have made the story more valuable and has made the story more realistic . It is hard to separate the reality from the story !
Every character here is well portraited and extremely real ! (I can even imagine Alas who is quite like a giant )
The author has discussed most of the important issues people face not only in Bombay but in all over India - the problems with accepting homosexual people to Ignoring Dalits . And I was again amazed with beloved of CG ! I have come across only few books where the protagonist falls in love with a girl from North-east .
This book has surprised me !
I definitely want to suggest this book to everyone
September 1, 2019
I am a big fan of the dystopian theme be it while watching Black Mirror or reading Animal Farm and The Black Dwarves of the Good Little Bay by Varun Thomas Mathew is my first ever Indian dystopian. When I first got the book I had no clue that this one would get me hooked from the very first page.
A riverting take on the future of Bombadrome erstwhile Bombay/Mumbai, the book is borderline magical realism and marries the theme of technological advancement with anti-utopian society. A society resides in a towering structure Bombadrome and leading a technologically driven life. There is one exception though, a man who is a witness to the old India who finally takes it as his duty to remind people of the old world and of themselves.
The book will give you the chills and get you thinking deep about the inevitable. It is blunt in its narrative and highlights how the sins of our past actions can never be buried. A gripping novel with a smooth narrative and a very well developed storyline.
July 12, 2020
'To be alive in this country today, and relatively conscious, is to be in a rage almost all the time... -James Baldwin.
Picked this up thinking of dystopia and talks of near future and its conflicts. But this, threw present at my face, hard. It hits you out, while you are sitting in your comfy corner, passing comments on the present issues, happenings and conspiracies being created for 'better future' of the country that is actually living in a dystopia. Varun writing gets momentum gradually and then picks up only to show you the scary side of the valley down below, on the edge of which-you are living. Being indifferent to the risk, you choose to enjoy the distant view. Each exhibit is fiery. And a tribute to Manto, in the name of one character-is so apt that it creates inimitable impression in your mind. An Ode to good little bay, Bombay, with all the pain, Oh, and the use of immortal 'Jaane woh kaise log the jinke pyaar ko pyaar mila....' !!
Picked this up thinking of dystopia and talks of near future and its conflicts. But this, threw present at my face, hard. It hits you out, while you are sitting in your comfy corner, passing comments on the present issues, happenings and conspiracies being created for 'better future' of the country that is actually living in a dystopia. Varun writing gets momentum gradually and then picks up only to show you the scary side of the valley down below, on the edge of which-you are living. Being indifferent to the risk, you choose to enjoy the distant view. Each exhibit is fiery. And a tribute to Manto, in the name of one character-is so apt that it creates inimitable impression in your mind. An Ode to good little bay, Bombay, with all the pain, Oh, and the use of immortal 'Jaane woh kaise log the jinke pyaar ko pyaar mila....' !!
July 17, 2024
such a good book. amazing. so good. can’t believe i found out about it on instagram, chose not to buy it from amazon and then randomly found it shelved under a stack of non-fiction books in a bookstore i never usually go to. Fate, if i must say so myself.
(Please, read it.)
(Please, read it.)
March 25, 2020
I was looking for a book from India that dealt with climate change and came across this book from an author I had not known before. It is always a treat to dive into such books with no idea of the depth they have. To say that this book was engrossing from the first page would be an understatement. The book is set in a post-climate change India where the rising sea levels have claimed the coastal land. Mumbai is no longer the bustling city. The sea has claimed all the land and it no longer rains. Yes, the Mumbai that is drenched in the monsoon rains every year is now an arid, dry desert. People live in a towering structure called Bombadrome where everything is regulated, from the water and electricity to the air that they breathe.
What I loved about this book is the 'Indianness' of it. Even though the theme is global the book is as Indian as it gets. Issues like castism that are fused with the idea of this nation have been dealt with brilliantly. The narrator Godse is the "last civil servant of the India of old". Old because the new India has no place for bureaucracy. It is Godse who takes us through the journey of India's transformation. And if you're wondering about his name, be assured that there is a wonderful backstory. My favourite character though -- as I'm sure will be the case with many others -- is Saadat Taariq Chishti. Saadat or Saad, as the narrator calls him, is a blogger who writes anti-establishment blogs and has been a witness to the transformation of India. There's a blog by Saad titled 'The Story of India' (on page 99) that covers the entire history of India from it's Independence in 1947 to the present time (2007 in the book). Let me just say that those two and a half pages are my favourite among all of Indian writings. It was while reading that piece that it suddenly struck me that Saadat could actually be a tribute to Saadat Hasan Manto. Had Manto been alive, he'd have definitely had similar thoughts about India. To read Saad as Manto was another unexpected experience that made this books extra special.
There is a lot of things that this book deals with. Even though its numerous themes are quite heavy, the book is an easy read. The writing is flawless, the characters well thought out and the story hard hitting. There are scenes of extreme violence that will jolt you out of your stupor but there are also scenes that makes you giggle. Overall, it is a wonderful book that takes you through the past, present and future of India in the best way possible.
What I loved about this book is the 'Indianness' of it. Even though the theme is global the book is as Indian as it gets. Issues like castism that are fused with the idea of this nation have been dealt with brilliantly. The narrator Godse is the "last civil servant of the India of old". Old because the new India has no place for bureaucracy. It is Godse who takes us through the journey of India's transformation. And if you're wondering about his name, be assured that there is a wonderful backstory. My favourite character though -- as I'm sure will be the case with many others -- is Saadat Taariq Chishti. Saadat or Saad, as the narrator calls him, is a blogger who writes anti-establishment blogs and has been a witness to the transformation of India. There's a blog by Saad titled 'The Story of India' (on page 99) that covers the entire history of India from it's Independence in 1947 to the present time (2007 in the book). Let me just say that those two and a half pages are my favourite among all of Indian writings. It was while reading that piece that it suddenly struck me that Saadat could actually be a tribute to Saadat Hasan Manto. Had Manto been alive, he'd have definitely had similar thoughts about India. To read Saad as Manto was another unexpected experience that made this books extra special.
There is a lot of things that this book deals with. Even though its numerous themes are quite heavy, the book is an easy read. The writing is flawless, the characters well thought out and the story hard hitting. There are scenes of extreme violence that will jolt you out of your stupor but there are also scenes that makes you giggle. Overall, it is a wonderful book that takes you through the past, present and future of India in the best way possible.
January 1, 2020
This book is so many things - a chronicle of the scary times we live in, the emergence of populism and strongman-led majoritarian politics, a peek into a dystopian future in which we’ve all lost our names and fresh air to breathe, a reminder of what India is and can be, a caution against our own excesses. But at the very core, it is an ode to Bombay, a city that can hold so many stories and lives that in spite of being at the centre of so many books and movies, it never fails to make you fall in love with it. Varun does a beautiful job of weaving all of these together with suspense, magical realism, real events, relationships and the environment all embellishing the narrative in their rightful ways. Sometimes there are detours that felt distracting and sometimes the narrative is too “tell” and could do with some more “show”, but this is such a massive feat for a first book. Looking forward to many more books from this fresh and brave voice.
May 27, 2021
"This continued till it occurred to the chief minister that the problem was history, for Indians are controlled by their history. We smear it on our surroundings and erect it in our cities and worship it in the names and clothes we give our children. Any disruption in our connection to our history makes us violent, like an entropic system descending into chaos."
Varun Thomas Mathew's The Black Dwarves of the Good Little Bay is an example of Indian dystopia and a book that has set a deserved bar. Dystopian novels paint the worst possible future we can ever imagine. A future that is always conceived and perceived positively in the present. A future that turns out to be the worst scenario possible to fight and win. And, this book is all that is being said.
In the book, the history is wiped clean and memory has been renewed along with thoughts and feelings, there's only one person who has refused to forget himself and what was once very real and true. Now all he has is a utopian side of the world that he realises how important it is to root ourselves in our history - not to remember what it was but what it led to - so we don't play with it.
The blurb draws our attention to the problems of climate change as it says, "There is a city on the western shores of India where it no longer rains..." While the Issues of castism and class differences help this dystopian dream to take shape, it issues a clear warning to us.
The ongoing troubles in the country force my mind to look beyond the incomprehensible status, but everything is unintelligible. But in all that comes, at least we can be wary.
We may not stop it from happening but we will have to force open our eyes to watch it unfold. This is the biggest pill that we have to swallow.
—Have you read any Indian dystopia?
Varun Thomas Mathew's The Black Dwarves of the Good Little Bay is an example of Indian dystopia and a book that has set a deserved bar. Dystopian novels paint the worst possible future we can ever imagine. A future that is always conceived and perceived positively in the present. A future that turns out to be the worst scenario possible to fight and win. And, this book is all that is being said.
In the book, the history is wiped clean and memory has been renewed along with thoughts and feelings, there's only one person who has refused to forget himself and what was once very real and true. Now all he has is a utopian side of the world that he realises how important it is to root ourselves in our history - not to remember what it was but what it led to - so we don't play with it.
The blurb draws our attention to the problems of climate change as it says, "There is a city on the western shores of India where it no longer rains..." While the Issues of castism and class differences help this dystopian dream to take shape, it issues a clear warning to us.
The ongoing troubles in the country force my mind to look beyond the incomprehensible status, but everything is unintelligible. But in all that comes, at least we can be wary.
We may not stop it from happening but we will have to force open our eyes to watch it unfold. This is the biggest pill that we have to swallow.
—Have you read any Indian dystopia?
August 12, 2019
This book is supremely relevant and is exceedingly good for a debut book. Despite my aversion to anything tinged by science fiction, the story weaves together the past and the future while giving the reader a warning about the perils of our present reality. The story and the setting (Bombay) on its own are compelling but I would recommend it to anyone who has more than a passing interest in how our democracy functions and what the idea of India truly is. Looking forward to more books from this author!
April 7, 2024
Indian city, dystopian future, resource wars, all in a very English August style that tears down the illusion of exclusiveness that the IAS carry in India. What's not to like?
I enjoyed the book, it's style, it's almost visceral depiction of Bombay living in an aerial 'Bombadrome' after the rains disappear from the city. Thomas tells a future by relying heavily on a past, he invokes memory and longing while unveiling ambition and folly. The ending is a bit of let down, too hurried in my opinion, but here's definitely an author to watch.
I enjoyed the book, it's style, it's almost visceral depiction of Bombay living in an aerial 'Bombadrome' after the rains disappear from the city. Thomas tells a future by relying heavily on a past, he invokes memory and longing while unveiling ambition and folly. The ending is a bit of let down, too hurried in my opinion, but here's definitely an author to watch.
April 15, 2024
This starkly Orwellian yarn is set in 2041 in a dystopian rain-starved India – the result of climate change. There are allusions to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - bhaashafish, gay prosecution, the outcast Moosahaars of Bihar, venal and fanatic politicians viz., the present dispensation in Maharashtra and Delhi. There is a damming indictment of the much vaunted IAS, a sly dig at BJP and an uncalled-for criticism of AADHAR. The plot is a little too preposterous – the story would have been more readable if the characters and context were more plausible.
An accurate description of present-day Mumbai
An accurate description of present-day Mumbai
Newspaper boys lined the pavements, pushing advertisements for computer repairmen into the sheaves of the morning newspapers. Vendors pushed their carts along the sea-facing roads, heavy with fresh vegetables that would become lunch for the now-sleeping millions. Dozens would take their morning dump by the rocks along the shore and wash themselves in murky salty water, the ideal liquid for nether-cleaning. Street sweepers would sit on their haunches and drink tea and tell each other about the strange things they found on the street the day before. Rat killers would carry their nightly catch in a blood-stained sack to deposit it at the corporation offices. These were the elves of the city: invisible, yet without whom the city would cease to function.In contrast to a future Bombay
Indeed, they have robbed you of your agency, snatched away your sense of history, confounded your idea of what a nation should be - to the extent that the Constitution of India is now nothing more than a few lines of software embedded into the Bombadrome's operating system.It’s fine to have differing views – that’s what a democracy is all about, but this is positively secessionist
…we have a Supreme Court that is for sale. But you really don't really care. You are content with your lives, happy to violate your wives each night and bow down before idols to heal your gay children, and tomorrow you will gladly put a blogger in jail. So go ahead, play your patriotic songs and buy your little plastic flags from children at traffic signals. Rejoice in whatever way you can, for this country of yours is one year older. As for me, I hope that your neighbour in the east devours you, while your sister in the west swarms you with her children. I hope that your glaciers melt faster than ever before, that your tectonic plates shift and consign everything you have built to the bottom of the earth, and that the seas rise up and wash away all memory of you from this land. It is a miracle that this country has survived so long despite being populated by the likes of you, and perhaps that single accomplishment is in fact deserving of the celebration that will be in plentiful supply tomorrow. In fact, why not? Let me give it to you now. With a full heart, allow me to wish you all a very happy Republic Day, though I would much rather tell you simply to take your accursed flag and go fuck yourself.The author is obviously a member of the tukde, tukde gang – a self-aggrandizing group of traitorous left-leaning ‘intellectuals’
That life in this country, as it exists now, is absurd. That people are arbitrary, and society is run by chance. So the truths that you fight for in court don't matter.I wish he was more circumspect with his poison-spewing quill.
I know now that I'm not really a Kashmiri or an Indian, but just a human being. I do not believe in a motherland or a chosen race, which are concepts that can destroy lives. Nationalism is one of the worst creations of men.
January 27, 2024
A brilliant investigation of politics in contemporary India. The book has been written with heart and it shows, even in its more mundane moments. And it veers away from the explicit didacticism of its peers.
September 23, 2020
A great book that uses dystopia to draw a sharp commentary on how much evil is okay for the greater good. And who even decides the definition of the greater good? To those from Mumbai, it'll tug at your love for the city in ways you've never thought about. While there are portions that are a little dramatic or unrealistic, the book overall is a satisfying journey. The characters are well fleshed out and feel like people one would really know.
Highly recommended!
Highly recommended!
February 8, 2020
After seeing such a high rating on goodreads i was utterly disappointed by the end of the book. I usually don't do this but i had to skip pages towards the end that were simply inconsequential. Some characters were absolutely unwarranted. Some characters the writer tried to make into good guys but they were actually the bad guys. The dystopia is nothing but a future-tech with an artificial reality. No real feeling of dystopia. Real events of Bombay used to the story's advantage which didn't really enhance the story in any manner nor did it invoke any emotions. Being a mumbaikar myself this felt like an absolutely unreal dystopia which was neither chilling nor unfavorable.
Not as great as it is touted to be
Not as great as it is touted to be
December 21, 2019
Book Title: The Black Dwarves of the Good Little Bay
Author: Varun Thomas Mathew
Format: Paperback
Book Title:
The title of the book ' The Black Dwarves of the Good Little Bay ' is unique and exclusive.
Book Cover:
The cover image of the book is an abstract image with absolutely no clue about the book and just the title written in bold black colored letters. It is quite uncommon that a cover doesn't reveal at least a hint about the story. This is one of the most different features of the book.
About the author:
Varun Thomas Mathew studied at the National Law School of India University. He is a lawyer by profession, a calling he found after having started and sold an e-commerce company, studied the euro crisis on a grant from the German government, and been the election agent and campaign manager for a very unique politician. Varun now lives in New Delhi, where he runs a technology law, public policy, and human rights practice. This is his debut book.
About the book:
Set up in the city of Bombay, in the year 2041 with a man who is the last civil servant of India the story takes a flight into the habitat of the city. The city where it no longer rains and people live artificially with technology invaded into the lives and reside in a tower named Bombadrome that actually hovers on the barren lands of the city.
The last civil servant is the only man who is the witness on how things changed, how people transformed and how society has taken a new shape. With a strong blend of political scenarios and crimes going around in the present society, the story takes up a new paradigm shift when this man who remained silent for years finally takes pains to remind the people of what happened all those years, the events that resulted in disasters and so on.
My review:
This is one of the few books that has caught my mind and I would definitely brood over the book for a long time. With an abstract and unique way of showcasing the changes between timelines, the book is an arguably a better book.
What I like:
1. The story and the plotline
2. The font and the page styling of the story is attractive
3. The inclusion of some official letters and circulars is a novel idea.
4. The story seems like a citizen's muted heart and mind.
What I didn't like:
Nothing to dislike!
Characters:
Apart from the narrator, every other element in the story is a character with its own weightage and importance.
Narration:
When the storyline of a book is exceptionally engrossing, the reader automatically gets into the story and becomes a character thus, feeling surreal. In this book, as a reader, I was living alongside the protagonist. Written in the first person, the story is very engaging.
Language & Vocabulary:
The language and vocabulary are simple and rich vocabulary is found. The clarity with which sentences are formed is really appreciated. The author has used a great writing style and thus semantics of words fall in place.
My Final Verdict:
A perfect ala-carte of excellent storytelling!
Book Title: 5/5
Book Cover: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Narration: 5/5
Language & Grammar: 5/5
Final Rating: 5/5
September 21, 2019
Varun Thomas Mathew brings forth an epic dystopian tale with his debut novel ‘The Black Dwarves of the Good Little Bay’. The book is a hypothetical fictional work consisting of a fusion of politics and dystopia. The author framed a near future world where the people of Bombay lives in a towering structure called ‘Bombadrome‘ built upon a barren land. The people residing in the Bombadrome has no memory of their once flourishing city. Their life is now technologically driven and they have no recollection of the past. Amongst them survived an embarrassing relic from the past who does remember the old Bombay.
Convent Godse was a civil servant who witnessed the old Bombay falling apart. He observed all the disasters, the crimes, the injustices done by the leader of a political party in order to come into power. He was the sole witness to survive the cruelty, despotism, exploitation caused to the citizens of Bombay by a group of people who believed that they can change the World into a better place with their own unusual horrific ways. They called themselves ‘The Black Dwarves’. Godse has been silent for years but now, years of regret and guilt makes him commit a final act of service: to remind people of the old Bombay and what events unfolded back then. Read the book to find out the horrific events that unfolded in old Bombay.
My views- Layered with great story telling and amusing plot, the book has the power to absorb you and keep you seated into your armchair until you finish it up. Kudos to the author for bringing up such a unique storyline with an amazing narrative style. The language used is lucid and produces powerful feelings. The pace is good and surely is a page turner. I was throughout anxious to know what happens next.
I am extremely thankful to Hachette for providing me with a review copy. I am glad that I got a chance to read such a phenomenal book. I am highly recommending this book to you all. Considering the fact that it’s a debut novel by the author, he did a remarkable job. Yes, we need to explore more works by Indian authors. And this is one such book that you should not neglect. Dystopia is one such genre that I haven’t explored much but thankfully, I have a great recommendation now. Don’t just wait, pick this book up ASAP. I assure you that you won’t regret.
Convent Godse was a civil servant who witnessed the old Bombay falling apart. He observed all the disasters, the crimes, the injustices done by the leader of a political party in order to come into power. He was the sole witness to survive the cruelty, despotism, exploitation caused to the citizens of Bombay by a group of people who believed that they can change the World into a better place with their own unusual horrific ways. They called themselves ‘The Black Dwarves’. Godse has been silent for years but now, years of regret and guilt makes him commit a final act of service: to remind people of the old Bombay and what events unfolded back then. Read the book to find out the horrific events that unfolded in old Bombay.
My views- Layered with great story telling and amusing plot, the book has the power to absorb you and keep you seated into your armchair until you finish it up. Kudos to the author for bringing up such a unique storyline with an amazing narrative style. The language used is lucid and produces powerful feelings. The pace is good and surely is a page turner. I was throughout anxious to know what happens next.
I am extremely thankful to Hachette for providing me with a review copy. I am glad that I got a chance to read such a phenomenal book. I am highly recommending this book to you all. Considering the fact that it’s a debut novel by the author, he did a remarkable job. Yes, we need to explore more works by Indian authors. And this is one such book that you should not neglect. Dystopia is one such genre that I haven’t explored much but thankfully, I have a great recommendation now. Don’t just wait, pick this book up ASAP. I assure you that you won’t regret.
November 10, 2019
Very interesting read ! The author sure captivated my attention right from the first page. Loved the easy style, the subtle humour and the underlying caution that Varun Thomas Mathew has conveyed through his book. Great work Varun! Can't wait to read your next book.
December 31, 2019
"𝓣𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓬𝓲𝓽𝔂 𝓲𝓼 𝓬𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓮𝓭 𝓑𝓸𝓶 𝓑𝓪𝓱𝓲𝔂𝓪. 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓰𝓸𝓸𝓭 𝓵𝓲𝓽𝓽𝓵𝓮 𝓫𝓪𝔂. 𝓘𝓽 𝓱𝓪𝓼 𝓪𝓵𝔀𝓪𝔂𝓼 𝓼𝓾𝓻𝓿𝓲𝓿𝓮𝓭, 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓲𝓽 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓼𝓾𝓻𝓿𝓲𝓿𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓽𝓸𝓸."
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A towering structure 'Bombadrone' in 2041 floating above a barren land was once called Bombay and holds scornful history. The whole city operates under an artificial and technology-driven society. No single soul living there has a memory of past except the last civil servant named Convent Godse (CG) known to be mad and the only person alive who has witnessed the exploitation and malignity that has changed the course of Bombay by a troop called "The Black Dwarves". After being reticent for years CG finally decides to remind the people of ancient Bombay.
Actions conferred in present serves the future and this book glances into the world that the future may hold. Perceptive, intence and pretty much trenchant. A world set in dystopia "The Black Dwarves of Good Little Bay" will hold your conscious throughout the read and compel you to heed its words. I was totally amused by the concept of the book. Dystopia is one such genre that has always fascinated me but I haven't read much of Indian-dystopia and this read was much of a rollercoaster ride for me. @varun.mathew has done a tremendous job by bringing this debut into existence and I just can't recommend it enough.
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Visit my blog for an extensive review. Link in bio.
Thanks to @hachette_india for the #gifted copy.🌻
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A towering structure 'Bombadrone' in 2041 floating above a barren land was once called Bombay and holds scornful history. The whole city operates under an artificial and technology-driven society. No single soul living there has a memory of past except the last civil servant named Convent Godse (CG) known to be mad and the only person alive who has witnessed the exploitation and malignity that has changed the course of Bombay by a troop called "The Black Dwarves". After being reticent for years CG finally decides to remind the people of ancient Bombay.
Actions conferred in present serves the future and this book glances into the world that the future may hold. Perceptive, intence and pretty much trenchant. A world set in dystopia "The Black Dwarves of Good Little Bay" will hold your conscious throughout the read and compel you to heed its words. I was totally amused by the concept of the book. Dystopia is one such genre that has always fascinated me but I haven't read much of Indian-dystopia and this read was much of a rollercoaster ride for me. @varun.mathew has done a tremendous job by bringing this debut into existence and I just can't recommend it enough.
.
Visit my blog for an extensive review. Link in bio.
Thanks to @hachette_india for the #gifted copy.🌻
August 13, 2019
I pick this up at the airport, a bit skeptical, and TBH i was not expecting the book to be wildly gripping. However, the first page seemed promising so I ended up buying it.
Quite surprisingly, I got through the book relatively fast and enjoyed reading it. The romantic reminiscing of a flawed society and city (which I am always guilty of), and contrasted with a strangely egalitarian society; and the overarching feeling of a sense of loss was something that spoke to me personally. The parts that I did love more than others, were the descriptions of the Bombay of the old; and the "exhibits" that are littered throughout- never seen that before.
Little to fault with this book, though there was some initial trepidation re Indian dystopia- as I read through, I realised it was quite misplaced! I do hope books like this makes the average Indian read more, and realise fiction is often very telling of one's times. Here's hoping to more reading, and less binge watching!
Quite surprisingly, I got through the book relatively fast and enjoyed reading it. The romantic reminiscing of a flawed society and city (which I am always guilty of), and contrasted with a strangely egalitarian society; and the overarching feeling of a sense of loss was something that spoke to me personally. The parts that I did love more than others, were the descriptions of the Bombay of the old; and the "exhibits" that are littered throughout- never seen that before.
Little to fault with this book, though there was some initial trepidation re Indian dystopia- as I read through, I realised it was quite misplaced! I do hope books like this makes the average Indian read more, and realise fiction is often very telling of one's times. Here's hoping to more reading, and less binge watching!
January 31, 2020
Surprisingly unique book based on politics and a very good story line.
September 2, 2019
Amongst one of the best dystopian novels out there, has uncanny political resemblance to many characters and events in India/Mumbai; combined with some beautiful writing that won't let you put it down for any moment.
September 10, 2019
gripping and excellent writing- interesting indian voice
December 11, 2020
extremely relevant under the current circumstances. A utopian society with a dystopian core
Displaying 1 - 28 of 29 reviews