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The Diary of a Space Traveller & Other Stories
The Professor is an eccentric genius and scientist who disappear without a trace after the shot off into space in a rocket from his backyard in Giridih, accompanied by his loyal servant Prahlad. what has become of them. Has he decide to stay on Mars, his original destination? Or has he found his way to some other planet? Our diaries unearthed from his abandoned laboratory revael even stanger and more exciting adventures in this amzingly original story.
251 pages, Paperback
First published January 28, 2004
46 people are currently reading
540 people want to read
About the author
Satyajit Ray
675 books1,521 followersSatyajit Ray (Bengali: সত্যজিৎ রায়) was an Indian filmmaker and author of Bengali fiction and regarded as one of the greatest auteurs of world cinema. Ray was born in the city of Calcutta into a Bengali family prominent in the world of arts and literature. Starting his career as a commercial artist, Ray was drawn into independent filmmaking after meeting French filmmaker Jean Renoir and watching Vittorio De Sica's Italian neorealist 1948 film, Bicycle Thieves.
Ray directed 36 films, including feature films, documentaries and shorts. He was also a fiction writer, publisher, illustrator, calligrapher, graphic designer and film critic. He authored several short stories and novels, primarily aimed at children and adolescents.
Ray's first film, Pather Panchali (1955), won eleven international prizes, including Best Human Documentary at the Cannes Film Festival. This film, Aparajito (1956) and Apur Sansar (1959) form The Apu Trilogy. Ray did the scripting, casting, scoring, and editing, and designed his own credit titles and publicity material. Ray received many major awards in his career, including 32 Indian National Film Awards, a number of awards at international film festivals and award ceremonies, and an Academy Award in 1992. The Government of India honoured him with the Bharat Ratna in 1992.
Early Life and Background:
Ray's grandfather, Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury was a writer, illustrator, philosopher, publisher, amateur astronomer and a leader of the Brahmo Samaj, a religious and social movement in nineteenth century Bengal. Sukumar Ray, Upendrakishore's son and father of Satyajit, was a pioneering Bengali author and poet of nonsense rhyme and children's literature, an illustrator and a critic. Ray was born to Sukumar and Suprabha Ray in Calcutta.
Ray completed his B.A. (Hons.) in Economics at Presidency College of the University of Calcutta, though his interest was always in Fine Arts. In 1940, he went to study in Santiniketan where Ray came to appreciate Oriental Art. In 1949, Ray married Bijoya Das and the couple had a son, Sandip ray, who is now a famous film director.
Literary Works:
Ray created two of the most famous fictional characters ever in Bengali children's literature—Feluda, a sleuth in Holmesian tradition, and Professor Shonku, a genius scientist. Ray also wrote many short stories mostly centered on Macabre, Thriller and Paranormal which were published as collections of 12 stories. Ray wrote an autobiography about his childhood years, Jakhan Choto Chilam (1982). He also wrote essays on film, published as the collections: Our Films, Their Films (1976), Bishoy Chalachchitra (1976), and Ekei Bole Shooting (1979).
Awards, Honors and Recognitions:
Ray received many awards, including 32 National Film Awards by the Government of India. At the Moscow Film Festival in 1979, he was awarded for the contribution to cinema. At the Berlin Film Festival, he was one of only three to win the Silver Bear for Best Director more than once and holds the record for the most Golden Bear nominations, with seven. At the Venice Film Festival, he won a Golden Lion for Aparajito(1956), and awarded the Golden Lion Honorary Award in 1982. In 1992 he was posthumously awarded the Akira Kurosawa Award for Lifetime Achievement in Directing at the San Francisco International Film Festival.
Ray directed 36 films, including feature films, documentaries and shorts. He was also a fiction writer, publisher, illustrator, calligrapher, graphic designer and film critic. He authored several short stories and novels, primarily aimed at children and adolescents.
Ray's first film, Pather Panchali (1955), won eleven international prizes, including Best Human Documentary at the Cannes Film Festival. This film, Aparajito (1956) and Apur Sansar (1959) form The Apu Trilogy. Ray did the scripting, casting, scoring, and editing, and designed his own credit titles and publicity material. Ray received many major awards in his career, including 32 Indian National Film Awards, a number of awards at international film festivals and award ceremonies, and an Academy Award in 1992. The Government of India honoured him with the Bharat Ratna in 1992.
Early Life and Background:
Ray's grandfather, Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury was a writer, illustrator, philosopher, publisher, amateur astronomer and a leader of the Brahmo Samaj, a religious and social movement in nineteenth century Bengal. Sukumar Ray, Upendrakishore's son and father of Satyajit, was a pioneering Bengali author and poet of nonsense rhyme and children's literature, an illustrator and a critic. Ray was born to Sukumar and Suprabha Ray in Calcutta.
Ray completed his B.A. (Hons.) in Economics at Presidency College of the University of Calcutta, though his interest was always in Fine Arts. In 1940, he went to study in Santiniketan where Ray came to appreciate Oriental Art. In 1949, Ray married Bijoya Das and the couple had a son, Sandip ray, who is now a famous film director.
Literary Works:
Ray created two of the most famous fictional characters ever in Bengali children's literature—Feluda, a sleuth in Holmesian tradition, and Professor Shonku, a genius scientist. Ray also wrote many short stories mostly centered on Macabre, Thriller and Paranormal which were published as collections of 12 stories. Ray wrote an autobiography about his childhood years, Jakhan Choto Chilam (1982). He also wrote essays on film, published as the collections: Our Films, Their Films (1976), Bishoy Chalachchitra (1976), and Ekei Bole Shooting (1979).
Awards, Honors and Recognitions:
Ray received many awards, including 32 National Film Awards by the Government of India. At the Moscow Film Festival in 1979, he was awarded for the contribution to cinema. At the Berlin Film Festival, he was one of only three to win the Silver Bear for Best Director more than once and holds the record for the most Golden Bear nominations, with seven. At the Venice Film Festival, he won a Golden Lion for Aparajito(1956), and awarded the Golden Lion Honorary Award in 1982. In 1992 he was posthumously awarded the Akira Kurosawa Award for Lifetime Achievement in Directing at the San Francisco International Film Festival.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
November 20, 2021
It is a delightful collection of 12 Sonkhu stories by Satyajit Ray-The Diary of a space traveller, Professor Sonkhu and the Egyptian terror, Professor Sonkhu and the bones, Professor Sonkhu and the Macaw, Professor Sonkhu and the curious statuettes, Professor Sonkhu and the mysterious sphere, Professor Sonkhu and Chee-ching, Professor Sonkhu and the Spook, Professor Sonkhu and the Little Boy, Professor Sonkhu and Robu, Professor Sonkhu and the Box from Baghdad and Corvus. These are the first 12 Sonkhu stories penned by Ray. Beautifully translated in English by Gopa Majumdar, the last story Corvus has been translated by Ray itself. Each story is set in a different location- Mars, Cairo, Nilgiri, Giridih, Sweden, Norway, Hongkong, China, Jhajha, Germany, Baghdad and Santiago.
November 30, 2017
I have wanted to read a Satyajit Ray book for a long time. I wanted to start with the Feluda stories. But someone mentioned the Professor Shonku stories, and because I have never heard of Professor Shonku before, I thought I will try his stories first. There are three volumes of Professor Shonku stories available in English translation, and 'The Diary of a Space Traveller' is the first one.
'The Diary of a Space Traveller' has twelve stories. The first one is the title story. In this story, the narrator's neighbour comes and gives a diary to him. It looks like some kind of meteorite has crashed nearby and this diary was found in that site. This diary is written by Professor Shonku, in which he writes about his attempts to build a rocket to reach Mars and what happens during that trip. It looks like the Professor hasn't come back to Earth but his diary somehow has. The narrator then finds more diaries in Professor Shonku's house which detail his past adventures. These comprise the rest of the stories in the book.
I loved every story in 'The Diary of a Space Traveller'. The title story is science fiction and most of it happens in outer space and other planets. There are other stories in the book about dinosaur bones, ghosts, Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, hypnotism, the mysteries of the human brain, robots, intelligent birds, miniature planets and miniature living beings. In these very different stories, Satyajit Ray explores many fascinating mysteries which have haunted the human imagination. The stories feel like classical science fiction / fantasy - the kind of stories which came out in the 19th century and the dawn of the 20th century, that Jules Verne, H.G.Wells and Arthur Conan Doyle used to write, the kind of stories which came out before science fiction writers moved their stories to other planets and galaxies with alien civilizations, which sounded the death knell of classical science fiction. Satyajit Ray's stories hark back to that innocent era of classical science fiction and I felt nostalgic while reading them. Many of the stories are open ended with no clear cut resolution in the end. It adds to the beauty of the story. The prose flows smoothly, there is enough information to make the reader understand the story, there is the right amount of humour. The translation by Gopa Majumdar is beautiful - I can only imagine how much more beautiful the original Bengali version must be. I loved the main characters - Professor Shonku, our eccentric scientist, his assistant Prahlad, his cat Newton, his neighbour Avinash Babu, who is always taking potshots at the professor's research. Then there are characters who come only in specific stories, who are all fascinating. The book has an introduction by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, in which she describes how Bengali children loved Professor Shonku's adventures when they first came out. The book also has an afterword by the translator which makes for interesting reading.
I loved 'The Diary of a Space Traveller and other stories'. The stories in it were fascinating, gripping and entertaining. I loved the classical feel of the stories. I can't wait to read more Professor Shonku adventures.
I have to say one last thing. Bengali friends, I am so jealous of you. I am so jealous that you got to read Satyajit Ray's stories when you were young. I am so jealous that you got to read them in Bengali. I am happy I discovered them finally, but I wish I had read them when I was young.
Have you read this book or other Professor Shonku adventures? What do you think about them?
'The Diary of a Space Traveller' has twelve stories. The first one is the title story. In this story, the narrator's neighbour comes and gives a diary to him. It looks like some kind of meteorite has crashed nearby and this diary was found in that site. This diary is written by Professor Shonku, in which he writes about his attempts to build a rocket to reach Mars and what happens during that trip. It looks like the Professor hasn't come back to Earth but his diary somehow has. The narrator then finds more diaries in Professor Shonku's house which detail his past adventures. These comprise the rest of the stories in the book.
I loved every story in 'The Diary of a Space Traveller'. The title story is science fiction and most of it happens in outer space and other planets. There are other stories in the book about dinosaur bones, ghosts, Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, hypnotism, the mysteries of the human brain, robots, intelligent birds, miniature planets and miniature living beings. In these very different stories, Satyajit Ray explores many fascinating mysteries which have haunted the human imagination. The stories feel like classical science fiction / fantasy - the kind of stories which came out in the 19th century and the dawn of the 20th century, that Jules Verne, H.G.Wells and Arthur Conan Doyle used to write, the kind of stories which came out before science fiction writers moved their stories to other planets and galaxies with alien civilizations, which sounded the death knell of classical science fiction. Satyajit Ray's stories hark back to that innocent era of classical science fiction and I felt nostalgic while reading them. Many of the stories are open ended with no clear cut resolution in the end. It adds to the beauty of the story. The prose flows smoothly, there is enough information to make the reader understand the story, there is the right amount of humour. The translation by Gopa Majumdar is beautiful - I can only imagine how much more beautiful the original Bengali version must be. I loved the main characters - Professor Shonku, our eccentric scientist, his assistant Prahlad, his cat Newton, his neighbour Avinash Babu, who is always taking potshots at the professor's research. Then there are characters who come only in specific stories, who are all fascinating. The book has an introduction by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, in which she describes how Bengali children loved Professor Shonku's adventures when they first came out. The book also has an afterword by the translator which makes for interesting reading.
I loved 'The Diary of a Space Traveller and other stories'. The stories in it were fascinating, gripping and entertaining. I loved the classical feel of the stories. I can't wait to read more Professor Shonku adventures.
I have to say one last thing. Bengali friends, I am so jealous of you. I am so jealous that you got to read Satyajit Ray's stories when you were young. I am so jealous that you got to read them in Bengali. I am happy I discovered them finally, but I wish I had read them when I was young.
Have you read this book or other Professor Shonku adventures? What do you think about them?
April 1, 2019
Professor Shonku is such an amazing character, can't imagine how much I would have liked it if I read it in my childhood. Pure beauty and master story telling ♥
Do make your child or younger ones read this or read it to them ;)
Do make your child or younger ones read this or read it to them ;)
October 28, 2014
Which is your most memorable stories from childhood?
Can’t think of many, when someone asks you about like that. But there are times when you come across a book or a story that brings all those childhood stories rushing into your mind. That is what I felt when I read this book. Satyajit Ray and his children stories are like a fresh breeze in all the current adult fiction. Unlike the Bengali children who looked forward for the next edition of these stories in Bengali magazine ‘Sandesh’, I have grown up on my own set of Hindi stories and comic books. They were different and so were the protagonists but the way this book made me feel is just like my own childhood reads.
I remember how I used to save money to buy comic books which were generally Rs 10 for a big edition and Rs 5 or 7 for a small edition. Sometimes my parents gave me monthly pocket money of Rs 10 and all I did with it was buying comics. Sometimes I used to rent a book for Rs 2 when I could not manage the money to buy it. The shop keeper was generally a grouchy guy who used to make money from little kids, charging extra if we delayed the return of the book. My mom used to buy me comic books sometimes to bribe me on her shopping tours. I used to finish reading them there itself while following her from shop to shop or on our rickshaw ride back home. There was this cousin of mine who had this huge collection of comic books – must be 100s with every nook and corner of their house brimming with books. I used to love visiting their home and start reading his books starting morning till evening till mom dragged me back home. I read all sorts of books - Chacha Chowdhury, Pinky, Biloo, Nandan, Chandan, Amar Chitra Katha, Tinkle, Lotpot, Champak, Chandan, Nandan, Chanda mama, Indian super heroes like Nagraj, Dhruva, and then there were DD serials like Stone Boy, Vikram Baital, Gayab Aaya, Potli Baba ki, ohh how I loved all of them. In the world of Marvel & DC comics we Indian kids had our own world of Diamond and Raj comics – gulping down even the small strips of cartoons from daily newspapers.
So Professor Shonkhu with his own set of stories made me reminisce my childhood and I relished each of his amazing adventures, travels, inventions and discoveries. His experiments were a mix of science, nature and art making it simple yet enjoyable for all young and old. The pleasure of visiting your childhood stories is like to returning to childhood ice cream flavours of orange chooski, frozen milk scoops served on leaves, or kulfi sticks dipped in cream before the global flavours of Gelatos, Sorbet and Chocolate fudges came visiting us.
Can’t think of many, when someone asks you about like that. But there are times when you come across a book or a story that brings all those childhood stories rushing into your mind. That is what I felt when I read this book. Satyajit Ray and his children stories are like a fresh breeze in all the current adult fiction. Unlike the Bengali children who looked forward for the next edition of these stories in Bengali magazine ‘Sandesh’, I have grown up on my own set of Hindi stories and comic books. They were different and so were the protagonists but the way this book made me feel is just like my own childhood reads.
I remember how I used to save money to buy comic books which were generally Rs 10 for a big edition and Rs 5 or 7 for a small edition. Sometimes my parents gave me monthly pocket money of Rs 10 and all I did with it was buying comics. Sometimes I used to rent a book for Rs 2 when I could not manage the money to buy it. The shop keeper was generally a grouchy guy who used to make money from little kids, charging extra if we delayed the return of the book. My mom used to buy me comic books sometimes to bribe me on her shopping tours. I used to finish reading them there itself while following her from shop to shop or on our rickshaw ride back home. There was this cousin of mine who had this huge collection of comic books – must be 100s with every nook and corner of their house brimming with books. I used to love visiting their home and start reading his books starting morning till evening till mom dragged me back home. I read all sorts of books - Chacha Chowdhury, Pinky, Biloo, Nandan, Chandan, Amar Chitra Katha, Tinkle, Lotpot, Champak, Chandan, Nandan, Chanda mama, Indian super heroes like Nagraj, Dhruva, and then there were DD serials like Stone Boy, Vikram Baital, Gayab Aaya, Potli Baba ki, ohh how I loved all of them. In the world of Marvel & DC comics we Indian kids had our own world of Diamond and Raj comics – gulping down even the small strips of cartoons from daily newspapers.
So Professor Shonkhu with his own set of stories made me reminisce my childhood and I relished each of his amazing adventures, travels, inventions and discoveries. His experiments were a mix of science, nature and art making it simple yet enjoyable for all young and old. The pleasure of visiting your childhood stories is like to returning to childhood ice cream flavours of orange chooski, frozen milk scoops served on leaves, or kulfi sticks dipped in cream before the global flavours of Gelatos, Sorbet and Chocolate fudges came visiting us.
January 1, 2024
Outstanding! My most favourite short story collection/scifi read of 2023. Now my eyes are blurred and can’t see properly after reading the book nonstop since morning 🤓
Too good I am telling you! Each story has a terrifying plot but yes, our main character Shonku our most celebrated fictional Indian scientist has the solution to any king of delulu any mad greedy scientist around the world might create.
How I wish we have some of his inventions by now! It would make our lives so much better!
Too good I am telling you! Each story has a terrifying plot but yes, our main character Shonku our most celebrated fictional Indian scientist has the solution to any king of delulu any mad greedy scientist around the world might create.
How I wish we have some of his inventions by now! It would make our lives so much better!
December 11, 2025
When I was reading this, I felt like I was transported to my childhood again, where I used to read stories which would take me to dream land of fairy tales. Although this isn't a fairy tale, it is a wonderful mix of fiction and science. Professor Shonku is a person who believes in all things having a scientific basis, be it ghosts or magic. He is also a person who genuinely gets excited whenever something unusual happens. His "diary entry records" show his personality throughout. My favourite stories have to be "Professor Shonku and Robu", "Professor Shonku and Little Boy", "Professor Shonku and the Box from Baghdad" and "Corvus". I think I will return to these stories often whenever I wish to find the childlike joy which I miss in my adult life. I'm so glad I picked this book when I did.
December 11, 2017
Professor Shonku and his amazing adventures! This book is basically collection of science fiction short stories originally written in Bengali by master story teller Satyajit ray for young readers! nevertheless less ,I love anything authored by him.I enjoyed all stories so much! The simplicity and briallnce with which they were written,showed nothing but utter genius of author.
November 30, 2014
Satyajit intends to capture and fire-up the imaginations of the young kids through his stories.
There is a unique simplicity in his stories that make them not only enjoyable and suitable for kids but also equally easy and delightful to consume by the older ones too.
There is a unique simplicity in his stories that make them not only enjoyable and suitable for kids but also equally easy and delightful to consume by the older ones too.
March 28, 2013
i did not like it when i first saw it but as we say NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY IT'S COVER it became one of the 3 best books i have ever read
September 5, 2017
I wish I'd found this book when I was a kid. Took me to the long-gone days of my childhood when you could be mesmerized by simple marvels of creative fiction.
March 19, 2025
These are a delightful collection of short stories meant more for a younger audience but still a treat to read. Can’t believe these went under my radar growing up, I’m sure I would have loved them. Eager to read more of Satyajit Ray now - maybe Feluda up next
July 2, 2015
Nice collection of stories, reminds me somewhat of Diamond comics.
A fun read, though mainly for kids, enjoyed it a lot. Some of the innovations mentioned by Satyajit Ray, are now commonplace, but to think that they were thought about back in 1960s, when there was no sci-fi genre for the mainstream, and man had yet to reach space, is truly amazing.
A fun read, though mainly for kids, enjoyed it a lot. Some of the innovations mentioned by Satyajit Ray, are now commonplace, but to think that they were thought about back in 1960s, when there was no sci-fi genre for the mainstream, and man had yet to reach space, is truly amazing.
May 29, 2024
Satyajit Ray continues to fascinate me by transporting me back to my childhood memories of stories published in children's weeklies and magazines that were available back then. At the time, some science fiction novels and stories wowed young minds. The young readers of the children's magazine Sandesh (founded by Ray's grandfather, Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury, in 1913 and revived by Satyajit Ray in 1961) were fortunate because they got to know and read Ray's writings. He has created a plethora of intriguing characters and their adventures. One such character is Professor Trilokeshwar Shonku, or simply Professor Shonku.
The Diary of a Space Traveller & Other Stories
is a collection of Professor Shonku's early adventures.
This collection contains twelve stories.
This collection contains twelve stories.
1. The Diary of a Space TravellerAll these stories are written as diary entries by Professor Shonku. Shonku's adventures take us not only to Giridih, his native place but also around the world and even into outer space! These stories are set on planets/cities/countries such as Mars, Giridih, Nilgiris, Germany, Egypt, Norway, Baghdad, and Santiago. The first Shonku story, The Diary of a Space Traveller, was written in 1961. Ray stated that the creation of Professor Shonku was loosely based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's eccentric character, Professor Challenger. Many characters make recurring appearances, including Shonku's manservant Prahlad, his pet cat Newton, and his neighbor and friend Avinash Babu. In The Diary of a Space Traveler, we can also see his robot, Bidhushekar. I had previously read Professor Shonku and the Box from Baghdad and Corvus from 3 Rays. Professor Shonku and the Little Boy has a version of a film (draft) script with a different narrative than that of Professor Shonku and Khoka - Draft Script in 3 Rays. I have a few more books with Professor Shonku in them. Let me dive into those as well!
2. Professor Shonku and the Bones
3. Professor Shonku and the Macaw
4. Professor Shonku and the Mysterious Sphere
5. Professor Shonku and Chee-Ching
6. Professor Shonku and the Little Boy
7. Professor Shonku and the Spook
8. Professor Shonku and Robu
9. Professor Shonku and the Egyptian Terror
10. Professor Shonku and the Curious Statuettes
11. Professor Shonku and the Box from Baghdad
12. Corvus
March 27, 2024
If your middle grader is interested in sci-fi and space thrillers, then introduce them to the desi genius, Professor Trilokeshwar Shonku. Ray showcases his brilliant imagination as the readers get a dekko into the wild side of the unorthodox professor by dint of his diary entries.
The diary is discovered in the most mysterious circumstances, too. Bang in the center of a crater formed by a falling meteor. Professor has apparently disappeared after a space trip gone wrong. But his adventures are alive in the diary pages. An irate sadhu, a vengeful mummy, a mad scientist, primitive, ferocious creatures, and whatnot. Professor’s not-so-clever servant Prahlad and his pet cat newton shuffle in and out of the stories keeping them connected.
Ray’s crisp language with fascinating stories stimulates the imagination. The hilarious undertones keep the narrative light for the intended age group.
Desi sci-fi at its best. Readers who have grown up reading the Bengali version would obviously relish it more. Though I haven’t read the Bengali version, it didn’t keep me from being hooked.
Ray is at his innovative best.
Recommended for the new generation science- fiction enthusiasts. The desi twist of the stories and the genius of this homegrown scientist would keep them asking for more.
The mad capers of professor Shonku would definitely delight you.
The diary is discovered in the most mysterious circumstances, too. Bang in the center of a crater formed by a falling meteor. Professor has apparently disappeared after a space trip gone wrong. But his adventures are alive in the diary pages. An irate sadhu, a vengeful mummy, a mad scientist, primitive, ferocious creatures, and whatnot. Professor’s not-so-clever servant Prahlad and his pet cat newton shuffle in and out of the stories keeping them connected.
Ray’s crisp language with fascinating stories stimulates the imagination. The hilarious undertones keep the narrative light for the intended age group.
Desi sci-fi at its best. Readers who have grown up reading the Bengali version would obviously relish it more. Though I haven’t read the Bengali version, it didn’t keep me from being hooked.
Ray is at his innovative best.
Recommended for the new generation science- fiction enthusiasts. The desi twist of the stories and the genius of this homegrown scientist would keep them asking for more.
The mad capers of professor Shonku would definitely delight you.
November 16, 2023
As these stories were written for a younger audience, it is only fair that I review it from the perspective of the intended reader. If I had gotten hold of this collection when I was younger, say 10 or 12 years old, I would have adored it. All the stories in this collection are fantastic adventurous tales of Professor Shonku. The themes of these adventures vary from space travel to hypnotism, from an ancient Egyptian projector to a sage that rejuvenates the dead. Although there are supernatural elements at play in these stories, they are quite captivating.
However, some of Professor Shonku’s inventions are hilarious. An ingredient (whiskers of a lobster) for his magical medical concoction (Miracurol) is reminiscent of the modus operandi of the dwarves in Norse mythology.
It is a fun read, if you remind yourself of the intended reader.
However, some of Professor Shonku’s inventions are hilarious. An ingredient (whiskers of a lobster) for his magical medical concoction (Miracurol) is reminiscent of the modus operandi of the dwarves in Norse mythology.
It is a fun read, if you remind yourself of the intended reader.
August 31, 2017
Oh, what a lovely book. I didn't know Satyajit Ray had a series of stories about an eccentric professor, I had only heard of Feluda. This is Indianised science fiction. The writing is gentle and funny and takes you back to the kind of stories you absolutely loved as a child. Also, my brother is a big fan of Rick and Morty, and this professor reminded me quite a lot of Rick. Suspend your imagination for a little while, and dive into this book.
May 21, 2017
The Diary of a Space Traveller is a collection of sci-fi stories, stories of an eccentric genius and scientist professor Shonku...........
The author Satyajit Ray, one of the great filmmaker in the world, had a brilliant imagination skill and this book is one proof of that........
The author Satyajit Ray, one of the great filmmaker in the world, had a brilliant imagination skill and this book is one proof of that........
May 22, 2023
4stars only because I'm too old for these story written specifically for children.
I couldn't see past a few character and story plot holes and most importantly I have listened to some of it on the radio in bangla, which is a better experience then reading.
I couldn't see past a few character and story plot holes and most importantly I have listened to some of it on the radio in bangla, which is a better experience then reading.
August 5, 2017
12 Stories dealing the protagonist Prof. Shonku takes readers to the sci-fi world of Ray with his poetical prose. Translation seems to be good as I see the story took me in to the story easily.
June 15, 2018
amazing
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2018
Great read.
One of the earlier works from the author. Way ahead of time, written in 60's, tons of information in there.
One of the earlier works from the author. Way ahead of time, written in 60's, tons of information in there.
January 9, 2022
How to read this
July 27, 2022
I'm speechless on reading this book. Science fiction supremacy!
October 9, 2022
I wish I had read this when I was a child!
April 6, 2023
It doesn't explain why the diary turned to ant feed, but overall, an amazing book about an amazing guy and his amazing cat.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2023
nostalgic
mysterious
entertaining.
mysterious
entertaining.
August 12, 2023
I love how the characters around professor shonku grows on you. Such a delight read.
Read
December 6, 2023Stories which can take you to beyond this world !
February 3, 2025
i already did read this in bengali.so, nothing new .the translation was fine
November 7, 2015
I am only just now discovering for myself the wonderful literary creations of Satyajit Ray -- young adult literature that is pure enjoyment for all ages. I finished The Diary of a Space Traveller, and am on weekends working through the large collection of detective stories, Feluda. The first of the stories of Professor Shonku opens with the discovery of his diary in a meteor crater, and this is one of the first lines:
Who can resist this? There is no tiger, but an irascible and brilliant old man who ceaselessly invents the most wonderful things. The first entry in Professor Shonku's diary sets the stage, when he is startled by an intruder -- a weird looking man -- but finds it is simply his own reflection that has startled him, as his faithful servant has removed an old calendar from the mirror. So he shoots his servant with a snuff gun, ensuring he will be sneezing for next 33 hours. I am not generally in favour of shooting servants ever, but I am indeed in favour of the existence of a snuff gun. I also enjoyed his desire to invent various pills for making annoying people uncomfortable enough to leave him alone.
His is not precise science you understand, more that marvelous old-fashioned alchemical science that relied on bunson burners and vials, glasses full of strangely coloured liquids bubbling over flames and jars full of rare and magical things (like the whiskers of lobsters). And this is not a world empty of what appears to be magic, but one where science acknowledges there is much that it does not yet know.
It is a world of intelligent cats and crows and nosy neighbours and rockets and all things nice.
It has titles like 'Professor Shonku and the Egyptian Terror', and another reason to love the professor:
These particularly reminded me of Verne or Conan Doyle -- Professor Shonku is described by Satyajit Ray as a mixture of Doyle's Professor Challenger and his own father Sukomar's creation Hesoram Hushiar. They are told resolutely from a Bengali perspective. A scientist with many friends in European and American circles, who travels widely and is as widely respected, but still within a post-colonial reality where he occupies a certain space. He is told by a sinister Egyptian:
Despite this space, he shares some shortcomings that usually I only associate with Americans and Europeans --
Oh dear...he says something very similar about the Chinese. But still. His love of ancient and holy objects and knowing the past is actually combined with a strong respect and ethics in dealing with such things found rarely if ever in fiction by white authors. I loved 'Professor Shonku and the Box from Baghdad', where they come across both mystery and treasure and this happens:
Spoiler alert -- Goldstein does in fact try to take the marvelous Box, and he is struck down with a fitting punishment.
Finally. Everyone gives a cheer.
This little book ends most delightfully with more information about both Satyajit Ray as author (and, of course, famous director) and Professor Shonku. There are two fact files and these brilliant lists as little games that younger readers can play guessing their meanings. The first list is of some of Shonku's inventions:
Pretty awesome. And then there are all these wonderful compounds:
Immensely enjoyable, the only thing I am saddened by is the lack of presence his hometown of Giridi bears in the stories, or any of the cities he visits. But you can't have everything.
Oh God, was he going to tell me another story about a tiger? Tarak Babu had this most annoying habit of dragging a tiger into whatever anecdote he happened to relate. (2)
Who can resist this? There is no tiger, but an irascible and brilliant old man who ceaselessly invents the most wonderful things. The first entry in Professor Shonku's diary sets the stage, when he is startled by an intruder -- a weird looking man -- but finds it is simply his own reflection that has startled him, as his faithful servant has removed an old calendar from the mirror. So he shoots his servant with a snuff gun, ensuring he will be sneezing for next 33 hours. I am not generally in favour of shooting servants ever, but I am indeed in favour of the existence of a snuff gun. I also enjoyed his desire to invent various pills for making annoying people uncomfortable enough to leave him alone.
His is not precise science you understand, more that marvelous old-fashioned alchemical science that relied on bunson burners and vials, glasses full of strangely coloured liquids bubbling over flames and jars full of rare and magical things (like the whiskers of lobsters). And this is not a world empty of what appears to be magic, but one where science acknowledges there is much that it does not yet know.
It is a world of intelligent cats and crows and nosy neighbours and rockets and all things nice.
It has titles like 'Professor Shonku and the Egyptian Terror', and another reason to love the professor:
I decided to visit this strange tomb, if I could find the time and opportunity. I love cats. I had to leave my own Newton at home. I feel homesick whenever I think of him. (161)
These particularly reminded me of Verne or Conan Doyle -- Professor Shonku is described by Satyajit Ray as a mixture of Doyle's Professor Challenger and his own father Sukomar's creation Hesoram Hushiar. They are told resolutely from a Bengali perspective. A scientist with many friends in European and American circles, who travels widely and is as widely respected, but still within a post-colonial reality where he occupies a certain space. He is told by a sinister Egyptian:
'You appear to be an Indian. So why are you getting mixed up with these white brutes? Why are you so concerned about the ancient and holy objects of our past?'
Despite this space, he shares some shortcomings that usually I only associate with Americans and Europeans --
But that was really not so amazing, was it? Bengalis might be a most diverse race--two unrelated men rarely look similar. But the Egyptians are different. On Egyptian frequently looks like another. (174)
Oh dear...he says something very similar about the Chinese. But still. His love of ancient and holy objects and knowing the past is actually combined with a strong respect and ethics in dealing with such things found rarely if ever in fiction by white authors. I loved 'Professor Shonku and the Box from Baghdad', where they come across both mystery and treasure and this happens:
Al-Hubbbal smiled a little dryly. 'I don't mean you, Professor Shonku, but--' he paused and glanced at Goldstein, '--many of our valuable possessions have made their way to museums in the West. So even if you didn't want anything for your own use, I fear you might tell some museum or other about things you've seen.'
Goldstein looked embarrassed... (211)
Spoiler alert -- Goldstein does in fact try to take the marvelous Box, and he is struck down with a fitting punishment.
Finally. Everyone gives a cheer.
This little book ends most delightfully with more information about both Satyajit Ray as author (and, of course, famous director) and Professor Shonku. There are two fact files and these brilliant lists as little games that younger readers can play guessing their meanings. The first list is of some of Shonku's inventions:
Camerapid
Luminimax
Annihilin
Remembrain
Cerebrilliant
Pretty awesome. And then there are all these wonderful compounds:
Paradoxite powder
Bicornite Acid
Paranoium Potentate
Ferro-satanic Acid
Tantrum Boropaxinate
Immensely enjoyable, the only thing I am saddened by is the lack of presence his hometown of Giridi bears in the stories, or any of the cities he visits. But you can't have everything.
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