Laha Sniffs The Scent of Redemption
New Delhi (India), June 15: As a nation that has seen sluggish growth in the genre of science fiction, one might sit back and consider what it truly means to...
New Delhi (India), June 15: As a nation that has seen sluggish growth in the genre of science fiction, one might sit back and consider what it truly means to have a unique Indian science fiction. Of course, there would be local settings and indigenous representation, along with the usual elements of sci-fi, such as futuristic concepts and a riveting, action-packed storyline. However, there’s an important aspect missing in modern science fiction: societal forecasting. There are problems in the present, and if we follow this trajectory, the future might see these problems escalate. It is these issues that are discussed frankly through science fiction. For instance, as European nations grew belligerent after the Great Recession, everyone feared the kind of totalitarian doom they were being pushed towards, similar to the warnings in Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World” about authoritarianism and excessive state control. While contemporary sci-fi includes social elements, it often focuses on the problems of today rather than those of tomorrow.
Enter “The Scent of Redemption” by Shreyan Laha, an author who describes himself as self-taught in the genre. It is his fifth science fiction book and the first in the forthcoming “Redemption Series.” In “The Scent of Redemption,” Laha introduces us to Dr. Ronit Sarkar, a pediatrician convicted of intentional medical interference resulting in the death of a four-year-old. Ronit is sent to the planet Flarelix, place humans know little about, including its habitability. He is accompanied by Vidur, an AI-powered jailer who caters to the psychological needs of isolated prisoners.
