The Simoqin Prophecies

, #1

512 pages

English language

Published May 15, 2005 by Penguin Global.

ISBN:
978-0-14-303043-0
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(3 reviews)

The Simoqin Prophecies, first published in 2003 in India, was critically acclaimed and an instant bestseller. It marked the beginning of Indian fantasy writing in English. Written with consummate ease and brimming with wit and allusion, it is at once classic SFF and subtle spoof, featuring scantily clad centauresses, flying carpets, pink trolls, and homicidal rabbits. Monty Python meets the Ramayana, Alice in Wonderland meets The Lord of the Rings, and Robin Hood meets The Arabian Nights in this novel--a breathtaking ride through a world peopled by different races and cultures across mythology and history. The Prophecies foretell the reawakening of the terrible rakshas, Danh-Gem, and the arrival of a hero to face him. But heroes do not appear magically out of nowhere; they have to be found and trained. And sometimes the makers of prophecies don't know everything they need to know.... As the day of Danh-Gem's rising draws …

2 editions

reviewed The Simoqin Prophecies by Samit Basu (Gameworld, #1)

Why did I only hear of this gem 20 years after it was published.?

Self-aware and breaking the fourth wall, The Simoqin Prophecies makes fun of classic tropes from myth, fairy tale and fantasy. But it is not trying to be funny, it is deadly serious about its own high fantasy world.

While it is not perfect in all it's choices, as an experienced fantasy reader I enjoyed the references to classic tropes and their deconstruction. Satire can be better when it's not trying too hard to make you laugh.

I'm glad I found it through a Story Graph reading challenge prompt. Sometimes you find a book that was written for you 20 years after it was published and wonder where it's been all these years.

I love reading challenges with prompts that specify a type of book and let you choose the book you'll read for that prompt. You can also use these prompts to find novels other members think fit a prompt …

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