Book Review
Apophis: Into the Folds of Darkness by Raj Anand
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| Apophis by Raj Anand |
Savinder Raj Anand is
a writer, architect, professor, father, and a long-distance runner with a
wanderlust to explore and write stories that traverse across diverse cultures.
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| Raj Anand |
Apophis by Raj Anand is a Science-Fiction book that brings several disciplines together including, science, philosophy, history, astrophysics, and shamanism to fight off the apocalyptic danger posed by this asteroid with 2.45 kilometers diameter and weight more than 360,000 metric tons, moving straight towards the earth. The book is highly educative in terms of facts and information regarding great philosophers and historical events from across various civilizations; very conveniently embedded in the plot.
The most interesting aspect of the book is the central conflict that is between two organizations – the Crypteia, and the lineage of Lazarok (who are committed to protecting the Kleos) and the Kleos – five sentient beings (9-year-old reincarnations of ancient philosophers). The first half of the book depicts how Lazarok shields the Kleos ever since their birth and brings them together on their ninth birthday. The second half portrays how the Kleos, collectively set out on a journey to the mission they are destined to accomplish. They prepare themselves for the intergalactic war which is imminent.
The very conception and the elements the author has involved in the book make it stand out from other books in the Sci-Fi genre. The book combines a lot of contemporary and historical facts to form a large network that justifies scores of unusual events of the past, which makes it seem realistic. There are some vivid, action-packed scenes and other mind-blowing theories to give you an unforgettable experience. The author has incorporated representation from different countries, their culture, myths, legends, and philosophies.
The book starts and
ends with the same situation, that is the threat is closing in on the earth and
there is a single ray of hope – the Kleos with their shamanic powers and great
wisdom. The end is fairly satisfactory as the Kleos achieve what seems to be a
fully-powered weapon. The timeline is not linear owing to the fact that
international travel and time-travel are the major aspects involved, although
it is easily comprehensible and the structure complements the mysterious storyline.
Set in December 2021, there is a lot going on in past, present, and future with
regard to ancient history & philosophy, the international & Crypteia
conflict, and the intergalactic conflict respectively. Some characters like
Lazarok, Claire, and Neerja are outstanding. The setting and location the
author has chosen are justly compatible with the mysterious and warlike
storyline.
What I disliked about
Apophis?
The thing I most
disliked about the book was that it is charged with plenty of nouns and
numbers, which is not the exact problem but they were used for unnecessary
detailing. The aggregation of Greek, Chinese, Japanese, and Egyptian philosophy
and setting didn’t help much in this matter. The nouns were difficult to read,
let alone the pronunciation.
The writing style
seems to follow the ‘tell, don’t show’ tactic which suspended the illustrious
and creative aspect of the novel. For instance, the author has mentioned names
of highways and buildings, adding extra emphasis on nouns and overlooking the
actual details of the surroundings. The book seems to focus only on two
parties, ignoring the common people. It would have been really fulfilling to
read the perspective of a commoner.
I adored the first
half of the book where each reincarnation (9-year-old sentient beings) of great
philosophers is introduced separately with their lineage, special abilities,
etc. But when they come together, I couldn’t differentiate between them. As I
mentioned earlier, the book is very informative; largely this knowledge is
shared via dialogues overstressing the characters. While I enjoyed the plot and
conception, I couldn’t keep up with the character arcs and what I said about
surroundings.
Conclusion
Well, this doesn’t
change the fact that Apophis has a lot to offer from science to philosophy to
action to humor. This book won’t let you down on that front. Pick this up if
you want to know how these nine-year-olds fight against the Crypteia and
aliens.
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