Book Review--------Just Beyond by Anjan Ray

Just Beyond: Short Stories
by Anjan Ray. Stellar OmBooks International. Pages 251. Rs 195

When a friend of mine gave me this to read and comment upon, I was kind of thrilled for two reasons. One for knowing the writer and secondly,  for the kind of stories spinned here. That's because I  have had somewhat similar experiences. I have never analysed my weird experiences. They happen just like that without any warning. Shall I say those are warning enough for what's going to happen? How does one explain the unexplainable?

As Anjan Ray puts it, most of the stories are very much real, supernatural, and unnatural or "Just Beyond…" After I started it, I couldn't put it down. It held my attention till the end. I could relate to some, identify with a few and did not understand the rest. I can believe it when Anjan mentions that these are based on true episodes. There are certain things which do happen are beyond the realms of understanding but are true nevertheless.

This is a collection of short stories; each one is as interesting as the other. The stories manage to hold our attention till the end. There are unexpected twists in the end. A few of the stories are based on Ray's own experiences, e.g., Bird in Flight and Influential Confluence, where we see natural justice done. In another story, Coffee-Maker, a machine refuses to function on his owner's behest and revolts as it apparently does not like its owner's attitude.  A few stories which give us a spooky feeling along with some that send a shiver down our spine.

There are other stories which touch our hearts and seem so real and happening. A must read for those who believe in the supernatural. It can both be a light reading or otherwise. It depends on how one perceives it. I found it very interesting. I felt there is that X factor in his stories. A page turning, nail biting kind of book.

Anjan Ray spins it very well. His narration is too good. You can almost see, feel and smell the places he has described. Be it India or any other place, one feels as if he/she is there where it unfolds. All in all a good read.

So folks, what's stopping you? Who know "Just Beyond..." may be you are there, just beyond...?

(c)gautami.tripathy