Satyajit Ray is best known for his immensely popular mysteries and adventures of Professor Shonku. He is one of the most skilful short story writers of his generation.

This book is a collection of forty-nine short stories. It is translated from Bengali by the author himself and Gopa Majumdar.

Each story tells something about human nature. Some stories have that pinch of humor , but each of them has a surprise element in it. Some are spooky, some have that light paranormal touch. Few are about science fiction too.

Ray’s stories are largely supernatural and mysterious with uniform distribution throughout the book. A scent of originality and connection emanates from each of them. He brings the characters to life through his writings. In most of the stories, the author brings, India of the bygone era alive to the reader. The author’s masterful talent for creating long-lasting visuals is perceptively evident throughout.

Below, are some stories from this charming collection to give a glimpse of what lies inside…

‘Bonku Babu’s Friend’ – What happens when an alien kidnaps Bonku Babu for a few minutes? This story is a rendezvous with an alien (Ang from planet Craneus), and the resultant a life-altering consequences.

‘Fritz’ – Daunted by a childhood experience, thirty seven year old Jayanti goes back to Bundi to recover a part of his childhood…a 12 inch Swiss doll he’d play with, named Fritz. But what presents itself, instead, is a haunting experience. Do the ghosts of our past really leave us?

‘The Pterodactyl’s Egg’ – where Badan Babu receives a delightful treasure of information through stories told by a stranger who claims to have travelled back and forth through time.

This book can be recommended for reading or gifting to any kid or even an elderly person, as it can be enjoyed by readers of all age. It explains the author’s talent beyond words . Certainly Recommended!

©️Sheetal Pradhan Deshpande