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The Readerswrite Archives are too massive to keep online. Only the most recent comments are posted here. As always, I reply to ALL comments personally as soon as I possibly can. Do remember to come back and read my response – and feel free to drop by and keep in touch anyday, anytime. If you have a comment or query pertaining to a specific post, it’s usually best to leave it at the bottom of that post itself.
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SLAYER OF KAMSA: Book 1 of The Krishna Coriolis will be out next month (October). Written in a pacier style than my Ramayana Series, this short impactful book details the rise to power of the monstrous Kamsa and his brutal campaign to thwart the birth of the prophesied 8th Child. 
August 26th, 2010 at 8:12 pm
I am sure I will!!
Thanks Ashok!!
August 26th, 2010 at 7:27 pm
Tarun,
Go slow! I should clarify here that unlike say, Gods of War or Vortal:Shockwave or even Vengeance of Ravana, which liberally play with science fictional ideas and tropes, the Krishna Coriolis is definitely NOT SF. Everything within the series is perceived and explained through the filter of the age, which makes it more a straightforward mythic epic, similar to my Ramayana Series in some ways. The Krishna Coriolis part really comes into play in the second half of the series (from Book 5 onwards) where it’s used to provide a scientific explanation for the avatara/amsa rebirth process and even then, it’s seen more in terms of Brahman shakti and its workings, especially in the otherworldly passages – in Vaikuntha, Swargaloka, Naraka, etc.
To put it another way, it’s all explained in the context of a mythological epic rather than a Science Fiction thriller. Except for a few concepts tossed in for you bright brains – Coriolis, Vortal, etc – the rest is narrated at a level that even the most ordinary reader would be able to follow at a basic mythological level.
But I’m sure you will find it very cool and will get an extra layer of zing from it all!
Best
Ashok
August 26th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
Oooh, cryptic and interesting!!
The Coriolis effect speaks of an apparent deflection in the perceived path of a moving object when observed from a rotating frame of reference.
So, if the Brahman governs…. What path will the objects (characters in the story?) in the Brahman take and what deflections may be perceived?
Wow!!
Lots of food for thought!!
I am imagining all sorts of interpretations!!
Now I really can’t wait!!
August 26th, 2010 at 2:32 pm
Hi Tarun,
The meaning of the word ‘Coriolis’ in the title is intended to be a secret that will be revealed later in the series. All I can say is that, if you know what the Coriolis effect means, you have some idea already, except that in the case of the Krishna Coriolis, physics itself is governed by a larger force…Need I tell you what that ‘larger force’ happens to be?
Ashok
August 26th, 2010 at 12:29 pm
Hi Ashok,
I am sure that there have been discussions in the past around the title of your Krishna series, but unfortunately I missed them.
Coriolis seems to have most of its (web based) definitions grounded in physics.
I would love to know in what context you have used the word in the title of the series.
I hope all else is well….
Tarun
August 17th, 2010 at 11:42 pm
Viveak,
You said it, yaar. It’s the other way around – stories like LoTR, Star Wars, Robert Jordan’s WoT, etc are based on or inspired by epics like our Ramayana and Mahabharata. There is ample evidence to suggest that the first SF/Fantasy/Horror/Spec Fic stories originated in this part of the world – in terms of written literature at least – whereas to think that a millennia-old epic was inspired by a movie that came out a few years ago is not just ridiculous, it’s an insult to Indian culture.
The sad thing is that these people are often Indians who are more familiar with crap like that than with their own culture, which is why they immediately assume that any “fantasy” oriented book must be inspired by their favourite western fantasy series – most of them don’t have the sense to even look at the publication dates. I would have needed a time machine to be inspired by the LoTR films or Harry Potter and besides, there was nothing in those films or books that was not covered in our own mythology.
The Mahabharata rightly says: “Everything is here, what is not here is not anywhere else.” (Words to that effect.)
Best
Ashok
August 17th, 2010 at 10:32 pm
@ previous threads…better just leave them and move on…i am no longer surprised at the depth humans have a tendency to fall at for their benefit…
so Ramayan was apparently based on LOTR…where do people get this info from…i mean LOTR was brilliant movie…have a unique record of watching the three parts in three different countries , have played all their games..but the book was not as impressive…to many unwanted details…Ramayan was different…humanisation of something we believe to be god like…was way out from left field and refreshing…cant get the comparison even after thinking about it for a long time.
August 15th, 2010 at 8:14 pm
Viveak,
Lol to that. The only people who get into arguments are people who set out wanting an argument! I rarely get into an argument or fight – I just try to state my point of view politely but clearly. In the case you mentioned, for the past four years I’ve been reading my name and the Ramayana Series bandied about in the press, on that person’s website, program listings in India and the USA – and never a word of contact from that person. Imagine the audacity of the person to stage shows even in Mumbai, give interviews claiming it’s “inspired” by my Ramayana Series, to actually incorporate lines from the books (recorded by artists ranging from Naseeruddin Shah to Milind Soman) in the performance, and to say that her entire staging could not have taken place without my work – but never make a single attempt to get in touch with me, ask my permission, invite me, or just plain say “Hello”. It’s not even worth getting angry over, it just puzzles me to the point where I start laughing at the idiocy of such people.
Sadly, there are a lot of them in the film and entertainment business. You’d be surprised how many “inspirations” have been taken from my Ramayana Series.
E.g. Many readers bandy about this comparison between my Ramayana Series and the LoTR films. But did you know that the first three books in my series were already written and in circulation in the publishing world before the first LoTR film was released and while the second and third were still in production and post-production? It’s a matter of record, since contracts were signed and manuscript was formally submitted well over a year earlier through reputed New York agents and we even got an enquiry or two for film rights. And there’s also the fact that a number of people working on the LoTR films have expressed their enjoyment of my Ramayana Series as well! Yes, amazing, isn’t it?
Now, obviously I’m not saying that the films were in any way inspired by my work. Definitely NOT! They were brilliant adaptations of Tolkien based on fantastic scripts by Peter Jackson and his wife Fran Walsh. But obviously, since I’d written half my series and set the style and content so firmly before the LoTR films were done filming let alone released, neither was it possible for me to be inspired by them. You see my point? I love those films but I saw them after my series was done and in fact, can point to people working on the films who were reading my books at the time but try explaining these simple facts and dates to idiots who believe that we Indians are only capable of aping the West and nothing else! I guess they’re speaking for themselves.
Ashok
August 15th, 2010 at 7:52 pm
@ the previous thread concerning script proposals and padmashree awaards…had a blast reading your reply…would hate to get into an argument with u…
but what situation…audacity of a person to steal or being politically correct get influenced and then come here showboating…
bloody brilliant…..more reasons to celebrate our Independence
Viveak
August 15th, 2010 at 1:57 pm
Hi Neeraj,
Nice to hear from you again! The “new” cover for VoR is the Penguin mass market paperback which will be in bookstores in a few months. Don’t worry, the text is the same as the edition you bought.
Yes, have made some progress on Mba’s publication – fingers crossed that it all works out. This Request Form is a more concrete way for readers to support it. No “booking” or advance payment required, but filling in the form gives me a clear idea of how many readers are ready to actually order the book. Will update on that soon. Meanwhile, SLAYER OF KAMSA comes out in a few weeks, and SONS OF SITA is already on its way to publication at last!
Stay in touch and thanks for filling in the form!
Ashok
August 15th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
Hey Ashok,
It had been a long time, I’ve read anything… Last one was VoR and was waiting for SoS and MBA series…
Some time back, I happened to visit your website and found that there were some problems publishing MBA and was sad about it, and had voted to purchase the complete set before actual publishing. Your books have developed a great interest in mythology for me and I am really thankful to you for that.
However, I logged in back today on your website and was very happy to see the progress on your books… I have registered for the four books.
I had one doubt, as I had registered for VoR and SoS earlier and paid for them, and I did receive VoR at that time and I saw new frontpage for the book. Is there any difference in the content of the book, i mean is there something extra that i should be looking out for in the new version? Also, I didnt see that listed in the 4 books. Let me know… also, I have ticked on SoS again over here…let me know if thats fine…
Thanks a ton…
Neeraj Singhi
August 14th, 2010 at 11:30 am
Hey Vikram,
Yes, of course I remember you – nice to hear from you again! No, the omnibus isn’t available yet and won’t come out until a year or two after both paperbacks are published by Penguin. So you’ll have to wait a while, sorry!
Ashok
August 14th, 2010 at 5:53 am
Hi Ashok,
You may or may not recall I ordered all the autographed/dedicated omnibus versions of the books a year back which you shipped to Gurgaon to my brother-in-law as I live in the States. I bought the paperback of VoR to read, but have yet to get my hands on SoS. I would really like an omnibus of SoS and VoR with your aut/dedication Can I buy it as yet?
August 13th, 2010 at 10:29 am
Dear Ms Shobana,
Kindly refer to my response to your previous comment. Thank you.
Best wishes,
Ashok
August 13th, 2010 at 10:27 am
hello
ERR …its a proposal to write a script mR bANKER
SHOBANA
p s
i will be in mumbai on the 15th of August, wil it be possible to meet
with you on that date ?
August 12th, 2010 at 4:13 pm
Dear Archana,
Thank you for your kind words and effusive praise! I’m very pleased you enjoyed my Ramayana Series so much. I hope you find the Krishna series just as enjoyable – the first book SLAYER OF KAMSA comes out in a few weeks in India. In fact, the Krishna series is itself a sub-section of the main Mba itself, as you may be aware. So in a sense, my Mba begins next month with this brief introductory book! Check it out if you wish and write back to let me know how you liked it.
Ashok
August 12th, 2010 at 3:24 pm
Dear Mr Banker,
I just finished reading all six books of your Ramayana and am totally zapped.
Your writing has left me gasping for air. It’s given me so much fun these past few weeks that I can never thank you enough. What a fantastic experience! Your series is a wonderful fast paced read, highly imaginative, using powerful visual imagery yet maintaining the legendary mythical quality of all great fables and storytelling – it is so cinematically written that I can just see everything happening as I read it – not just see, but smell hear and touch too !!!
And incredibly, it answers so many of my questions regarding why the characters behave the way they do – what drives them, what is truly dharma etc. All in all, i think it is really fantastic. and it is evident you had a ball and really enjoyed writing it.
Thank you for giving us this great gift of an epic! I am really looking forward to your Mahabharata now. I can’t wait! I know it will be simply amazing! If you could work such magic with the Ramayana, I can’t imagine what you will do with the greatest epic of all!
August 12th, 2010 at 1:30 pm
Dear Shobana,
Thank you for your email which was automatically forwarded and posted to this blog. Thank you also for the kind introduction.
Are you the same danseuse Shobana who has been staging a series of performances titled Maya Ravan in the USA and India that is somehow “inspired by” my Ramayana Series? If so, it’s quite ironic that you’re contacting me now for the first time after so many years and performances, having used my name and work but never so much as offered me even an invitation pass to any one of the shows.
Due to that, I’m somewhat apprehensive about discussing any professional project with you. I’m sure you can appreciate that an author is usually the first person you contact with regard to any adaptation – however remote or indirect – not the last. It’s not even a question of royalties or copyright, merely a matter of professional courtesy. I notice that despite mentioning your long list of achievements you have not even mentioned that you’ve read my work, despite several dozen media interviews where you have mentioned how much it inspired your rendition of Maya Ravan.
I find that extremely odd.
Since I only write books and only books which I myself conceive, not even commissioned works proposed by others, and don’t do collaborations of any kind, I don’t think there’s any possibility of us working together on a book.
But you’re most welcome to detail your proposal here if you wish and we could continue discussing further on this page. I trust you will understand why I prefer to keep this discussion public rather than private, in the interests of transparency.
Best wishes
Ashok
August 12th, 2010 at 1:22 pm
Dear Sharanya,
Thank you for your email which was automatically forwarded and posted to this Readerswrite page – it is the only way to get in touch with me.
Your article sounds interesting. However, I am unable to answer your questions at this time. Perhaps some other time, on some other article of a similarly literary nature. All the best with the article.
Best wishes
Ashok
August 12th, 2010 at 12:28 pm
Dear mr banker
let me introduce myself ,
shobana chandrakumar , actress and clasical dncer , 200 feature films
, padmasri awardee … blah blah
to cut a long story short, tried to reach you through your blog ? for
a while now
I would like to meet with you regarding a project … what is the
procedure pl ? or speak with you on the phone ..
thanks for reading over
shobana
August 12th, 2010 at 12:27 pm
Dear Sir,
My name is Sharanya and I am writing to you from DNA After Hrs Bangalore. I am working on a story, trying to figure out the popularity of crime/detective novels in India.
It is said, that India publishes the largest number of detective novels across all languages. As an author and even a reader, I’d like to know your thoughts on the same.
My questions:
What makes detective novels so popular in India? Even Indian writers are coming back into the limelight with Indian crime thrillers.
Do you think we’re making space for Indian detective novels all over again. Even if it’s not of the best quality, do you think we are on our way to take the world head on when it comes to the genre?
Looking forward to hearing from you
Sharanya CR
August 11th, 2010 at 11:01 am
I hope to have them in my hands a day or two before you!
Ashok
August 11th, 2010 at 10:35 am
Dear Ashok,
The covers of Slayer of Kamsa and VOR are great. Hope to have them in my hands soon.
Shailendra
August 4th, 2010 at 2:19 pm
Hi Shailendra,
Your name is definitely on the list for SoS – which is expected to go out in first week September now. Have no worries!
Best
Ashok
August 4th, 2010 at 12:58 pm
Hi Ashok,
I hope Sons of Sita should be coming soon. I had entered my details on the How to pay page after making payment but am not sure if it was registered at your end as the browser acted funny at that time and I didn’t enter the details again as I thought that double entry may not be desirable. So could you please confirm whether I am on the mailing list for Sons of Sita? Also waiting for Mba and Krishna Coriolis.
Shailendra