Readerswrite
29,945 READER EMAILS+COMMENTS REPLIED TO SINCE 2003!
When posting:
1. Please use your real name. 2. Comments that contain racism, bigotry, communalism, or similarly offensive statements will be deleted.
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, query or complaint related to an AKB Book ordered by you, please post it at the How To Pay Page.
A very limited number of copies of the AKB Books edition will be available again soon - and the Penguin mass market edition will be out in a few months! 
The long-awaited final volume in the Ramayana Series will be issued in a very Limited Edition by AKB Books, while the mass market paperback will be published early next year by Penguin Books! 
July 31st, 2010 at 12:24 am
Hi John,
Nice to hear from you again and thanks for asking. No orders are being taken at present (and haven’t been for the past several months) but by end-August it should be possible to order both internationally and locally. I’m working on it. Check back in a week or two for updates on the same.
And thanks for your continued interest in my work and for the support!
Ashok
July 31st, 2010 at 12:17 am
Dear Ashok,
Just wondering, can those of us living outside of India order your books yet. Or are international orders still down.
-John
July 30th, 2010 at 10:23 am
Hi again Denise,
Well, in a sense the world is tilted – but not in your direction, it’s tilted this way, towards Asia. That’s so all that Hollywood product, books and other stuff that the western world produces in such excess can slide down here to the growing economies! We actually get most new blockbuster books and movies at the same time as you do now, and much cheaper too. (The reason people like me end up special-ordering is because we want a certain author or movie, not just this week’s latest blockbuster.) Sadly, it doesn’t tilt back the other way.
I do hope you find someone to send you my books and find a way to keep reading them. Either way, it was nice hearing from you and do keep in touch.
Ashok
July 30th, 2010 at 4:44 am
Dear Mr. Banker,
Thank you for your reply. Sometimes I do wish the world were flat, or at least tilted down in my direction. The problem with shipping fees is the same in my country. I guess for now, I’ll have to ask around and see if anyone here is going home to India any time soon (or ask my Indian friends when they’re coming to visit).
I hope I find a way to get your books. LOL.
Denise
July 29th, 2010 at 6:29 pm
Hi Jenaisha,
I would love to have a reading for my readers. Unfortunately, each time I’ve tried to organize one, it hasn’t worked out for various reasons. Publishers don’t pay for the venues, bookstores are only interested in selling books and ensuring maximum media coverage, stars and celebrity guests, etc. A quiet reading where genuine readers can interface with the author without the media barrage is something no publisher or bookstore is interested in, more’s the pity.
Best
Ashok
July 29th, 2010 at 6:28 pm
Have u ever considered having a book reading of your books?
It will be a nice way for us to be able to interact with you and discuss the books?
July 29th, 2010 at 1:55 pm
Rahul,
You said it. There are no good historical novels set in that period. And almost none available – good or otherwise. For that matter, even historical fiction set in other Indian time periods, like a couple of new series that are currently being published, are awful, in my opinion. They’re like firangi versions of what India was back then – a kind of retro-Raj hangover.
But then again, that’s what has motivated me since childhood to someday write such books. I’m doing the best I can now!
Incidentally, the Dasarajna battle and that original Bharata settlement was in the same site as the Indus Valley Civilization – which followed shortly afterwards. And in a sense, my Ramayana Series (and the forthcoming Krishna Coriolis and Mba) also relate events in that ‘pre-historic’ period. Though of course they can’t claim to be ‘historical novels’ in the strict sense of the term, yet they have been praised and reviewed and included in several lists by various historical fiction buffs around the world.
Ashok
July 29th, 2010 at 12:36 pm
These are historical novels on an epic scale, with great sweeping battles, and narratives ranging across the land from kings to ordinary people, similar to my Ramayana Series but of course entirely realistic and based on actual historical events.
I read two historical novels recently, “A spoke in the wheel” by Amita Kanekar set in the Buddha/Ashoka time period and “Creation” by Gore Vidal set in about the same time.
Can you recommend some other books of the same genre (Indian history). I don’t think there are a lot of them around, are they? In particular, the period prior to Buddha is a dark age with very little historical knowledge (at least from what I could search on the net!).
E.g. We find a lot of information on the rulers and events in say Egypt in the 2000-600 BC period but does anybody know the same about India in as much detail? We dont even know about the people who lived in the Indus valley cities, we just have the ruins to look at and marvel at how their drainage system was better 4000 years ago as compared to many Indian towns today! But nothing about the life of the people who lived there.
July 28th, 2010 at 12:19 pm
Dear Denise,
Thank you for your kind words. I’m glad you enjoyed the first two books so much! I wish it was easier to come by the rest of the series (or even those two, for that matter) but unfortunately, my work is currently only available in India.
As for the language question, well LoL to that! My mother tongue is English and while I do speak and understand a few other Indian languages, I’m certainly not (yet) capable of writing in anything other than English. So yes, I write in English only, and my books are primarily available in English. I finally have a book coming up that is going to be translated into Indian languages, my first in 46 years and 20 books!
Most Indian online bookstores don’t ship books outside the country. I’m attempting to set up an arrangement (bookstore would be too big a term for it) whereby overseas readers like yourself could order copies of my books directly from this website and have them shipped to your location. But there’s nothing I can do to reduce the shipping cost, which, I agree, is prohibitive – for instance, to order a single paperback priced at Rs 400 (a bit less than $10) it would cost around Rs 2500 (a bit over $55) to send to the USA. That’s over five times the cost of the book. It’s the same when we order books from Amazon USA of course, but it’s still pretty damn steep. If the world is so flat, we should be able to just slide it across, shouldn’t we? Lol!
Anyway, thanks again for writing in and for your kind words. Do keep in touch with this website and perhaps someday soon my books will be available in the USA too.
Ashok
July 28th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
Dear Mr. Banker,
It’s been four years since I read Prince of Ayodhya and Siege of Mithila, but I can still feel the chills running up and down my spine from your imagery in the books. I have yet to find copies of your other books that I can actually afford, but I’ll keep looking. I actually have to find another copy of Siege of Mithila as my friend borrowed mine three years ago and still hasn’t returned it. I wish the books available online weren’t so expensive from having been imported. I actually found your two books that I have in the Philippines. Sadly, I’m now in the US and everything’s harder to come by.
Thank you so much for this gift of storytelling! I think I should have paid more attention in class when we discussed the Ramayana and the Mahabharata (and a bunch of other things about India that I thought I’d never be interested in). Haha! Maybe I would have enjoyed the original stories too.
I read in your response to a previous question (from Ken Ellis) that your books are mainly available in India. Are they available in English over there?
Thank you,
Denise
July 26th, 2010 at 3:28 pm
Dear Sudha Tilak,
Thank you for your enquiries.
Your email was sent to an address used for reader feedback, and was later forwarded to this page.
I rarely give interviews and in this case, I would respectfully decline to answer the queries.
Thank you for your interest in my work and all the best with your article.
Best wishes
Ashok
July 26th, 2010 at 2:15 pm
Dear Ashok Banker,
I am a freelance journalist commissioned to write an article for the weekly newsmagazine,OPEN.
My feature will focus on changing epic traditions, especially with regard to the Ramayana. What is the secret of the enduring interest in the Indian epic?
From politics to cinema to a slew of books, the Ramayana is revisited in the 21st century- be it through comics, fantasy fiction, commercial cinema and animation.
One of the affirming facts about the continued interest in the epic is the huge success of your volumes of the Ramayana. It is said to speak to the youth in a language that is not of the turgid archaic language of another millenia.
How relevent is it to revisit the Ramayana? Unlike the Mahabharata it deals with a smaller group of characters;its morals both on warfare, peoples and women has been revisited and analysed. What can we hope to take away with us from reivisiting the Ramayana?
What do you see the younger generation, who probably didn’t hear of the story in its oral tradition of their grandparent’s knees but through cartoon and comic books, teleserials, make of it? For a generation like us festivals like Ramnavmi, Dussera were also about marking celebrations over evil. However for these teletubbies it seems like more of a commercial way of celebrations. Would you agree?
Also, how did you first learn of the story of the Ramayana?
It would be wonderful to receive your responses and also details on what you are working on as far as the epic series goes.
Much regards,
Sudha
July 26th, 2010 at 12:38 pm
Hi Tarun,
Long time! Nice to hear from you again.
Yes, I think you and other Ramayana Series readers will enjoy SLAYER OF KAMSA and of course the other books as well.
Ashok
July 26th, 2010 at 11:17 am
Hi Ashok,
I am glad to see that your Mba is back on track. I am also looking forward to the Krishna Coriolis. I have some good reading to look forward to in the next few months!
Just cant wait!!!
Hope all is well…
Tarun
July 25th, 2010 at 5:47 pm
Hi Rahul,
Lol. That’s already been underway for the past ten years now! TEN KINGS is the first book in the series which continues through the tales of Mahavira and Buddha, Ashoka, Chandragupta, Vikramaditya and so on. These are historical novels on an epic scale, with great sweeping battles, and narratives ranging across the land from kings to ordinary people, similar to my Ramayana Series but of course entirely realistic and based on actual historical events. I don’t know if you’re aware of my Epic India Library and my Lifetime Writing Plan? It’s described at length in the Introduction to Vengeance of Ravana and one of the Four Wheels is about this particular series of historical fiction. The idea is to retell the entire story of India – mythology, itihasa, history, and contemporary stories – in one massive library of almost one hundred volumes. Been working on it – particularly the historical fiction – for all my life now!
Ashok
July 25th, 2010 at 3:35 pm
Hi Ashok,
Why don’t you write books on the relatively lesser covered periods of Indian history like the Mauryas and the Guptas? Of course, I mean books in the style of the Ramayana and not like our dull history books!!
There are many books on the Mughal and British era but few on the more ancient periods. In particular, I find the story of Chandragupta Maurya very interesting with many twists and turns in his journey to become the emperor, particularly the political battle of wits between Chanakya and Rakshasa.
I recently read the English translation of Ponniyin Selvan which is set in the Chola period that was relatively unfamiliar to me as a non-Tamilian. It feels good when you discover new facets of the Indian culture and that too through in an interesting manner as a good epic novel.
Cheers,
Rahul
July 22nd, 2010 at 9:40 am
Sohil,
Yes, the offer still stands – you will definitely be getting a complimentary copy of Sons of Sita. You may still fill in the Request Form if you wish – but that’s more so that I can have your correct address and details on record. You won’t need to pay for the book!
Ashok
July 22nd, 2010 at 2:19 am
Hi Ashok,
Wanted to clarify something..
when I won the auction for limited edition VoR, you mailed back saying that due to the dealys etc. I would be also be getting a copy of SoS..
I was wondering if that offer still stands true??
if yes, when would i get to read SoS?
If not, pleaaase let me know how can i order a copy of SoS and how soon will I get it??
Thanx
Sohil
July 17th, 2010 at 7:43 pm
Hi Anu,
Thanks for writing in and for your kind words. This website has been up since 2005 and it’s been my only active site since 2007, so I can see you’ve been out of touch with my work for a while! Welcome back.
If you mean the signed limited editions on my own AKB Books imprint, yes, they’re currently sold out. But you’ll several of my books in all Indian bookstores – the six paperbacks of the Ramayana Series, the three hardcover omnibus editions of the same, Gods of War, and Vertigo.
Vengeance of Ravana (VoR) was available in Feb-March and sold out. More copies will be available by end-August.
You’re welcome to fill in a Request Form for signed copies if you’re interested. The first book of Krishna, SLAYER OF KAMSA, will be in bookstores in September.
I don’t have any book on Kali coming out. I guess you mean The Kali Quartet? That’s not mythology at all, it’s contemporary fiction. I guess you could call it a literary thriller. A BLOOD RED SAREE is the first book in that quartet.
Remember to fill in the Request Form if you want Signed Copies! Thanks again for writing in and for your support of my work.
Best
Ashok
July 17th, 2010 at 7:24 pm
Hi
I have been a major fan of your books ever since I started with the first book in your ramayana series… I was also following your earlier website, but missed this one… just stumbled onto it and am thrilled that there are so many more new ones for me to read…. I can see that none of your books are currently available, which is no surprise, considering that there are few books which make mythology come alive! your request page lists books from the Sons of Sita onwards.. the seventh book is not on the list.. Would it be possible for you to let me know when i will be able to lay hands on it? Of course, I am looking forward to your other books to, especially the ones on krishna and kali..
July 16th, 2010 at 8:34 am
Hi again Ken,
Penguin Books India don’t actually ship books anywhere – they have a tie up with an online bookstore that does. My advice would be to try online bookstores that ship to your location – there are some, I’ve been told by other readers, but prefer not to recommend any specific one as I don’t have any personal experience with them. Either way, all the best getting copies!
Lol. They’re ALL dog pics. The sky and landscape ones are clicked on my iPhone while walking Willow (the red hound you see in the pics), just everyday Mumbai locations on our walking routes. The beagle (has landed) is named Lassie and is Willow’s best friend; she visits often. I love dogs, cats and animals in general. Sometimes, I even like the two-legged ones. Sometimes.
Ashok
July 16th, 2010 at 8:24 am
Wow, thanks for the amazingly fast response. That was what I feared when the only place that I could find the books was Penguin Books India. I suppose that I’ll have to write them again to see if they ship internationally. Either way though, it’s not a problem because I am certain that I will eventually find a friend who is travelling to India.
On a side note, I love your pictures. The landscapes are incredible, but my favorites are the dogs. More a comment on my personality than anything else because no matter what you had, the animal pictures would be my favorites.
July 16th, 2010 at 7:43 am
Hi Ken,
In reverse order:
Thank you for taking the time to write in and for the kind words!
My work is currently unavailable outside India. Any copies you may have found in Canadian bookstores would be imports of the former British or US editions, both now out of print and the rights reverted to me – both imprints were bought out, editors moved on, and corporate takeovers rendered the series ‘orphaned’ despite strong sales and continuing demand. They are not likely to be available again in your country.
From my website I’m only able to offer a few signed copies of some of my works – usually the most recent. At present, I am unable to offer to ship signed copies of the first six books in the Ramayana Series outside India. It’s possible this situation may change in the near future but I can’t say when. All I can suggest is that you keep in touch with this, my only official online presence, and as and when I’m able to offer them for sale, you’ll know about it.
Thanks again for your interest in and support of my work.
Ashok
July 16th, 2010 at 7:32 am
Hello Mr. Banker. My name is I have been searching exhaustively for the conclusion to your Ramayana series (Books four and up). Unfortunately, these books seem not to be available where I live (in Canada). Is it possible to acquire them directly from your site? If not, do you know where I might be able to purchase them here? I looked at your “request a book” and “how to pay” pages, and I could not find them there.
In any case, what I have read so far has been excellent. Thank you for the story so far.
July 11th, 2010 at 12:23 pm
Hi Aman,
I do understand your not understanding those parts of VoR. But it’s something I can’t really do much about. It’s like western readers who didn’t understand Prince of Ayodhya – and western publishers and editors too. These things have more to do with understanding and accepting the underlying concepts, tropes, devices used, rather than my specific use of them.
Yes, I’m familiar with the play by Partap Sharma, and yes, I have written, performed in and directed plays myself on an amateur and semi-professional level. In fact, my first major work was a retelling and additional section to The Bible, scripted as a play, produced, directed, scored, etc, by me in the last year of school. It was called ARE THEY GUILTY? I also performed in a semi-pro production of THE KING AND I, in which I played the eponymous King (head shaved bald, singing and all). And yes, I’ve written several plays, docu dramas, feature film scripts and television scripts – over 460 produced to date. I’m also known as the scriptwriter of India’s first television series in English, by the way. It was titled A MOUTHFUL OF SKY and I also cast most of the major roles myself.
The film option to the Ramayana series has indeed expired without the “person’ in question exercising the option and purchasing the rights. But due to the many problems created by the “person” during the past three years and the sheer bad reputation he brought to the project it’s now unlikely – I would say, impossible – that a film version of my Ramayana Series would ever be made. I think that ship has sailed now.
Best
Ashok