Storyteller Abhaidev, who is known amongst his readers for writing stories that are not only entertaining but also very different from the general lots, has once again come up with another profound yet believable story in his next novel titled, The Gods Are Not Dead.
Shaurya, the protagonist of the book, is a simple orphan working in an IT company whose life changes completely once he finds out he is special. A staunch atheist, who once hated and abused God, becomes a true believer, at last. What would you do if you suddenly get superpowers? Would you go berserk and avenge the wrongs done to you? Would you become a crime-fighting vigilante, as it is in the comic books, saving one person at a time? Or would you go for something far greater than any of these two usual options?
Shaurya, not understanding how to manage his abilities or effectively utilizing them to support mankind, he meanders randomly. He meets Megha, a puzzling yet insightful lady, he finally finds his true purpose and a vision to achieve his goals. What follows next is a colossal struggle of two people trying to prove the myth of Sisyphus wrong. Together they plan to change the world, by complementing each other’s strengths and abilities. While Megha, just like Chanakya, is the brains behind everything, Shaurya is the face, like Chandragupta. One directs and the other performs on the stage. Their vision is mammoth and their path precipitous, but they are willing to give their all no matter what the cost. Will they achieve their grand dreams or will it just remain a fanciful wish? Maybe they are just fools, like everyone else in the world. Or maybe not. Only time will tell. But one thing is sure. God is not dead. He will never be!
The book lives up to its description and the hype. Not only is it by far the best superhero book we have so far read, but it is also extremely believable. Kafka had said: ‘A book must be an axe for the frozen sea’. ‘The Gods Are Not Dead’ by Abhaidev lives to up to the given yardstick. It is deeply philosophical and spiritual and pushes the reader to the edge all the time. Whether you are someone who is simply looking for a different but entertaining book or want something to tickle your soul and challenge your thinking, The Gods Are Not Dead serves the purpose quite effectively. The book is a mishmash of various genres such as speculative fiction, science fiction, philosophy, spirituality, metaphysical and visionary fiction, etc., and is therefore bound to be liked by readers.
When we asked Abhaidev how he came up with this novel idea and why he wrote such a story, he impressed us with his fine answer.
“I always wondered what if a good person gets a superpower one day. Would he become a Superman or a Spider-man? Or would he think way beyond this childish mindset of these popular comics of fighting evil in the literal sense? It was then I realized that these superheroes are fanciful imagination. This world can only have the likes of Shaurya. Evil is a mindset. To defeat it you have to change people’s thinking, not throw punches. We can have only intellectual warriors in this world. The war is in our heads. This tussle between Evil and good. Thinking along these lines the idea of ‘The Gods Are Not Dead’ was born.”
Abhaidev’s previous novel, The Influencer: Speed Must Have a Limit, a speculative thriller, is still winning the hearts of the readers even a year after its release. We asked the author what made him switch genres to which he responded by saying that he loathes getting stuck in a specific mindset.
“I can never be another Dan Brown, James Patterson, or even Amish Tripathi. I know it is much wiser for an author to find his niche. It not only assures a devoted readership and a big fan base but is also good when it comes to monetary gains. But, you see, I do not wish to make writing my only job. I write only if a particular idea interests me, no matter what genre the story would fall under. As a result, you will always see me experimenting. The two projects I am currently working on are in stark contrast to each other. One is a science fiction crime story whereas the other is an absurdist philosophical novel. As I said, I write if the story appeals to me, no matter what the genre is. I am a juggler. Well, in a metaphorical sense.”
‘The Gods Are Not Dead’ is available as a Kindle ebook and one can download and read it for free if one has a Kindle Unlimited membership. Do give it a read. You will be pleasantly surprised.
