By Pulkit Gupta . Grade B+
“Two is company, and three’s a crowd” – they say, but this crowd of ‘Pulkit-Srivatsan-Tnahsin’ does come up with a creation that would surely make them proud. ‘The Prophecy of Trivine’ is a novel by three best friends from college – Pulkit Gupta, Srivatsan Sridharan and Tnahsin Garg, each excelling in their respective fields but collaborating to create a unique plot that leaves no stone unturned to fascinate the readers with a story line so brilliantly imaginative that one is forced to say – “Wow. How did it even crop up in their minds?”
The Prophecy Of Trivine
An emissary of an advanced alien race travels to the Earth to undertake responsibility of an experiment that has gone out of control. The outcome of this fateful experiment, which was conceived millions of years ago by her species, now rests in her hands. As she prepares to deliver her final judgment, she comes across three young men in a sacred forest who change her life forever. These three men- a scientist, a hacker and an artist, happen to take refuge in that forest, trying to escape from the oddities of their own unfair lives. Struggling with their dreams and demons, they begin to explore the dark and paranormal behavior of the forest by forging a companionship. From the rare flora and fauna breathing alive on the ground to the deadly wide expanse of the whimsy black sky, everything they find is yet another puzzle unsolved. Little did they know that four of them hold in their hands the future of mankind and much beyond imagination, they are connected through an ancient Prophecy that was long lost in the sands of time.
It’s rare to see a sci-fi novel in the current literary scenario in this country. True, we have some decent work, but you can always count the number on your fingers. Rarer, it is even, to see new authors exploring a genre that is so aloof from the ‘safe’ subjects revolving around romance, love, crime or thriller. The prologue introduces the readers to an alien race, Gucuteps, and their ranger, Cuehmoc, who visits the planet Earth to gift it ‘a pristine habitat, unmatched in the entire length and breadth of this universe’, or in other words – ‘life’. This is what heightens our curiosity, and the book evolves into a subject deep and invigorating. Life and its origin certainly has a new definition now, at least in the fictional realm, thanks to this book.
There are four major characters, and the events revolve around them all the time. Philip Mascarenhas calls himself an ethical hacker, who is chased by the police, and escapes by running into a forest which is mystical and strange. He meets Siv, a scientist crazy about his research, and Arty, a confident man who is devoted to art. Their initial confluence is full of resentment, but as they spend time together, they inculcate a mutual respect for each other, and their bond gradually grows, binding them in moments of adversity. Xona, the fourth protagonist, is another member of the alien race Gucuteps, who lands on earth to destroy it, and in her quest, meets Phil, Siv and Arty. The experiences they share guide the story forward, blending science with philosophy, and realism with magic.
One of the positives of the book is the way the authors have worked on detailing each and everything that finds a place among the pages. The scenes in the jungle are very well described, so vivid that the readers would feel they themselves are present in the thick of things. The pace is good at most part, and there are no visible hindrance that will stop you from reading the book in one go. The topic is alluring, and does play with your imaginations and fantasy. However, I felt that the book dragged a bit towards the end, which can be termed as the only flaw in the otherwise enchanting novel.
The story also comes with messages that make us aware of the world in which we reside, and the problems surrounding it. Mention of events such as earthquakes and tsunami and other disasters have been made in an altogether different perspective, an approach that makes you think hard as a reader as well as a human being. ‘The Prophecy of Trivine’ turns out to be a good read, something that really deserves to be picked and enjoyed.