A fantastical lens

BIOPECULIARIS A LAUDABLE ATTEMPT TO CARVE A SPACE FOR SPECULATIVE CLIMATE FICTION WITHIN INDIAN LITERATURE. WHILE THE STORIES MAY NOT ALWAYS HIT THEIR MARK, THE ANTHOLOGY IS AN IMPORTANT STEP IN A GENRE THAT DESERVES MORE ATTENTION

- NANDITA BANERJI

Biopeculiar: Stories of an Uncertain World
Gigi Ganguly
Publisher: Westland Books
MRP:₹399 | Pages: 199

SPECULATIVE FICTION serves as a vital lens in the era of climate change, offering imaginative insights into the anthropogenic facors shaping our world. Curiously, this genre has not yet found significant visibility within Indian literature, making Gigi Ganguly's anthology Biopeculiar: Stories of an Uncertain World a notable and commendable contribution. While international speculative fiction enjoys a wide readership in India, books by Indian authors within this genre remain surprisingly rare. This scarcity makes Biopeculiar a welcome addition to the literary landscape, even if it does not fully meet its potential. The collection is infused with a deep reverence for the natural world, a profound awareness of the crises it faces today, and a rare, unflinching empathy—even as Ganguly places the responsibility squarely on humanity's shoulders.

Ganguly's anthology melds biology with diverse genres, creating a world that feels simultaneously familiar and alien. Her storytelling brims with heart and ingenuity, bringing forth intriguing premises: cloud herders tending to the skies in a speculative twist on cloud seeding, a silkworm bite that transforms a young man, a singer with the mythical power of raag malhar who struggles with her burdensome gift, and a sentient moss that evolves into a nightmarish entity. These ideas showcase Ganguly’s imaginative range and her ability to draw on various genres and writing styles.