The Inhumans and Other Stories - (Mit Press / Radium Age) by Bodhisattva Chattopadhyay (Paperback)

About the Book

"A collection of Bangla SF stories, including The Inhumans by Hemendrakumar Roy, Voyage to Venus by Jagadananda Ray, The Mystery of the Giant by Nanigopal Majumdar, and the Martian Purana by Manoranjan Bhattacharya"--

Book Synopsis

The first English translation of a cult science fiction favorite by Hemendra Kumar Roy, one of the giants of early Bangla literature, and other sf stories from the colonial period in India.

Kalpavigyan--science fiction written to excite Bengali speakers about science, as well as to persuade them to evolve beyond the limitations of religion, caste, and class--became popular in the early years of the twentieth century. Translated into English for the first time, in this collection you'll discover The Inhumans (1935), Hemendrakumar Roy's satirical novella about a lost race of Bengali supermen in Uganda. Also included are Jagadananda Ray's "Voyage to Venus" (1895), Nanigopal Majumdar's "The Mystery of the Giant" (1931), and Manoranjan Bhattacharya's "The Martian Purana" (1931).

Review Quotes

"The historical parallax provided by a book such as The Inhumans is . . . where the full potential of the [Radium Age] shines through. It is a very welcome addition to the series."
--Locus Magazine

"Makes for a great introduction to this moment in SF history."
--Reactor Magazine

"The range of styles represented are compelling, both in the stories that they tell and in the way the authors represented in these pages blend the futuristic with unexpected dramatic elements. . . . A welcome expansion of speculative fiction for anglophone readers."
--Words Without Borders

"Chattopadhyay's collection will add to [the Bengali science fiction] canon in English and is sure to appeal to fans of sci-fi and general readers alike."
--Kajal Magazine

"Chattopadhyay is an acknowledged authority. . . . [on] Bangala and science fiction stories from colonial India."
--The Bookseller

"Studying how sci-fi themes were treated by Bengalis is a worthwhile academic pursuit. . . . Offers a valuable peek into genre history."
--Publishers Weekly

"A fascinating read. . . . shed[s] new light and complexity to the story that is science fiction."
--Transfer Orbit

"Mr. Chattopadhyay divines anti-colonialist sentiment within Roy's satirical take on the strictures of civilization."
--The New York Sun

"The Inhumans and Other Stories is a fine anthology, presenting four strange, funny, and above all memorable tales in slick and accessible translations. . . . For a book so full of experiments gone wrong, the inclusion of The Inhumans and Other Stories in the Radium Age series feels utterly right."
--Strange Horizons

"Whether one loves sci-fi or simply enjoys a good story, this anthology offers a rewarding read that crosses linguistic barriers. I recommend this book to everyone."
--Nature Physics

About the Author

Bodhisattva Chattopadhyay is Associate Professor in Global Culture Studies at the University of Oslo. He is the leader of CoFUTURES, an international research group on contemporary futurisms headquartered in Oslo. He is a World Fantasy Award-winning editor, translator, writer, and critic of speculative fiction, and the producer of Kalpavigyan: A Speculative Journey, the first documentary film on Indian science fiction.