The Simoqin Prophecies
Cover to the first edition of The Simoqin Prophecies
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| Author | Samit Basu |
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| Country | India |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Gameworld Trilogy |
| Genre | Fantasy novel |
| Publisher | Penguin Books, India |
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Publication date
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15 January 2004 |
| Pages | 505 pp (paperback edition) |
| ISBN | |
| OCLC | 61172755 |
| Followed by | The Manticore's Secret |
The Simoqin Prophecies (2004, Penguin India) is a fantasy novel in English written by Indian author Samit Basu, and is the first novel in the GameWorld trilogy. It has also been published in Swedish, German and Spanish
Other novels in the Gameworld Trilogy are The Manticore's Secret (2005) and The Unwaba Revelations (2007).
On the surface, without considering the allusions, revisionist writing and parodies, The Simoqin Prophecies is a motley mix of eastern and western fantasy featuring a huge bestiary of creatures from mythic traditions from all around the world, both ancient and modern - vanars, dragons, manticores, rakshases and various others, often with interesting twists.
The book in particular and the series in general is an amazing tour de force in making fun of the traditional heroic biopic with plenty of pop culture references and clever asides that bring to mind the writings of Sir Terry Pratchett.
The story revolves around two prophecies made before a great war two centuries before the events in the book take place, one foretelling the return of the great rakshas Danh-Gem, and the other revealing that a hero would also rise to challenge the reborn rakshas.
As the day of Danh-Gem's rising draws closer and the chosen hero is sent on a quest, another young man learns of terrible things he must do in secret and the difficult choices he must make in order to save the world from the rakshas.
The story begins in the expected year of the rakshas Danh-Gem's return. Asvin, prince of Avranti is sent on an Aswamedh, a journey supposed to bring him fame and glory. But as soon as he reaches the forest, his guards turn on him and tell him that he would be executed at sunset. This is in accordance with the laws of the secret brotherhood, which ensured that all younger princes of Avranti who were too eager for glory would be dealt with this way. However he is rescued by the Silver Dagger and his men, on the orders of the Chief Civilian of Kol, who wanted him to be the prophecised hero.
In Kol, the Chief Civilian is very worried about the sudden emergence of the danavs of Imokoi along with their city asur cousins. Also the skuans under their lord Bjorkun are planning something. Manticores have been seen in the forest. It is later revealed that this is a plot to bring back Danh Gem, instigated by Bjorkun and Bali, later on joined by the asur king Leer, and Omar of Artaxerxeia. This group is called the secret Brotherhood of Renewal, dedicated to bring Danh-Gem back.
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