Review of Unlight
Posted: 08 Sep 2021, 12:07
[Following is a volunteer review of "Unlight" by Chandra Shekhar.]
The threats of natural or ecological disasters are often dismissed and ridiculed. The same happened in Chandra Shekhar’s novel Unlight when the scientists tried to warn the authorities about the Shroud— a cloud of cosmic dust composed mainly of carbon particles on its course towards Earth. This unique science fiction story narrates the fight for survival and the influence of isolation on five very distinct characters.
When the warnings are disregarded, Larry Brandon— the billionaire and an engineer, is the only person working on a shelter that would allow the survival of an extreme cold caused by blocking the sunlight by the Shroud. He builds a complex of domes called the Shell and invites his fiancée Nicole, her mother Elizabeth, and her daughters Anna and Jessica to stay inside for the foreseeable future.
Unlight is not a usual science fiction novel. We do not have aliens or space travel here, but severe weather conditions and a group of very different but quite ordinary characters trying to wait it out. Sheltering from the cold, Larry and his family are separated from the outside world and forced to rely on each other for their survival. Chandra Shekhar created a story that explores the state of total isolation and focuses on the mental well-being of his characters and the relations between them. The strong point of the novel is character development. Belonging to three generations, the heroes face varying challenges and undergo a transformation during their time in Shell, becoming more mature, confident in their roles and more attached to each other. Also, the pleasure of reading is never spoiled by editing errors, violence, excessive sexual content or profane language.
Like every good novel, Unlight also has some faults. The main can be identified in the slow flow of the action. The unique character of the plot keeps the reader engaged, but the novel would benefit from many more events. Moreover, in the second half of the book, the story becomes quite predictable. It follows the scheme, where a problem appears suddenly, which has to be faced and solved by successive characters, making the plot seem repetitive. Also, avid science fiction readers might reach for Unlight expecting another example of genre fiction and find it unusual or boring as it does not resemble other stories. Its unique character makes the novel very hard to classify.
Overall, I rate this book at 3 out of 4 stars because of the slow-paced and repetitive action. I would recommend this novel, not to science fiction fans but readers interested in survival or post-apocalyptic plots with a focus on psychological aspects.
******
Unlight
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The threats of natural or ecological disasters are often dismissed and ridiculed. The same happened in Chandra Shekhar’s novel Unlight when the scientists tried to warn the authorities about the Shroud— a cloud of cosmic dust composed mainly of carbon particles on its course towards Earth. This unique science fiction story narrates the fight for survival and the influence of isolation on five very distinct characters.
When the warnings are disregarded, Larry Brandon— the billionaire and an engineer, is the only person working on a shelter that would allow the survival of an extreme cold caused by blocking the sunlight by the Shroud. He builds a complex of domes called the Shell and invites his fiancée Nicole, her mother Elizabeth, and her daughters Anna and Jessica to stay inside for the foreseeable future.
Unlight is not a usual science fiction novel. We do not have aliens or space travel here, but severe weather conditions and a group of very different but quite ordinary characters trying to wait it out. Sheltering from the cold, Larry and his family are separated from the outside world and forced to rely on each other for their survival. Chandra Shekhar created a story that explores the state of total isolation and focuses on the mental well-being of his characters and the relations between them. The strong point of the novel is character development. Belonging to three generations, the heroes face varying challenges and undergo a transformation during their time in Shell, becoming more mature, confident in their roles and more attached to each other. Also, the pleasure of reading is never spoiled by editing errors, violence, excessive sexual content or profane language.
Like every good novel, Unlight also has some faults. The main can be identified in the slow flow of the action. The unique character of the plot keeps the reader engaged, but the novel would benefit from many more events. Moreover, in the second half of the book, the story becomes quite predictable. It follows the scheme, where a problem appears suddenly, which has to be faced and solved by successive characters, making the plot seem repetitive. Also, avid science fiction readers might reach for Unlight expecting another example of genre fiction and find it unusual or boring as it does not resemble other stories. Its unique character makes the novel very hard to classify.
Overall, I rate this book at 3 out of 4 stars because of the slow-paced and repetitive action. I would recommend this novel, not to science fiction fans but readers interested in survival or post-apocalyptic plots with a focus on psychological aspects.
******
Unlight
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon