Arjun malhotra
With an exquisitely done book cover, 3032: Onto The Entangled Paths is bound to hit right at the inquisitiveness of the reader and target this curiosity to evoke their enthusiasm about a text that is a mix of eclectic emotions, great design, an enticing plot and a gripping writing style. As mentioned in the dedication to this book, this comes from a point in the author’s mind and heart that treats this work of fiction as his brain-heart child which immediately gives the reader the sense of dedication and passion that the author has for his work. Hence, though a work of fiction, this book has the sense of self-respect and honour that demands readers to take this futuristic world of fiction in a serious manner. Technically, the book is divided into two unequal parts with 28 chapters in total and extends to a length of 92 pages which calls for a quick read.
However, one should not be deceived by the shortness of length of the book for it is a deep and enticing read which calls for a lot of attentiveness from the reader to process the different technical, fictional, scientific, futuristic, emotional and philosophical aspects of this novella. The first part of the book is relayed from the perspective of a character called Marcus Robinson who is said to be an expert scientist who is facing the trouble of saving planet Earth from the terrifying issues of global warming, environmental destruction and their unimaginable consequences which humans have remained negligent and ignorant about until it is too late and the expert scientists of the world have to come together to devise something unique in order to be able to protect whatever is left of the natural habitat of the planet Earth.
The startling and tough revelation made at this meeting is that Earth can no longer be the home for humans and there have been unsuccessful attempts to find life on Mars as well. So, the solution provided is one of migrating to a different galaxy. The suggested place is a start called ‘Trapped 1’ which is forty light years away and has several planets around it which is considered to be habitable for humans. However, since Trapped 1 is far from the sun it does not receive a lot of heat and is a chilly place. While this forms the crux of the major idea behind this novel, the rest of the novel unfolds the manner in which this transition is supposed to take place and the challenges that scientists face who are the seeming experts and knowledgeable people in this field.
These challenges include not just excitement about making the move but also fear and apprehension. Yet, this mix of emotions is what gives the novella its pace and adds to the thrill of an otherwise sci-fi novella. For the most part, the pace is moderate and easy to follow. The pace owes a lot to the manner in which the events of the novella unfold and are relayed that keeps a controlled grip over the readers while also allowing them space to breathe, digest and reflect on the burning issues of environmental destruction that is caused by humans and the extent to which such degradation is going shows no sign of quick and easy reversal. While it may sound harsh, the novella is a great reality check as the possibilities that it talks about underline the adage that Life goes on and it is about the survival of everyone who is resilient and willing to take on the challenges of evolution.
The writing style uses moderately difficult terms and has restricted scientific and technical language and is used only as and when needed. This makes the book easy to follow and does not deter the reader into apprehension about the validity of the ideas or content of this fictional text. This makes the text revolve around a lot of possibilities and despite that it remains firm in presenting a well -structured work that does not waver and wander into areas that seem impossible or implausible. Rather, it presents a grim reality with a tinge of hope that humans have faced evolutionary aspects and have survived with the use of their will, determination and scientific knowledge. This makes the book present optimistic ideas and views on an otherwise worrying topic.
The book is significantly interesting and timely considering all the warnings that humans are receiving on a daily basis on climate change and all that they can do at the ground level to help improve the damaged situation. Most of this is done through exchange of dialogue between the characters. The dialogues are short, crisp and to the point though highly expressive in emotional quotient and have a significant use of curse words. The second part of the book revolve around Jay Evans who is Mark’s lover and this part of the novella is titled ‘Reality is Non-Existent.’ The two halves of the book are divided by an illustration which is a pencil sketch. The second part of the novella becomes more digressive but philosophical and emotional. On the whole, the book is a good read and one that raises pertinent issues but tries to show that the solutions of these problems also lie with those who have created these problems that is, the humans. It is in working together, systematically and scientifically that something can be worked out though it will come with its own set of challenges.
Title: 3032 : Onto The Entangled Paths
Author : Arjun Malhotra
Reviewer: Tasnima Yasmin
