Review of “Hell! No
Saints in Paradise” – A.K. Asif
This is probably the most fictitious fiction I’ve ever read. Wonderfully
thought and filled with exacting details, it is like a twisted take on Alice in
wonderland where one goes for a slice of heaven until all the hell breaks
loose; literally as well as figuratively.
The protagonist Ismael, a research student in the US is researching on
the existence of heaven and hell. This takes him on an unbelievable
dimensionless journey across space and time when one day under the influence of
a psychedelic he is shown the path towards the discovery of heaven and hell. This
journey makes him come back to his disoriented motherland to rekindle his
relationship with his estranged father who holds an eminent position in the
Caliphate. However, he has been given a task by non-humans Pir Pul Siraat and
Chacha Kidr to sabotage the Khalifa’s undisclosed plans to cause a major
upheaval in the world.
The story is a complex web of interwoven realities where fact and
fiction do not have any boundaries. The language is crisp and the storyline is
fluid with a dreamlike quality to it. Each scene is described to the best and
lets the words take form in your mind. It is also a good read if you want to
let your mind wander off to different places like hell or heaven.
My take: Hell! Go read this one now.
Book Courtesy: Writersmelon
