Samit Basu is India's upcoming science fiction and fantasy writer. He has penned two books that form part of a trilogy published by Penguin, India. He has recently contributed to the first book on Indian superheroes called, Superhero. In a live chat on IBNlive, Samit answered queries on India, science fiction and fantasy. Here is the complete transcript.
1234: Can say few words about your fantasy towards India future ?
Samit Basu: India’s future? Oh dear. Let’s see. Peace, prosperity, freedom, happiness, health, and all that. You wanted a fantasy, not a fantasy book.
Sameer: I felt Lord of the rings was pretty dumb. Forgive my ignorance.
Samit Basu: Fortunately, a few million fans kept the books and movie alive, so Tolkien would have survived, except he’s dead.
ProvostZak: How does one go about getting their hands on sci-fi/fantasy in India? All the popular stuff is easily available but what about non-mainstream sci-fi/fantasy?Amazon?
Samit Basu: Ordering online is the best option. I have to say, though, that the book chains are doing a good job of bringing contemporary work into the country.
Sameer: I think the sad thing about our industry is they are making a lot of money through normal movies. Whereas sci-fi has evolved in western cinema. Look at Star Wars or James Bond. What do you say? Our people really need to pull up their socks as we need something original and we look up to people like you to provide some original scripts.
Samit Basu: We shall try our best. There are a lot of really good, creative people here; its just that they aren’t in charge of making key decisions in the industries concerned, and don’t have access to enough funds to make a difference
1234: What provoked you to get into sci-fi?
Samit Basu: I write fantasy. So, nothing, really.
Shy: You said the Harry Potter series went downhill. So are you a Lord of the Rings fan?
Samit Basu: Yes. I am also a Harry Potter fan, all things considered.
ProvostZak: Who in your opinion is the greatest fantasy author?
Samit Basu: I’d have to say Tolkien, all things considered. All media considered, Neil Gaiman. All styles, Terry Pratchett.
Saiprasad: Hi Samit. I am a student of IIMC batch 2002-03. Met you once there through a common friend. A lot of Indian writers are emerging at the forefront today. Has writing become a career option or is it still a profession?
ProvostZak: While on the subject of humor, what do you think about Roald Dahl? He has a wicked sense of humor, which is kind of different from the humour you tend to find in PG Woodhouse's works.
Samit Basu: I love Dahl. Also Adams, Fielding, Townsend, and the Molesworth guys.
Shy: Stereotypes and Mary Sues in books. What do you think of them and is using stereotypes a common mistake of many new writers?
Samit Basu: Stereotypes can be great fun if used properly.
1234: Would you prefer to direct a movie whose core is science fiction?
Samit Basu: Maybe. You got a hundred million dollars?
Rohinee: Do you think a team of superheroes resembling 'the authority', would work in India?
Samit Basu: Certainly. The authority would work everywhere.
1234: How would you define life n success in terms of science fiction?
Samit Basu: Life and success mean the same thing in sci-fi as they do anywhere else: completely individual perspective-dependent.
Shy: Do you believe in 'Never judge a book by it's movie?'
Samit Basu: No, not at all. Books and movies are separate beasts
ProvostZak: And in the spirit of things, do you play RPGs? If so, which one is your favorite?
Samit Basu: Oblivion, on the xbox. Used to play diablo before.
ProvostZak: What do you think is the proper length for a good fantasy series? And when is the right time to end it? I ask in reference to authors like Robert Jordan (who simply can't end a series when he ought to) , Terry Goodkind (who cares how long it takes, Richard and Kahlan rock) and George RR Martin (he split his 4th book into 2 parts, converting his supposedly 6 book series into 7)
Samit Basu: I really think the age of series is coming to an end. Three books maximum, I would say. Look at Harry Potter, see how it went downhill after a while. The series will continue to thrive because of franchise/marketing possibilities, but the best works will always be standalone.
Sameer: The films are not that bad Samit. We do have Koi Mil Gaya and Krrish and not to forget the legendary Mr India.
Samit Basu: Absolutely. These are the best Indian sci-fi films so far. I have to say, though, that if you compare them to the best of world sci-fi cinema, they really come nowhere close.
1234: Hi, what is Unwaba all about?
Samit Basu: Unwaba is my third book. Visit my site to find out more.
ProvostZak: But Unwaba is more fantasy than sci-fi I guess?
Samit Basu: Unwaba is completely fantasy: sorry, that was the answer to the previous question.
Atul: Who’s your favorite humor writer?
Samit Basu: P G Wodehouse, the greatest of them all.
sameer: How can you say sci-fi films need multiplexes and niche audiences? Most of the English movies translated into Indian languages are sci-fi and have been huge hits in local languages as well. So doesn’t it say if the sci-fi is good and understandable? Everyone will love it.
Samit Basu: Absolutely. You’re right. I was talking more about Indian-made sci-fi films.
Atul: I realised that you were doing it intentionally and was clear daylight thing as well. Come to think of it, the book was a fun read. But all it was a mix-match of some four-five popular books. LOTR being one along with myths from all over the world. What I am saying is I would love to call you a good writer but you will need original plots for me to able to do that. The writing style was fantastic but …
Samit Basu: Hey, glad you liked something. Different strokes, my friend.
Sanghamitra: Hi Samit, what does freedom mean to you?
Samit Basu: freedom = no paperwork
Shy: Can humour in books be disastrous if not used well and judiciously?
Samit Basu: Yes. Though would rather see too much humour than too little. Humour gone wrong, however, is a terrible thing.
ProvostZak: Would you recommend Steven Erikson's Malazan Empire series? I tried to read book one and ended up hopelessly lost somewhere in the middle of the series.
Samit Basu: I’m not too big on space opera. I read the first Hamilton though and loved it and Steven Erikson is a bit dense. Try China Mieville.
Diviya Nagarajan: How much longer do I have to wait for Unwaba?
Samit Basu: December is when Unwaba is supposed to come out. I’m waiting too.
ProvostZak: Also, what do you think about the Virgin Comics attempt (Ramayana 3000 AD ) to futurise (if that's a word) Indian epics like the Ramayana?
Samit Basu: Well, I think Ramayan 3392 is a very interesting experiment. It is not going to change the world, but it is definitely the beginning of something. I’m looking forward to new work from the creators of the series.
Neela: We have sci-fi in literary why not in Indian cinemas? What’s the reason behind it?
Samit Basu: We do have sci-fi in Indian cinema. It’s mostly very bad sci-fi though.
Neela:There was that Sanjay Dutt-Bipasha film, and something else with Sunny Deol. That you didn’t watch them is indicative of your good taste.
Shahnawaz Gani: Is global warming becoming disastrous for world?
Samit Basu: Yes it is, and something needs to done to stop it.
Atul: I read Simokin Prophesies, really like it. But don’t you think you overdid the copying part? I did not mind the part where you borrow ideas from popular mythologies. But there were places it seemed you copied from books as well.
Samit Basu: It’s called referencing, and it was intentional. I don’t do theft, I do daylight robbery and buccaneering, swashbuckling piracy.
Name: Do u feel that multiplexes will help promotion of science fiction films?
Samit Basu: Yes, I do. Multiplexes=niche audiences=more genre films. But SF films nowadays are so big and so well-promoted anyway that they will do well regardless. Indian SF films, though, definitely need multiplexes.
Diviya Nagarajan: Devi seems like a very interesting project (hard to find on the bookshelves, though). Do you see the comic book phenomenon catching on in India?
Samit Basu: Well, I hope the comicbook phenomenon catches on in india; if virgin does well it certainly will. itll take about 10 years before we can really tell, though, because itll take that long for the new companies to really figure things out. comics are intrinsically extremely attractive, though, so id be inclined to say yes
Pankaj Jain: Why Indian magic books like Feluda and Malgudi Days be put in the world stage like Harry Potter?
Samit Basu: Feluda and Malgudi Days are very local, and its a sad but true fact that marketing mechanisms in the west are infinitely stronger than the ones we have. I would love to see either of these make it really big, but i wouldn’t count on it.
Anurag: Are you planning to write some books on Indian mythology + fantasy? Means mix the fantasy with the mythology. Like Hanuman and Krishna.
Samit Basu: Well, I’m doing Indian myth plus fantasy work in comics, but the thing is our mythical characters are so endlessly redone in their original forms that I’m not looking to do another rewrite - I’d far rather create characters of my own. You would find references to Hanuman, Krishna and lots of other Indian mythic heroes in my work, though of course disguised as other characters.
Pranav: Is it hard to make a living as a comic book artist? What are the opportunities?
Samit Basu: It’s actually easier to make a living as a comic book artist today than ever before: quite a few companies are looking seriously for artists, and are willing to pay well. Just ask around; the field is exploding, and if you are good you will find good work very soon.
Deva: Science fiction writers/works are usually dystopian, grim? Why do writers think that the future world will be sad and hopeless?
Samit Basu: You need to read Douglas Adams, or Robert Rankin. Or, in fantasy, Terry Pratchett, Diana Wynn Jones and endless others. just search for humour and SF on the net :)
Dickian: Do you honestly think there is scope for acceptance of science fiction as a genre in our country?
Samit Basu: Dickian: Absolutely. In India, we live our lives on the edge between SF and reality, and are by nature both curious and credulous. SF already does well in India - SF written by Indians, though, is just coming up. The next decade should be a very rich one Is SF serious literature? Yes, unless its funny, in which case its funny literature
Saugata: Who would you rate India's best sci-fi writer? And why do you think Indian sci-fi doesn't sell?
Samit Basu: Saugata: India's best SF writer, lets see, Amitav Ghosh won the Arthur C Clarke Award, but my own favourite would have to be Satyajit Ray/ and Indian SF sells no better or worse than any other form of Indian lit - except there’s so little of it you dont really get to see it
ProvostZak: Has anyone ever confused "writing fantasy" as writing for THAT magazine?
Samit Basu: WHICH magazine? Okay, people, brain-freeze happening, so fond farewells. If there are more questions, do contact me through my site, samitbasu.com, and ill get back to you. Thanks all, goodnight, and much love.
IBNLive thanks it readers for their questions. Some questions couldn't be answered because of time constraint.
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