The Immortals of Meluha

Amish’s debut, the first of a trilogy, made him a bestselling literary star in India. In translation, this fictionalized history of the Hindu deity Shiva’s journey to godhood is conceptually clever, but it’s sadly lackluster in execution. In 1900 B.C.E., tribal leader Shiva is tired of fending off a rival tribe’s attacks. He accepts an invitation to relocate his people from Tibet to the Indian empire of Meluha. The tribespeople drink a magical medicine that cures ailments in most, but it turns Shiva’s throat blue, marking him as the prophesied Neelkanth that will destroy the Meluhan’s evil enemies. Unfortunately, despite Amish’s creativity and the rich trove of myth from which he draws, the story gets away from him. His characters are flat, prone to clunky dialogue and expository inner monologues. The narrative tension is bogged down by heavy-handed philosophy, detracting from the straightforward plot. Those with an interest in eastern mythology will find this story interesting, but as a fantasy epic it feels amateurish. (Dec.)