An illustration of the times we live in
The Book Review Literary Trust launched a short story competition in 2020, in the middle of the worldwide destruction and lockdown caused by a viral rampage. From all around India, more than fifty submissions were received. The top 19 tales are included in this collection. The Thief’s Funeral: The Book Review Anthology of Short Fiction, edited by Sucharita Sengupta, Chandra Chari, and Uma Iyengar, features new voices that deftly examine every nook and cranny of the nation and its citizens.
Jobeth Anna Warjri, a writer and researcher from Laitkor, Meghalaya, submitted the winning submission, “Megalomania.” The novel, which offers a casual look into the psyche of a predator, conjures both the horror of the prey and the false confidence of the hunter. Actually, the common theme throughout this anthology is terror. Fear of being mistrusted, fear of staring in the mirror, fear of losing one’s identity.
A variety of social, cultural, and cognitive environments give rise to the stories. The authors are various individuals with a range of experiences. Adventurers, educators, journalists, filmmakers, and writers are among them. Together, they provide a compelling picture of our day that highlights the conflict between people’s messy, unpleasant inner lives and morality and conventions.
