As we enter Alan Dean Foster's city of Sagramanda we meet Taneer, a scientist running away from his employer with valuable information. The employer wants him and the information back and the chase is on through one of the best portrayed future cities I have seen in a while. With Sagramanda, Alan Dean Foster continues to show his wonderful talent with story, character, and setting.
The plot thickens as we meet Jena, a French drug addict with an obsession for Kali, who believes her quest is to find Kali's missing finger by redeeming as many souls as possible. She hunts and redeems several victims and finally comes to the notice of the police in the person of Chief Inspector Keshu Singh. Keshu, with the help of the forensic group, finally puts a face to the mysterious serial killer and the chase is on.
Tension is added by a tiger who inadvertently gains a taste for people in a high-class neighborhood. This neighborhood borders on a natural sanctuary and the tiger is protected by law and custom so the predation continues.
Taneer of course wants to make a profit on the information he has absconded with, so he contracts Sanjay Ghosh to act as his agent. Sanjay has contacts in the underworld of Sagramanda, so he is able to aid in this. Taneer has another problem and that is with the woman he loves and intends to marry. They are of different castes and his family are rabid traditionalists.
As a complex story told from multiple viewpoints, Sagramanda does explore the future of India in an eye-opening manner and ends with a satisfying bang. I would recommend that you put this one on your reading list.
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