A Fire in the Night

by Ruskin Bond

The residents of Fosterganj are shocked and speculations run rife as the Fairy Glen Palace mysteriously
catches fire. Once the Queen of Ranipur, the Rani Ma looks at her people from the balcony—only
this time, she is contemplating suicide. An actor-couple is trying to break the monotony of their
mundane lives in the big city by taking a break in the hills, but sinister intentions are bubbling
right under the surface.
This is a collection of thrilling stories by Ruskin Bond, each delving deep into a particular incident
that fills the readers with apprehension as it seems to move towards a certain ending, but takes a
sudden turn to end with a stunning climax.
Hold on tight to your seats, as A Fire in the Night takes you on an electrifying emotional rollercoaster
ride.

116 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2019

About the author

Ruskin Bond is an Indian author of British descent. He is considered to be an icon among Indian writers and children's authors and a top novelist. He wrote his first novel, The Room on the Roof, when he was seventeen which won John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial Prize in 1957. Since then he has written several novellas, over 500 short stories, as well as various essays and poems, all of which have established him as one of the best-loved and most admired chroniclers of contemporary India. In 1992 he received the Sahitya Akademi award for English writing, for his short stories collection, "Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra", by the Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters in India. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1999 for contributions to children's literature. He now lives with his adopted family in Landour near Mussoorie.

Reviews

[N · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fire in the night is a quiet, often meandering, collection of stories that have embedded themselves in my brain. As always Bond immerses you in his simple but thrilling scenery. You smell and feel everything that he invokes through his mastery of description.

This collection of short stories shows the different aspects(good and ugly) of human condition , ; northern part of india( uttarakhand) just happens to be a perfect backdrop. over several eras, Bond writes about humanity’s deepest fears and highest hopes, how people survive on the fringes of society and civilization,what it means to be both a husband and wife in mundan city life , what it means to be a woman in societies living absolutely alone in her room , the resiliency and innocence of children, the ferocity of Mother Nature, the consequences of toxic humanity on Wild animals ,mental illness, and classism.

This book is as dense and heavy as the Uttarakhand's humidity. . I only wish that there were 100 more of his stories left for me to read.

[Aruna Kumar Gadepalli · Rating 4 out of 5]

8 Stories some of which are published elsewhere in the collection of Ruskin Bond. The stories are worth rereading.

[Vedank Goyal · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best story books I've read. Ruskin Bond has captured the Indian essence through realism while being extremely creative.
All the short stories were thrilling and incredibly creative.
Not only did he capture the essence of different types of people living in India, Ruskin Bond managed to capture the essence of the wildlife of India by setting up amazing scenes. The storytelling is so good that the reader feels like they're in the situation itself.

[Shaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, underwhelming. I think that was the intention behind this collection. I think the effect of this book would be heightened read if the atmosphere was right.
Stories I liked:
- When the Clock Strikes Thirteen
- The Room of Many Colours
- Hanging at the Mango Tape

[Unboxing Perspectives · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet, next door collection of stories. Ruskin bond is always a refresher and go to book. If you are tired and you want something light and rejuvenating read, he is a writer you can turn to. Simple, quick and binding collection of stories.