The Unicorn Expedition and Other Fantastic Tales of India

by Satyajit Ray

This collection of magical and supernatural stories that feature mild-mannered characters who confront elusive but threatening creatures and eerie warpings of reality includes "Night of the Indigo," "Corvis," and "Ashamanja Babu's Dog"

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Short Stories, Fantasy, Adventure, Childrens, India

190 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Satyajit Ray (Bengali: সত্যজিৎ রায়) was an Indian filmmaker and author of Bengali fiction and regarded as one of the greatest auteurs of world cinema. Ray was born in the city of Calcutta into a Bengali family prominent in the world of arts and literature. Starting his career as a commercial artist, Ray was drawn into independent filmmaking after meeting French filmmaker Jean Renoir and watching Vittorio De Sica's Italian neorealist 1948 film, Bicycle Thieves.

Ray directed 36 films, including feature films, documentaries and shorts. He was also a fiction writer, publisher, illustrator, calligrapher, graphic designer and film critic. He authored several short stories and novels, primarily aimed at children and adolescents.

Ray's first film, Pather Panchali (1955), won eleven international prizes, including Best Human Documentary at the Cannes Film Festival. This film, Aparajito (1956) and Apur Sansar (1959) form The Apu Trilogy. Ray did the scripting, casting, scoring, and editing, and designed his own credit titles and publicity material. Ray received many major awards in his career, including 32 Indian National Film Awards, a number of awards at international film festivals and award ceremonies, and an Academy Award in 1992. The Government of India honoured him with the Bharat Ratna in 1992.

Early Life and Background:
Ray's grandfather, Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury was a writer, illustrator, philosopher, publisher, amateur astronomer and a leader of the Brahmo Samaj, a religious and social movement in nineteenth century Bengal. Sukumar Ray, Upendrakishore's son and father of Satyajit, was a pioneering Bengali author and poet of nonsense rhyme and children's literature, an illustrator and a critic. Ray was born to Sukumar and Suprabha Ray in Calcutta.

Ray completed his B.A. (Hons.) in Economics at Presidency College of the University of Calcutta, though his interest was always in Fine Arts. In 1940, he went to study in Santiniketan where Ray came to appreciate Oriental Art. In 1949, Ray married Bijoya Das and the couple had a son, Sandip ray, who is now a famous film director.

Literary Works:
Ray created two of the most famous fictional characters ever in Bengali children's literature—Feluda, a sleuth in Holmesian tradition, and Professor Shonku, a genius scientist. Ray also wrote many short stories mostly centered on Macabre, Thriller and Paranormal which were published as collections of 12 stories. Ray wrote an autobiography about his childhood years, Jakhan Choto Chilam (1982). He also wrote essays on film, published as the collections: Our Films, Their Films (1976), Bishoy Chalachchitra (1976), and Ekei Bole Shooting (1979).

Awards, Honors and Recognitions:
Ray received many awards, including 32 National Film Awards by the Government of India. At the Moscow Film Festival in 1979, he was awarded for the contribution to cinema. At the Berlin Film Festival, he was one of only three to win the Silver Bear for Best Director more than once and holds the record for the most Golden Bear nominations, with seven. At the Venice Film Festival, he won a Golden Lion for Aparajito(1956), and awarded the Golden Lion Honorary Award in 1982. In 1992 he was posthumously awarded the Akira Kurosawa Award for Lifetime Achievement in Directing at the San Francisco International Film Festival.

Reviews

[Vikas Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a delightful collection of 7 Sonkhu stories by Satyajit Ray- The Sahara Mystery, Professor Shonku and the Radiant fish, Professor Shonku and the Gorillas, Professor Shonku and the mysterious island
Professor Sonkhu and the amazing creature, Professor Sonkhu and the Cochabamban Cave and The Unicorn expedition. 5 stories have translated in English by Indrani Majumdar while the first and the last has been translated by Ray itself.Each story is set in a different location- Greece, Egypt, Gopalpur
Congo, Sumatra, Switzerland, Bolivia and Tibet

[Vandana R · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would recommend this book for children, basically it was written for children. I had to consciously expand my imagination to enjoy the book, else the reasoning mind may spoil the fun. I wish I had read his books when I was younger. About the author,it's my first read, liked the forethought and imagination put into it. Good book, for probably a younger crowd. Nonetheless, enjoyable!

[Raksha B M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such unique concepts!! I really enjoyed this book

[Mehul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easily accessible stories with a good length for quick reads. Not too heavy and just a fun ride in reading.

[Manoj Unnikrishnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another collection of Professor Shonku's adventures. There are seven stories. All stories, as usual, fall under the sci-fi investigative pattern. The stories included are:

1. The Sahara Mystery
2. Professor Shonku and the Radiant Fish
3. Professor Shonku and the Gorillas
4. Professor Shonku and the Mysterious Island
5. Professor Shonku and the Amazing Creature
6. Professor Shonku and the Cochabamban Cave
7. The Unicorn Expedition

[Hitakshi Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just picked up this book randomly from office library by seeing Ray's name...reading these stories have been such an enjoyable experience, only knew of him as a great film maker but his stories are exemplary too, what adventures, what language, what coverage of geography, thoroughly enjoyed reading these stories!

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting collection of short stories. On the one hand, they fit into a classic speculative fiction style, but without the usual twist endings that this genre often features. Fascinatingly different from Ray's filmography.

[Pallab Kar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nostalgic !

Had read this stories as a kid now growing nostalgic ... relived the days ...... of Sandesh and Anandamela ...

[Nicole Perkins · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wouldn’t classify this as YA myself; some of the stories are a bit dark. Older teens might like the themes, but I wouldn’t want my 10 year old to read this.

[Monami]

AMAZING!

The story line is just amazing and it is suitable for all ages! I would really recommend you read it.

[Darshayita · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last story leaves a footprint in the heart of every reader. A must-read book for all!

[Bob · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you like H. G. Wells and Jules Verne, you will probably like these stories.

[Medhavini · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read professor shanku when I’m sick or have a headache; the stories are simple, funny, and remind you of the ones grandparents narrate.

[B.S · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Yadhu_Parambath · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never knew Satyajit Ray wrote interesting sci-fi stories on the side. A younger me would have enjoyed this more, but nevertheless, it was an engaging short read.

[Samuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

6 stories, 1 man. Professor Shonku and his diary embark on journey after journey - he goes to sahara to find a missing scientist, he goes under the sea to find man eating fish, he encounters gorrillas controlled by a mad scientist! The professor also travels to an island that is full of exotic plants, explores a mysterious cave, and goes on an expedition to fin unicorns!

[Mneleventhirty · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had very high expectations considering the fact that it was written by the man himself. And also having seen some of his serials (I think it was eons ago when TV in India only meant good old Doordarshan) piqued my interest. But the stories were anything but interesting, each one trying to concentrate more on the surprise element. I tried to see if I had gotten the book from the juvenile section in the library, but apparently it was from adult fiction.

[Tareq Rahman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of short stories (aimed at children) is one of the most inventive (albeit short) pieces of science fiction I have ever come across.

Written in the form of a journal, there is a real sense of narrative momentum that I don't always see in children's literature.

The only problem is that some of the stories end too quickly, and searching for english copies in bookstores can be frustrating.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ray is one of my very favorite filmmakers. He hasn't made it into the DVD era just yet but when he does, watch all you can. His films are textured and funny and heartbreakingly subtle. His short fiction, on the other hand, is tame and a bit bland. Nothing embarassingly awful but nothing superlative either.

[Tusher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved that book.
A great work from Mr Roy.
Professor Shanku is a great character by the author of his time. His imagination & creativity knows no limit.
A must read book for the science fiction lovers..

[Ayudh Das · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best science fiction collection for young readers. For grown ups, a story told by the pages of professor Shonku's diary is worth a read. In my opinion the unicorn expedition is the best story out of the many in the collection.

[Tusher · Rating 5 out of 5]

great adventure...&..imaginative...works...by ..shanku..
by author mr. ray.

[Lizpaints · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic stories, unexpected twists.

[Nilanjan Guha majumder · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comparatively long one among other adventures of Shonku. Detailed nicely with a lot of facts and a superb mysterious location.

[Maura · Rating 2 out of 5]

the twists were not as twisty as one might hope.

[Sahir D'souza. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Delightfully written, this is another book chronicling the daring and definitely-ahead-of-his-time adventures of the eccentric but adorable Professor Shonku. Please read this book. Or else.

[Debraj Moulick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the exploits of Professor Shonku