books
Contamination
by Richa Lakhera
Publication: Om Books International
reviews
In her novel, Contamination, (Om Books), Richa Lakhera explores the little-known genre of militia horror. “It is a merging of two genres—war and horror, guns and ghosts,” says the 40-year-old television journalist over a video call from Mumbai. “Militia horror is an underutilised genre in India.”
THE HINDU
Despite an ensemble of multiple spine-chilling horror imageries, the fictional map in the novel will help readers align and engage with the fictional space. Describing the unique concept and fantasy setting behind the story, Richa describes the book as “Grenades, Guns, and Ghosts”.
MID-DAY
While the core of the story of Contamination is a fight of good vs evil, there is an intriguing subtext as the soldiers trek towards their target, with the icy temperature and unnerving atmospherics. The relentless onslaught of horror imagery gets your heart in your mouth, and the fictional map in the novel will help readers orient themselves in the fictional world.
OUTLOOK
“Contamination”, published by OM Books International, is touted to be a departure from the divorced from reality supernatural story template of a fantasy novel.
The book’s chief protagonist Amba’s journey is the classic hero’s journey — from ordeals and struggle to making allies and enemies, to seeking supernatural aid and finally crossing the threshold towards resurrection and resolution.
THE PRINT
In three words – Grenades, Guns, and Ghosts. I think Militia Horror as a subgenre fronted by a Female combatant is quite under-utilized, especially in India. Combats, featured in the horror genre, are something that has always interested me. When we have seen militia even in horror films they are simply glimpsed in the background as disposable shirts for various monsters to tear apart but in Contamination, soldiers take center stage. Having said that, Wars are the bigger horror story, not ghosts.
FRONT LIST
‘War is the bigger horror; Not ghosts,’ says Writer-Journalist Richa Lakhera on her new Militia Horror Novel
THE WEEK
