
Jerry and the Birdcave by @ritwikonpaper is a refreshing and bold entry into the Indian sci-fi and thriller genre. I mean an Indian sci-fi for real! The story follows zoologist Dr. Jerry and his cousin as they unravel the mystery of a missing history professor — a search that quickly evolves into a gripping exploration of ancient secrets, forgotten truths, and mythical beings rooted in Indian lore. What really sets this book apart is its seamless blending of science fiction, political intrigue, and mythology, all grounded in Indian landscapes and storytelling traditions. The author’s imaginative take on a legendary bird — drawing from epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana and connecting it to global myths — is both fascinating and original. The writing is crisp and engaging, with a well-paced narrative that balances suspense with depth. In just under 100 pages, the book manages to weave together elements of geology, history, and cultural commentary without ever feeling dense or overwhelming. Most importantly, it offers a truly Indian perspective, steering clear of Western tropes in sci-fi. I enjoyed the thrill of finding a missing person and the tension in the room that springs up as the plot advances towards unraveling of mystery. In a couple of sittings, I devoured the book. Jerry and the Birdcave is a promising start to a series that shall unfold and serve as a much-needed contribution to contemporary Indian speculative fiction.
This post was published on 11th July, 2025 by Khyati on her Instagram handle "@bookish.fame (Khyati | Book Blogger)". Khyati has total 30.4K followers on Instagram and has a total of 1.3K post. Khyati receives an average engagement rate of 0.52% per post on Instagram. This post has received 11 comments which are lower than the average comments that Khyati gets. Overall the engagement rate for this post was lower than the average for the profile.