In Vadhan Bommadevara's fantasy novel THE GUDEM EXPERIMENT: Book 1, Sheila, a quantum scientist, lives with conflicting memories of her life. In one version, she is saving the world from a dark entity called the Sutram. In the other version, she is a madwoman cast aside by her husband and family. When an evil tantric tries to abduct her 9-year-old daughter, Diya, Sheila is brought together with the people she knew from her other life (including the love of her life, Raghuram). As the Sutram threatens to consume the world again, Diya, with her ability to travel through time, becomes the only person capable of saving the world. The only problem is they're all stuck in the wrong timeline.
Bommadevara successfully integrates modern theories of quantum physics with the elements of ancient cosmology and Hindu mythology. This combination creates interesting speculative elements. A few examples include the Sutram—a dark entity capable of undoing entire universes—is adapted from the concept of string theory and the Sanskrit word sutra. The concept of “One syllable, with won sound” blends The Big Bang and the Hindu creation myth that describes the cosmos emerging through one sound.
Some of the characters are well-rendered, with outrageous physical features, distinct voices, and emotional depth. That includes the tantric (with one half of his body missing) and Rathaya, the blind old man who can manipulate atoms. Meanwhile, the author leans into rich descriptive prose: “mounds of flesh that quivered like jelly” and “His lips pulled back into a ghastly, porcelain curve etched into the hollows of his face" are just two standout examples.
THE GUDEM EXPERIMENT does not do justice to some of its key characters. Take Diya: her mannerisms and speech are inconsistent. In some places, she speaks and behaves like a nine-year-old; in others, she can discuss complex theories of modern science and ancient cosmology like an expert. The book also fails to give some key events their narrative weight, such as the collective restoration of the group's memory and Diya’s journey through the wormhole. The group explicitly discusses Diya’s training for voluntary time travel, but Rathaya declares her training complete by simply reaching the castle. Also, the author’s stylistic choice of alternating between a character’s actual name and multiple aliases within a given passage disrupts the clarity. The Surya king is called "The Raja," "The Cripple," and "Suri." The evil business tycoon is named "Kiromal Govind" and "The Wheeler Dealer."
The book also has some typographical mistakes and could benefit from another round of proofreading, but its flaws aren't enough to stifle its strongest elements. Many readers are sure to anticipate Book 2 in this series.
Vadhan Bommadevara successfully blends modern theories of quantum physics with the elements of Hindu mythology and Indian cosmology in THE GUDEM EXPERIMENT: Book 1. Despite its minor structural issues, the novel makes for an immersive reading experience.
~Maria for IndieReader