Imayam Book order

Written in spare, modern prose spiced with pungent regional dialect, and brought brilliantly to new life in Vasantha Surya's luminous translation, An Order from the Sky and Other Stories redefines the possibilities of Indian fiction.

The book features extraordinary stories centered around ordinary women who exhibit grit and determination in the face of life's challenges and hardships. Each narrative highlights their resilience and strength, showcasing the profound impact of their experiences and the unique qualities that define them.

Exploring the harsh realities of the caste system and patriarchy, this collection features fourteen compelling stories by Tamil writer Imayam. Characters like Poonkothai, searching for her eloped daughter, and the resilient 'Stolen Girl' navigate societal challenges in their quests for dignity and survival. Themes of identity, sacrifice, and moral dilemmas unfold through the experiences of individuals like Srinivasan, a conflicted police constable, and Kalaiammal, mourning a lost talent. Imayam's powerful prose, translated with sensitivity, highlights deep humanism and a fierce sense of justice.

This is the story about a boy who runs away from home when he sees his widowed mother sleeping with a white man, the varied experiences he undergoes and how he finally comes to terms with life's realities.