Insanity Saga
Encyclopedia
The Insanity Saga is a fantasy
series written by twin teenage novelists Suresh Guptara and Jyoti Guptara
.
Book One in this saga is Conspiracy of Calaspia
, the first draft of which the Guptara Twins penned at the age of eleven. It was published when the authors were 17 and became a bestseller
. Suresh and Jyoti Guptara have finished writing Book Two (German title: Der Schwertkodex, publication March 2008; English title to be confirmed) and are currently working on Book Three.
, who in the Biblical
book of Daniel
was smitten with seven years of insanity for rejecting God, until he learned that for all the material power he possessed, even he was subject to the Most High.
Excerpts on Insanity from Book One:
"Insanity always leads to destruction. Some say it blesses with its own creativity, but it is only capable of warping what is good and whole." - Thybil (Conspiracy of Calaspia, p.170)
"Bryn couldn’t help thinking that the powers of Insanity had stolen over the land, leaving the appearance of life in a sallow imitation but killing the spirit; preserving the shell and corrupting the substance." (Conspiracy of Calaspia, p.177)
). It features prominently on the front cover of Conspiracy of Calaspia. The Star of Insanity is rich in symbol
ism that has been interpreted by readers in many ways. It is popularly thought that the flame stands for apparent truth that turns out to be wrong for it breeds spiritual darkness - the heart of Insanity. (Thybil hints at this when he says "Once you reject the truth and embrace the uncountable half-truths, lies, that appear to make so much sense to the lightless mind, then you begin a slow and steady descent into the abyss." (Conspiracy of Calaspia, p.171)
. The series will not be in chronological order, though the consecutive volumes of the sub-series will be. Rather, the books will follow "according to the characters' and readers' knowledge of Insanity."
It is said the series will be complete at between six and eight books. Jyoti told the BBC World Service
in an interview in December 2006 that the saga would probably have six volumes, but figures even given by the Guptara Twins themselves vary. "It depends on how much back story unfolds in the sequels," Jyoti explains.
in that it is similar to our Earth and set in an antiquated world.
In Calaspia, magic
is considered science
. There are five branches of magic. There are two branches of real, supernatural
magic (magick), but this is forbidden by the Order of Itrim. One of these forbidden branches is Insanity.
, repeatedly playing with perspective and truth, body and soul, illusion and reality.
Fantasy literature
Fantasy literature is fantasy in written form. Historically speaking, literature has composed the majority of fantasy works. Since the 1950s however, a growing segment of the fantasy genre has taken the form of films, television programs, graphic novels, video games, music, painting, and other...
series written by twin teenage novelists Suresh Guptara and Jyoti Guptara
Jyoti Guptara
Jyoti Guptara is a young novelist of British and Indian heritage, best known as co-author of the Insanity Saga .-Biography:...
.
Book One in this saga is Conspiracy of Calaspia
Conspiracy of Calaspia
Conspiracy of Calaspia is a fantasy novel written by twin teenage novelists Suresh and Jyoti Guptara. It is the first book of the Insanity Saga that follows the story of Bryn Bellyset - a 16 year old heir to an enormously successful drink empire - his fellow barue and others as they race to save...
, the first draft of which the Guptara Twins penned at the age of eleven. It was published when the authors were 17 and became a bestseller
Bestseller
A bestseller is a book that is identified as extremely popular by its inclusion on lists of currently top selling titles that are based on publishing industry and book trade figures and published by newspapers, magazines, or bookstore chains. Some lists are broken down into classifications and...
. Suresh and Jyoti Guptara have finished writing Book Two (German title: Der Schwertkodex, publication March 2008; English title to be confirmed) and are currently working on Book Three.
Insanity
In the Guptara Twins' fantasy world, Calaspia, Insanity is a corrupting force both internal and cosmically external. Jyoti says the idea of Insanity came to him because his family "was always calling me crazy (and still is)". Also quoted as a source of inspiration is NebuchadnezzarNebuchadnezzar
Nebuchadnezzar was the name of several kings of Babylonia.* Nebuchadnezzar I, who ruled the Babylonian Empire in the 12th century BC* Nebuchadnezzar II , the Babylonian ruler mentioned in the biblical Book of Daniel...
, who in the Biblical
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
book of Daniel
Daniel
Daniel is the protagonist in the Book of Daniel of the Hebrew Bible. In the narrative, when Daniel was a young man, he was taken into Babylonian captivity where he was educated in Chaldean thought. However, he never converted to Neo-Babylonian ways...
was smitten with seven years of insanity for rejecting God, until he learned that for all the material power he possessed, even he was subject to the Most High.
Excerpts on Insanity from Book One:
"Insanity always leads to destruction. Some say it blesses with its own creativity, but it is only capable of warping what is good and whole." - Thybil (Conspiracy of Calaspia, p.170)
"Bryn couldn’t help thinking that the powers of Insanity had stolen over the land, leaving the appearance of life in a sallow imitation but killing the spirit; preserving the shell and corrupting the substance." (Conspiracy of Calaspia, p.177)
Symbol of Insanity
The Symbol of Insanity consists of a candle (whose flame sucks light from its surroundings rather than giving off light, effectively giving off darkness) within a five-pointed star within an incomplete circle (reminiscent of a pentagramPentagram
A pentagram is the shape of a five-pointed star drawn with five straight strokes...
). It features prominently on the front cover of Conspiracy of Calaspia. The Star of Insanity is rich in symbol
Symbol
A symbol is something which represents an idea, a physical entity or a process but is distinct from it. The purpose of a symbol is to communicate meaning. For example, a red octagon may be a symbol for "STOP". On a map, a picture of a tent might represent a campsite. Numerals are symbols for...
ism that has been interpreted by readers in many ways. It is popularly thought that the flame stands for apparent truth that turns out to be wrong for it breeds spiritual darkness - the heart of Insanity. (Thybil hints at this when he says "Once you reject the truth and embrace the uncountable half-truths, lies, that appear to make so much sense to the lightless mind, then you begin a slow and steady descent into the abyss." (Conspiracy of Calaspia, p.171)
Structure
Insanity Saga will be written in sub-series, of which Bryn is one that potentially spans four books but will form at least a trilogyTrilogy
A trilogy is a set of three works of art that are connected, and that can be seen either as a single work or as three individual works. They are commonly found in literature, film, or video games...
. The series will not be in chronological order, though the consecutive volumes of the sub-series will be. Rather, the books will follow "according to the characters' and readers' knowledge of Insanity."
It is said the series will be complete at between six and eight books. Jyoti told the BBC World Service
BBC World Service
The BBC World Service is the world's largest international broadcaster, broadcasting in 27 languages to many parts of the world via analogue and digital shortwave, internet streaming and podcasting, satellite, FM and MW relays...
in an interview in December 2006 that the saga would probably have six volumes, but figures even given by the Guptara Twins themselves vary. "It depends on how much back story unfolds in the sequels," Jyoti explains.
Universe
The Insanity Saga is set almost exclusively in Calaspia, an alternate universe akin to Tolkien's Middle-earthMiddle-earth
Middle-earth is the fictional setting of the majority of author J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy writings. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings take place entirely in Middle-earth, as does much of The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales....
in that it is similar to our Earth and set in an antiquated world.
In Calaspia, magic
Magic (fantasy)
Magic in fiction is the endowing of fictional characters or objects with magical powers.Such magic often serves as a plot device, the source of magical artifacts and their quests...
is considered science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
. There are five branches of magic. There are two branches of real, supernatural
Supernatural
The supernatural or is that which is not subject to the laws of nature, or more figuratively, that which is said to exist above and beyond nature...
magic (magick), but this is forbidden by the Order of Itrim. One of these forbidden branches is Insanity.
Themes
The Insanity Saga deals with a number of themesTheme (literature)
A theme is a broad, message, or moral of a story. The message may be about life, society, or human nature. Themes often explore timeless and universal ideas and are almost always implied rather than stated explicitly. Along with plot, character,...
, repeatedly playing with perspective and truth, body and soul, illusion and reality.