You are ONE of many of You. Review on One - Richard Bach

You are not the only One

You are many but all of you are One

The above lines are those that I derived from after reading through the novel “One” written by Richard Bach. I am little about to which category this book belongs, it is neither an out and out philosophical nor a science fiction but an interesting blend of both the genres with philosophy taking a slight edge over sci-fi. But it will sure appeal to the lovers of both the genres.

The story is pretty simple. Richard Bach and his wife Leslie are pilots and while they are heading towards Los Angeles in a plane, a technical fault leads to a miracle and they are thrown out of time and space along with the plane. There they get the power to see alternate worlds and their own self in different worlds and different time passing through infinite number of complex ways visible in which their life could have been if they have made different choices. In this journey, they come to know about the truth and reality and crack all the puzzles about life and death that we all have in our mind.

“Better well-intentioned lies than Silence or no talking at all” – this line from the book which best describes about content of the book. Yes, though the story is highly imaginative and unreal, the well intentioned lies of author along with his visual imaginations are interesting, gripping, convincing and entertaining to read through.

The novel starts interestingly with Richard and Leslie meeting their younger selves and discussing with their own selves about the choices they have to or they are going to make. They warn their younger selves to not to make the mistakes that they made in their past. And slowly the journey takes them to various worlds; from each one of them they learn something new about life and its truth. The other interesting thing is that the characteristics are as divergent as scientist making crystal of ideas, Russian communists, a crude and cruel emperor of a kingdom and even a computer program in one of the worlds.

There is lot of scope for any author to pour down his overflowing creativity in such fantasy tales which Richard Bach has also done extensively. Some of his thoughts like Crystal form of ideas and thoughts, the new game that changes the world into a peaceful one without any war, the Mashara’s philosophy about the origin of religions, partition and war, a computer program to rejuvenate a whole universe, their older self who have made different choices reading and discussing about this book that Richard had written, Leslie dying and returning to life that has been told in two perspectives, conversations between their different selves are all very unique to read.

But Richard also does the same mistake which most of the philosophical fantasy writers do. He deliberately includes some characters to put forth some of his own philosophical perceptions which doesn’t always gel well with the narrative. In this story, the guide Pye character is one such inclusion. She just acts as a mouthpiece of author’s own thoughts and provides some inputs to deliberately push the story forward. We are not told about who is she, how she is here and how she is able to interact with Richard and Leslie wherever they are and all makes Pye an unconvincing character.

The story has got some deeply moving emotional parts especially the death of Leslie and its consequences are well scripted depicting the depth of love between the two. The finale is highly innovative. The happenings and discussions in the meeting of “people with most unusual minds” as the author calls it, justify the title of the book. So, finally read this book to get into a long dream full of colors and vision. You won’t be disappointed or less entertained though you may not accept with all those philosophical phrases coined by the author.