Aug 08, 2003 10:03 PM
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(Updated Aug 08, 2003 10:04 PM)
The Sky is Falling
Introduction
Since the advent of Internet and my subsequent addiction to it, my reading habits have changed. I have started reading a lot less and take longer to finish books, because I only pick up a book after I switch off my computer, when I am going to sleep late at night. Most books act as good sleeping pills (if they are boring), but the moment I pick up one of Sydney Sheldon’s works things change. His novels keep me awake through most of the night and make me groggy eyed next day.
My wife Prema who is a teacher, likes to sleep early, after a tiring day at school and the household chores, but when I have a Sydney Sheldon, she too is unable to sleep due to the glare of the light. Net result is that she has started hating Sydney Sheldon. She calls Sydney Sheldon my “Nancy Drew”. My daughters were very fond of reading Nancy Drew mysteries a few years ago and would read late in the night. Whenever I pick up my Sydney Sheldon, she tells my daughters “Papa ne apni Nancy Drew utha li hai ab raat bhar sone nahin dega” (Papa has picked up his Nancy Drew and now he will not let me sleep all night).
I started reading Sydney Sheldon’s works a few years ago and have been so fascinated by his style of writing that I have read most of his books one after the other. I have got so used to the racy style and fast moving pace of his novels, that when I try to read another author’s works, it takes a lot of adjustment to be able to read. This however is my first review on books and I thought I must start with one of Sydney Sheldon’s works.
About the Author
I was curious to know the background of the author of such fascinating novels and began my search on the internet and found some interesting facts after searching several sites.
Born in 1917, Sydney Sheldon began his career writing works for Television. The popular serials ''I Dream of Jeannie'' (won several Emmy nominations), and ''Hart to Hart,'' were amongst his most famous works. He has written screenplays for twenty three Hollywood movies including “Easter Parade” (with Judy Garland) and “Annie Get Your Gun”.
He started writing novels rather late in his career (1970), as he says it never occurred to him. His first novel was The Naked Face. It was awarded the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award for best first mystery novel. Then started the stream of novels, which took him to the top of the international best sellers list, an amazing number of times.
You may look up the following links for further information
https://empirezine.com/spotlight/sheldon/sheldon1.htm https://twbookmark.com/authors/40/931/
The Sky is Falling - A Curtain Raiser
As with most Sydney Sheldon novels, “The Sky is Falling” has a strong female central character in Dana Evans. Dana had grown up as an army brat moving from base to base with her father, a Colonel. This had given her a taste for adventure. She was vulnerable and at the same time fearless and tough.
She was a war time correspondent with WTN Channel, who had covered the war in Sarajevo and earned international fame for her in depth reporting. She returned to America from there with an orphaned boy Kemal, whom she had adopted. Kemal had lost an arm in the bombing.
On her return to America, she interviews Gary Winthorp, America’s prince charming. He is the scion of one of America’s most well know families.
The next day Gary Winthorp is brutally murdered in an apparent burglary attempt in his house. With his death, the entire Winthorp family is wiped out. His father Taylor Winthorp, who was America’s Ambassador to Russia and his mother died in a fire a year earlier. His elder brother died in an automobile accident in Europe and his sister died while Skiing in the Alps.
Were all these deaths accidents or were they pre-planned and pre-meditated acts to eliminate the entire family? Who would want to eliminate the family and why? This question takes Dana on a trip around the world. She braves immense danger and jeopardises her own life, but finally the mystery begins to unravel. Her search leads her to an underground city in Siberia, Krasnoyarsk-26, tucked below a mountain. The city is sustained by atomic reactors which supply the power for lighting and air conditioning and keep the city breathing. What mystery does this city hold? What did Dana Evans find here? How is this city connected to the deaths?
Conclusion
To get answers to these questions you would have to read the book. I am sure once you pick it up, you will not feel like putting it down till you reach the end. The story is gripping and keeps you on edge all along. You tend to forget the time or place. That is why I suggest to the men: do not read it at home if you are married least they invite the wrath of your wife, don’t read it in office for fear of your boss ticking you off, don’t read it on the train for fear of missing the station. When do you read it? First solve this problem and then you will be better equipped to read the book. Happy reading.
