The Collected Short Stories by Satyajit Ray is a collection of 49 short stories that explore a diverse number of genres including and not limited to comics, magic, science fiction, horror, mystery, reality, suspense, thriller, crime, and kids stories. His stories, considered contemporary are heavily characterized, filled with cinematic thrills and twists. Ray is such a clever writer who has mastered writing about the human condition. His choice of words is kind and impactful as he explores friendships, human emotions, and justice. The wording of the book is very interesting without being too complicated. It’s very light and easy to comprehend.
Bonku Babu’s Friend
Ang, an alien from planet Craneus kidnaps Bonkubihari Datta for a short while. The story begins to unfold in a wild and unnatural manner that has life-changing consequences for both the alien and Bonkubihari.
Fritz
Jayanti is a 37-year-old man who had a daunting childhood that had traumatized him his whole life. He decides to face this problem by going back to his childhood home in Bundi. Jayanti seeks to uncover the mystery that he cannot recall his childhood. He finds Fritz, a Swiss-made doll that he used to play with as a child. The doll however is more than just a doll as Jayanti uncovers a haunting ghost that had possessed it and attached itself to him.
The Case of Mriganko Babu
Mriganko Babu is a man who specializes in the evolution of man. He makes a bold discovery while researching his primordial evolution. This discovery is so huge that it stands to alter all that is known about human evolution.
The Pterodactyl’s Egg
This story is about time travel and the wonders it unfolds. Badan Babu meets a stranger who goes on to narrate to him his experiences of time travel throughout history. Through the story, he uncovers significant information that holds the power to change reality.
Kutum and Katam
Kutum and Katam mean branches broken in strange shapes. This story challenges the rationale of the human mind by exceeding all it’s expectations and analogy.
Patol Babu Film Star
A theatre artist goes through a lot to make it on stage to perform a rather insignificant role. Through the hardships and trials, he finds true satisfaction in playing that small role. This story delves deep into what it means to self-satisfy and finding the most profound meanings in the smallest of things.
The Hungry Septopus
This is a story that stands the test of time as it argues between vegetarian and non-vegetarian eaters. The idea is that plants are supposed to be eaten because they are not living while we should all abstain from eating meat because animals are living. This argument however neglects the fact that plants are living organisms too.
The story unfolds when Piramal is introduced to a Septopus, a plant that eats people, by his friend who specializes in plant science. Things take a turn for the worst when fear, uncertainty, and chaos creeps into Piramal.
The Small World of Sadanand
This story is about the vivid imagination of a 13-year-old who becomes friends with an army of ants. He acts as a hero to this colony of red ants.
Khagam
Dhurjati Babu is a skeptical man who kills a pet snake belonging to Imli Baba. Strange events begin to unfold that test Babu’s skepticism about what is real or not. This story ends with a rather horrifying note.
Barin Bhowmik’s Ailment
Barin Bhowmik is a kleptomaniac who suffers from an ailment. After he is cured years later, he sets out on a journey to make amends to a man he had once wronged by stealing from him. When he finally meets his victim, he barely recognizes Barin as the thief. Thus, he’s left with two choices of whether to confess or ignore. The ending takes on a twisted nature.
