What if Tom and Jerry had not been a cat and mouse story? Tom and Butch, may be? That grumpy bulldog? Remember? Sure thing. Well if not in the immensely popular cartoon show, we have certainly been introduced to a duo that’s one of a kind- the duo of Katy and Dug. No, don’t squint, I’m explaining; Katy is a cat and no prizes for guessing, Dug, a dog. But what’s so unique about this pair? A lot of it, there is.
In Deepak Kripal’s The Devil’s Gate: An Impossible Journey, Katy and Dug are the chosen ones who embark on a fateful journey that spells danger more than adventure. A fight for survival, a battle for existence in a hostile world thanks to us, humans, The United Animals (UA) decides to negotiate with beings that are no longer living. Inhabited by demons, the Island of Five Hundred Graves is an invisible island amidst the mysterious waters of the unknown ocean. But can a deal with the dead be materialized? Or does it 
simply imply doom to Katy and Dug- and for all their fellow creatures?
No, I won’t divulge any further. Leave it to Mr. Kripal. Unfolding secrets, revealing twists and turns, and most importantly maintain a water-tight narrative to narrate a thriller with subtle but potent symbolism reflecting the present human conditions-Deepak Kripal does have a wonderful story to tell. And to add to it, the very concept of his is extremely innovative and its projection, equally effective.
At 248 pages, The Devil’s Gate is not a ‘masala’ paperback. Kripal, in spite of keeping the language lucid and free flowing, has incorporated certain richness to the narrative with his use of variant images and repeated symbols. The story, even though, based on fantasy, does not begin with a breezy, soothing tone. At the very onset, the proceedings are so disturbing that one may wonder how did fantasy learn to brood with such intensity! It is here, where Kripal shows his skills as a storyteller. His is a tale of magic realism but that too, with a difference. Instead of bringing in elements of fantasy into reality, he does the opposite. The prologue itself begins with a disaster, and the environment remains too sinister to relax from then on.
The character of Katy, the female protagonist is brilliantly sketched. Having an adequate amount of masculine attributes, Katy never comes off as the typical, cowardly she-cat. Hardened by a wounded past, Katy is all nails and bones. Brandishing her sword at the drop of a hat or at times, cynically smiling at the world around her, Katy is the modern protagonist. Precariously hateful, sarcastic and violent, Katy too, has tender self that knows love, that trusts faith. But that particular side of her surfaces gradually.
Dug serves as the perfect foil to Katy. Loud and talkative, boisterous and armed with bawdy jokes, Dug almost reminds you of Don Quixote. But it is this pertinent happy-go-lucky nature of Dug and his free spirited simpleton humour that gives the story its sheath of velvet over a sharp edged stony ground so that you can walk on. Initially at loggerheads, a simmering undercurrent of love between Katy and Dug makes the story even more enjoyable.
Billy, the owl, stands out from supporting characters. Ready with spontaneous wisecracks; the butt of many jokes but a likeable charm nevertheless, Billy is the Shakespearean fool in the story.
The suspense never slackens in this bizarre yet moving tale. Kripal, in his first book, has shown a lot of promise and potential. Keeping the entertainment quotient intact, weaving a yarn of mystery with an underlying layer of emotions is never easy. And he does all this without a single human character!
The Devil’s Gate is an enchanting fable blended with thriller that often makes your mouth go try nibbles at your nails, but at the end, gives you a hug and assures you that all is not lost.
Book Details of The Devil’s Gate: An Impossible Journey:-
| Author: | Deepak Kripal | ||
| Publisher: | Leadstart Publishing | Publication Year: | 2013 |
| ISBN-13: | 9789383562060 | ISBN-10: | 9383562064 |
| No. Of Pages: | 248 | Cover: | Paperback |
| MRP: | Rs. 175 |
Buy From: | Flipkart.com Amazon.in  Infibeam.com Amazon.com  |
Summary
My Ratting
Verdict: Highly Recommended
