Cover of Gods, Demons, and Others

Gods, Demons, and Others

Following in the footsteps of the storytellers of his native India, R. K. Narayan has produced his own versions of tales taken from the Ramayana and the Mahabarata. Carefully selecting those stories which include the strongest characters, and omitting the theological or social commentary that would have drawn out the telling, Narayan informs these fascinating myths with his urbane humor and graceful style.

Read more

"Mr. Narayan gives vitality and an original viewpoint to the most ancient of legends, lacing them with his own blend of satire, pertinent explanation and thoughtful commentary."—Santha Rama Rau, New York Times

"Narayan's narrative style is swift, firm, graceful, and lucid . . . thoroughly knowledgeable, skillful, entertaining. One could hardly hope for more."—Rosanne Klass, Times Literary Supplement

Themes
religion
Setting
1960sIndia
Audience
adult
Length
medium · 252 pages

Click a tag to see books like this one that share it.

Read it? Sign in to help tag it.

Liked Gods, Demons, and Others? Here’s where I’d start.

These suit anyone who liked Gods, Demons, and Others. Sign in and mark a few books for picks shaped around your own taste.

  1. Sons of Gods -- Mahabharata Shares India, mythology, indian authors
  2. The Seeds of War Shares mythology, India, indian authors
  3. The Palace of Illusions Shares India, mythology, indian
  4. Ramayana: Divine Loophole Shares India, mythology, religion

“People who read Gods, Demons, and Others tend to reach for these next.”

  1. Philosophies of India
  2. The Second Book of the Tao
  3. Dancing with Dragons
  4. Darsan: Seeing the Divine Image in India

“If you want more of the same (mythology about religion), start with these.”

  1. Pradyumna - Son of Krishna
  2. Yuganta: The End of an Epoch
  3. The Krishna Key
  4. Myths and Symbols in Indian Art and Civilization

“If it was the India that hooked you, try one of these.”

  1. The Broken Tusk: Stories of the Hindu God Ganesha
  2. Ka: Stories of the Mind and Gods of India
  3. The Pregnant King
  4. Devlok with Devdutt Pattanaik

“These start from a similar idea, even if they go somewhere else with it.”

  1. Doonesbury: Duke 2000
  2. The Book of Proverbs, Chapters 1-15
  3. Matthew
  4. Daniel: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture