Chandrasekera, Vajra
Entry updated 6 May 2024. Tagged: Author.
(1979- ) Sri Lanka-born author of mostly speculative fiction, who began to publish work of genre interest with "Pockets Full of Stones" in Clarkesworld for July 2013. He has published over a hundred short stories, essays, reviews, and articles, appearing in Analog, Clarkesworld, The Gollancz Book of South Asian Science Fiction, Volume 2 (anth 2021) edited by Tarun K Saint, Strange Horizons (for which he was also a fiction editor) and Uncanny Magazine. His short story, "The Translator, at Low Tide" (May 2020 Clarkesworld), takes place in a ruined world (see Ruined Earth) where children savage the elderly. Much of his prose incorporates Dystopian elements tinged with the fantastical aspects of various Religions.
Chandrasekera's debut novel, The Saint of Bright Doors (2023), follows Fetter, trained to kill his sainted father, through a surreal environment. It succeeds in teasing the reader with details of the world without dimming its lights through over-explanation or failing to surprise. A fantastical (see Fantasy) novel from its outset, it features doors to other worlds, while the protagonist interacts with dating apps and support groups: Chandrasekera does not juxtapose these elements but pieces them together. The plot is notable for its frequent turns which, in contrast to traditional fantasy novels (see J R R Tolkien), render the hero's journey one of exploration rather than reaching a destination. Despite its title, The Saint of Bright Doors is a dark book which deals with oppression and surveillance.
Rakesfall (fixup 2024) takes place during the Sri Lankan Civil War and follows the protagonists through cycles of Reincarnation into the Far Future. It incorporates five previously published stories into a greater narrative. "Peristalsis" (May 2021 The Deadlands) forms its opening, kicking off the novel with a discussion of Gods and Demons. It also introduces other central themes, including rebirth and near-repetition as the events of the first two chapters are televised and replayed. Chandrasekera makes use of visceral, punchy, sometimes vulgar language (see Swearing) throughout, imbuing his fast-moving plot with impact in addition to momentum. The fourth chapter, first published as "Redder" in Nightmare for August 2020, and several others, reads like prose Poetry. "Vikurthimagga" in Asian Monsters (anth 2016) edited by Margrét Helgadóttir, "Heron of Earth" (June 2020 Clarkesworld), and "Running the Gullet" (March/April 2019 Analog) are the other stories included. Chandrasekera is to be complimented on his ability to weave disparate narratives into a kaleidoscopic whole with satisfying conclusions. [JM]
Vajra Chandrasekera
born Colombo, Sri Lanka: 17 August 1979
works
- The Saint of Bright Doors (New York: Tordotcom, 2023) [hb/Amanda Hudson]
- Rakesfall (New York: Tordotcom, 2024) [fixup: hb/Andrew Davis]
links
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