Turbulence (Book Review)

Turbulence by Samit Basu is a climatic story of everyday people who have extraordinary powers. The bright, yellow cover and almost holographic lettering draws the eye in to this fantastical journey and the amazing writing keeps you there. The back cover reads: How would you feel if you actually got what you wanted? And what would you do if you could really change the world? Aman Sen is smart, young, ambitious and going nowhere. But then he gets off a plane from London to Delhi and discovers that he has turned into a communications demigod. Indeed, everyone on Aman's flight now has extraordinary abilities. Aman wants to heal the planet but with each step he takes, he finds helping some means harming others. Will it all end, as eighty years of superhero fiction suggest, in a meaningless, explosive slugfest?

Now if that short description didn't get you intrigued for this book then I don't know what will. Immediately after reading that I thought of a story that was a combination of two television shows: J.J. Abrams Lost and NBC's Heroes. Of course, I was ready to jump into the superhero adventure and within minutes of reading--I was already hooked! Turbulence delivers an amazing story like never before with an impressive tale of an action-packed journey of several individuals who try to discover their new founded powers and what they should do with them.

Turbulence really gets the reader thinking about their own dreams and what powers they could have to change their life and the world. The book starts out with a flight from London to Delhi that experiences turbulence were all the passengers fall asleep. Once they awaken, they start to notice that they have super powers similar to the ones in their dreams. For example, Vir who is a fighter pilot dreamed of flying and when he awoke he could. Aman who dreamed of fantasy and space could access anything in the world with his mind, Tia who never had any free time could clone herself, and Uzma who had dreams of being an actress can charm her way into getting anything she wants. Why these particular individuals try to discover how to use their new powers for good--we also have a group of evil villains forming. The group is led by the imperishable Jai accompanied by the compelling Sher and terrifying Anima who all want to take over the world.

Turbulence is a brilliantly written masterpiece that explores the stunning imagery of London and India in intricate detail. The fascinating characters have powers that are unique and fun which kept the book entertaining all the way to the end. The author manages to use a witty tone that creates a vivid picture of the world and characters of Turbulence; however, the character dialogue doesn't flow as seamlessly as it could, which interrupts the course of the story. Nevertheless, Turbulence was an overall enjoyable read and is a must-buy for superhero fans everywhere. We can't wait for a sequel to continue this epic story of humor and post-modern superheroes.

Turbulence is now available from most major book retailers. To learn more, visit the official Turbulence page on the Titan Books website.

Written by: Samit Basu

Published by: Titan Books

Score: 8.5 out of 10