What happens when we die? Do we float into a massive abyss of nothingness, or are we at a state of perennial impass? Is there even an afterlife, and if so, is it subjective to corresponding religions? Is there Hades, Osiris, Yama or Pluto deciding our fate? If so, is it a bureaucratic system where we stand in queues, and do we get the choice of rebirth? Shehan Karunatilaka's 'The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida' doesn't answer any of these questions, and yet by the end of it you're left in peaceful serenity with yourself.
Seldom do we come across a text that does so many things all at once, and more importantly, does all of it incredibly well. I mean you can simply pick it up as a kind of detective murder mystery, a political satire, or maybe even an action thriller...? The second person narrative is a bit distancing I'll agree, but then there's this interesting sense of humour to make up for it. And obviously, it's the tale of Malinda (Maal) Almeida who's dead, and finds himself in the afterlife, with seven moons to sort his affairs on the mortal plane and pass into 'The Light'. Karunatilaka sets his plot in 1980s Sri Lankan civil war, with the Tamil and Sinhalese at each other's throats and Maali the bastard son of both. Not to mention about him being a closet gay.
Maali is not perfect, he's a debauched gambler, regular drug abuser, in his own language 'a slut', and an A+ photographer. And now that he's dead, he must find out his murderer(s), and get his photos published (that he claims can topple governments) and reach the light, all before his seven moons are over. It's impressive how Karunatilaka creates each character with such detail: The political ideologist dead JVP worker Sena, the murdered voicist professor Dr. Renne, Amma, DD, Stanley and so many others. And how all have demons, some of which sit on the bonnet of a car. It is really a narrative that must be explored by the reader on their own, mostly because each will have their own say in the matter. And howsoever you choose to read it, remember that it's not really the ghosts or pretas or monsters or demons to be feared, but in Maali's own words:
"Evil is not what we should fear. Creatures with power acting in their own interest: that is what should make us shudder.”