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Red Shadow
The story revolves around a young boy, Misha and his friend, Valya, who also happens to be his senior in School. Friend is a very risky word in a communist society because the principles that define the society are always given precedence over personal relationships. The author manages to convey this to the reader very bluntly, for this has always been a reality in a communist set-up. With bugs in every nook and corner, neighbours spying on each other and children going against the wishes of their guardians, betrayal weaves the story together. Misha and Valya’s fathers are in the inner circle of Vozhd — what we call staff — of the Communist Party, lead by Stalin. Coming from the elite class has its share of advantages and disadvantages. One has access to better food, drinks, parties and house on the outskirts of Moscow with all the modern amenities. While on the other hand, they face a security threat all the time. Friends and relatives of the missing can’t even question about his whereabouts. And they are rightly called, "The walking dead." The citizens live in tension. What they are supposed to read or teach and how they are told to keep their emotions in check instil fear in their minds. The environment becomes claustrophobic. The author deserves credit for capturing this so accurately. Role of the Soviet secret police NKVD, corruption at the higher levels, ambition of the common people whose only escape from a desolate life is to reach the higher echelons are beautifully depicted in the book. Misha and Valya are lucky to have found a friend in each other. The to-and-fro walk from school is a respite for them in such difficult times. Yet, they are scared of the NKVD. Though they take utmost care, but they still land in the soup. Later, they manage to escape and start a new life. In a nutshell, a brilliant novel that grips till the end.
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