Westland Books announces ‘IF’, a dedicated space for speculative fiction,

with the publication of Biopeculiar: Stories of an Uncertain World

by Gigi Ganguly

National, 25 April 2024: Westland Books is excited to unveil its new dedicated space for speculative fiction—IF. Speculative fiction is the asking of the question ‘what if’, and the attempt to understand human and non-human, external and internal worlds outside the narrow confines of what may be called reality. IF hopes to participate in conversations in the genre and contribute to it through the sustained, considered publication of books within it. Westland Books released the first book in IF-Biopeculiar: Stories of an Uncertain World by Gigi Ganguly, with more books to follow soon. 
The stories in Biopeculiar are all about the natural world, as much about clouds and crows, otters, and trees as they are about humans. The whimsicality, the near-future scenarios, and the empathetic look at eco-crises make the book an irresistible read.
Author Gigi Ganguly said, “The stories in Biopeculiar are born out of my deep love and respect for the natural world—the clouds and winds, the trees and plants, the cats, and dogs we live with. It is their world too, as much as it is ours.”
Karthika VK, Publisher, Westland Books said, “Gigi Ganguly’s Biopeculiar, our very first IF book, is odd, playful, and richly witty. The stories in it throw a slantwise look at our troubled world and the ever-shifting relationship humans share with every other species on it. IF will, we hope, allow us to introduce many more, truly exciting writers in the genre from India and other parts of the world.”
This announcement marks an exciting chapter for readers eager to explore imaginative realms and contemplate the mysteries of the uncertain world.
Biopeculiar is now available for purchase online and in bookstores.

About the Book
ODD STORIES ABOUT THE NATURAL WORLD
A cloud-herder gathers his flock as he prepares to retire. Meanwhile, the imminent retirement of its most talented singer is sending panic waves through the Weather Department. And a corvid inspector faced with a very tough case must also deal with a ruined reputation and morose associates.
Gigi Ganguly’s speculative short stories are shot through with a deep love for the natural world, grave concern about the crises that envelop it today and a rare kindness even as she places the blame for it all on one species. At once fantastical and familiar, playful and disturbing, these stories root around in the world we think we know, dredging up truths that often evade our eyes.
‘Biopeculiar is a whimsical, delightful collection that is full of heart, wisdom and magic. With prose that often reads like poetry, Gigi Ganguly has assembled a series of vignettes and short stories that are perfect bite-sized reads for modern times.’
— S.B. DIVYA, Hugo- and Nebula-nominated author of Meru
‘Whimsical, tender and perceptive, Biopeculiar blurs the boundaries between human and non-human in a kaleidoscope of viewpoints; in doing so, it invites us to see a truer reflection of ourselves.