Haroun and the Sea of Stories  (English, Paperback, unknown)

Haroun And The Sea of Stories is a tale of fantasy, of a son who journeys through strange lands to try and get back his father’s lost voice.

Summary Of The Book

Haroun And The Sea Of Stories tells the story of Haroun who lives in the country of Alifbay with his father, Rashid Khalifa. They live in a sad city, a place that is so sad that it has even forgotten its name. But Haroun is happy living with his mother Soraya and his father.

Rashid Khalifa is a storyteller. He is known as the Ocean of Notions, and is also sometimes called the Shah of Blah. Rashid has a vivid imagination and can even command the attention of birds and animals with his fascinating stories. He is a cheerful person in a sad land.

One day though, life changes for Haroun and Rashid. Soraya leaves them, and Rashid is so upset, he loses his ability to speak. He can only say “ark, ark, ark.” The reason for Rashid’s affliction is the ruler of the land of Chup, Khattam-Shud. This man, whose name roughly means ‘completely finished’, hates stories and is trying to eliminate all stories and storytellers. He is even trying to poison the Sea of Stories.

When Haroun wants to know why the tyrant hates stories, Khattam tells him that he wants to control everything, but stories defy him. He says that inside every story is a world that he cannot control, so he hates them. Haroun then embarks on a journey to save the world of stories and get his father’s voice back. On the way, he picks up strange companions like Butt the Bus Driver who can change into a mechanical bird, Iff the Water Genie and Mali who is a floating gardener made of seaweed.

Haroun and his strange friends travel through many fascinating lands. They visit Moody Land where the moods of the people affect the weather. They also visit a place called Gup that is populated by Pages who are organized into Chapters and Volumes. They are commanded by a General named Kitab.

The friends also encounter other intriguing creatures like the Plentimaw Fish who only speaks in rhyming doggerel and a warrior who only communicates in gestures.

Haroun And The Sea Of Stories is a fascinating journey through fantastic lands peopled with many mysterious creatures. Rushdie dedicates the book to his own son from whom he had been separated for some time.

About Salman Rushdie

Salman Rushdie is a British Indian writer.

He is also the author of Midnight's Children, Joseph Anton: A Memoir, Shalimar the Clown, and Luka and the Fire of Life.

Salman Rushdie was born in 1947 in Bombay. He studied History at King’s College, University of Cambridge. Rushdie began his writing career as a copywriter for the advertising agency Ogilvy & Mather and came up with some memorable lines. His first popular novel was Midnight’s Children which won the Booker Prize in 1981. His most famous work is probably The Satanic Verses, which earned him the ire of the Islamic world. Salman Rushdie had to live under police protection for many years.