BLOOD & Nemesis
By Ben Antao
Goan Observer Private Ltd.
318 pages, Rs. 250 ($25CN)

A review by Anne Osborne - former Editor of Canadian Author & Bookman, and currently national Vice-President of the Canadian Authors Association.

First-time novelist Ben Antao’s work shows his firm roots in journalism. His eye for the telling detail and the significant event gives depth to the driving narrative that keeps readers turning pages through this story of the struggle for independence from the Portuguese dictatorship in Goa during the 1950s and early ‘60s. 

BLOOD & Nemesis draws a complex but understandable picture of various levels of society in the Portuguese colony at the time of India’s emergence as a nation.  

In the novel, Goan appetites are huge. There are prodigious amounts of a wide variety of liquor consumed by nearly all the males, and food seems readily available on all occasions. The obligatory sex scenes are sufficiently frequent and enthusiastic. However, they are all (but one) energetic performances by happy, welcoming tarts who adore the big man with a grand appendage and walloping performance. Readers will also pick up glancing references to the economic need for such young women to perform these duties to support their own parents. 

The lives of Jovino Colaço, a Portugal-enamored Goan working for the colonial administration, and the freedom-seeking Santan Barreto are the main arcs of the story. Jovino’s power as a policeman increases and he takes full advantage of every opportunity for graft and brutally hunting down Indian sympathizers. As he does so, he makes the life of Santan, the Christian Indian Goan, extremely unpleasant, finally culminating in a long jail term for the freedom fighter. However, as Goa achieves independence from the Portuguese dictatorship, their respective fortunes take a new turn. 

This story is an entertaining and factual journey into that part of the world of which most of us in North America know so little. What would be very useful, then, is the addition of a map of Goan strategic locations to help keep track of the freedom drive. 

While BLOOD & Nemesis is a commendable first novel, it shows a few weaknesses that will probably be overcome in Antao’s next efforts as he develops his skills in this genre. The strong narrative line will no doubt remain as he eliminates his occasional “head hopping” switches of internal narration that this reader found jarring. His eye for detail that brings insight into the motivation of Goan bus drivers is commendable for its plain statement of fact without moralizing. However, there is not quite such even-handed treatment in the following description: “Such deep feeling from a prostitute might seem incredible to outsiders…”. As well, there are just a few places where readers could do with a little more help with unfamiliar Indian and Portuguese terms. 

It is to be hoped that Antao’s next book will be produced with fewer physical flaws. This one is printed on thin paper that allows the print to show through the pages, some of which are not properly trimmed. The lack of an International Standard Book Number (ISBN), Cataloguing in Publication (CIP), and a bar code will severely hamper the book’s eligibility to be found in libraries and bookstores. Finally, the price on the cover is shown in rupees, suggesting an Indian, but not North American market.  

Pity – the novel would be a valuable and enjoyable addition here, too.  However, the book is available from the author.  Email ben.antao@rogers.com or call 416-250-8885 

July 14, 2005

TGF addendum:

Blood & Nemesis was released on June 18, 2005, at International Centre, Goa, by freedom fighter and author James Fernandes. Special Offer for Goan Observer readers and subscribers 25% discount on the listed price of Rs. 250. Postage free within India

For inquiries contact: Gustav Fernandes at Tel (Goa) 2465882,  2465615,  Ben Antao (Toronto) 416 250 8885   

or send an email to:

goanobserver@yahoo.co.uk or ben.antao@rogers.com