Brishti Guha

I have a PhD from Princeton and am currently an associate professor of economics at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India. Besides publishing in international academic journals, and writing for the popular press, my work has been published, or is forthcoming, in Analog Science Fiction and Fact, Samovar, Sci-Phi Journal, Eye to the Telescope, the Doctor T.J. Eckleburg Review, Chrome Baby, Empty Mirror, Ezra, The Mercurian, Jaggery, and Newfound.

Get to know Brishti...

Birthdate?

14th March.

When did you start writing?

In primary school, when I wrote a story about an interplanetary romance between a prince from Mercury and a princess from Pluto (they settled down on Earth).

Why do you write?

I have always found that writing brings me a lot of joy. I write different types of pieces for different reasons. I might write a nonfiction piece because I have something to say (on a topic which I would have done lots of prior research on). I would write a translation, if I felt I had a shot at translating some really wonderful piece of literature I'd come across, and sharing it with readers who would never have been able to read it in its original form. A fiction piece, or a poem, would largely be a challenge to myself to see how fun and creative I could get with an idea. I also write highly technical economics papers pretty much for the same reason.

Why do you write Science Fiction and/or Fantasy?

I think these are interesting genres because they stimulate our imaginations and stretch the boundaries of what we believe is possible. At least some part of my interest in writing in this genre is because of my exposure to a wide range of speculative literature (most notably in Sanskrit), which has inspired me to try translations and retellings in the genre and to also experiment with poems, stories, and essays.

Who is your favorite author? Your favorite story?

This is very tough to answer as it's hard to choose only one. My top two favourites in western literature are classics - Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen) and War and Peace (Leo Tolstoy). In Indian literature, my favourite is The Mahabharata, which I think is the best story ever told.

What are you trying to say with your fiction?

I will leave readers to figure this out! I would be very happy if my work leaves readers intrigued and entertained.

If you could write your own epitaph, what would it say?

I don't anticipate having one, as in my religion the dead are cremated and don't have epitaphs! However, I'd quite like to be known as a "happy seeker".

Do you blog?

Not yet!