Conspiracy of Calaspia
Conspiracy of Calaspia cover
Author	The Guptara Twins, Suresh Guptara & Jyoti Guptara
Cover artist	Al Knight
Country	India
Language	English
Series	Insanity Saga
Genre(s)	Fantasy novel
Publisher	Tara Press
Publication date	November 21, 2006
Media type	Print (Hardcover and Paperback)
Pages	598 pp (first edition, hardback)
ISBN	ISBN 81-8386-026-5 (first edition, hardback)
OCLC Number	428175395

Conspiracy of Calaspia is a fantasy novel written by twin teenage novelists Suresh and Jyoti Guptara. It is the first book of the Insanity Saga that follows the story of Bryn Bellyset - a 16 year old heir to an enormously successful drink empire - his fellow barue and others as they race to save the land of Calaspia from an evil force many still believe to be extinct.

The Guptara twins wrote the first draft at the age of eleven. The book reached the bestseller list when the authors were seventeen..

Contents 1 Extended plot summary 2 Reviews 3 Calaspia competition 4 References 5 External links 5.1 Official 5.2 Interviews

[edit] Extended plot summary

[edit] Reviews

Conspiracy of Calaspia has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from both fellow authors and the media.

Richard Adams (Watership Down) found the book "Most enjoyable".^[1]

Dr Patrick Dixon is quoted as saying: "the extraordinary epic fantasy novel, in the genre of Lord of the Rings, by 17-year old twin brothers who have been plotting together since early childhood. A large-scale drama, following classic themes of good and evil... and this first book is only a foretaste of what is to come!"[2]

Theodore Beale notes that "It is not often that one finds oneself reading a fantasy novel written by authors who are still in school" and that this is "a notable debut". [3]

Rabi Maharaj raves about "splendid work" that "betrays sheer genius ... masterfully crafted; fantasy at its best ... brilliantly portrayed. A unique addition to the world of outstanding literature ... as appealing to adults as children, if not more so. It was hard to put this book down (and truly frustrating whenever I had to) ... holds ones attention forever!" and adds Calaspia "would make a great movie".[4]

In the Swiss media, Thurgauer Zeitung hails the Guptara Twins as "Wunderkinder". [5]

The Bookseller of the Swiss book industry, Schweizer Buchhandel confirmed that "the Guptara Twins have enriched the world of fantasy". [6]

Idea Spektrum says that Calaspia can boast "intrigue of cosmically conspiratorial dimensions".[7]

Conspiracy of Calaspia is "fabulous and magical" according to Tagblatt.[8]

In the UK, Asians in Media calls Suresh and Jyoti "talented twins" and describe "epic fantasy". [9]

In the Indian media, India Today announced that "the literary debut of Brothers Guptara is sure to spice up the literary scene" while its books magazine Books Today called Conspiracy of Calaspia "the fantasy novel of the year". [10]

Tehelka, the People's Paper of India stated that the Twin authors were "all set for literary fame".[11]

Business Standard accurately describes them as "precocious". [12]

Daily India recognizes "More than a story, Calaspia is a subtle parody". [13] South Asia News echoes that Calaspia is "full of satire and symbols alongside action and adventure"[14]

Outlook India gushes "Suresh and Jyoti Guptara ... enough to make a publisher insanely happy. Happen to be teenagers - all of 17, and good-looking, to boot".[15]

[edit] Calaspia competition

In 2007, Irish, Indian, and American companies together launched an international short story writing competition for young people based on Conspiracy of Calaspia ^[16], in which the writers must take the Guptara Twins' characters on their own adventure. The top ten prizes are an all-expenses-paid 10-day tour of England's literary sites, with 100 runner-up prizes. Stories will be chosen based on the criteria of creativity and originality, and will be judged by an eminent panel^[17] consisting of:

• Gurcharan Das, business guru, columnist & playwright;
• Bianca Jagger the renowned social and human rights advocate;
• Dr Michael Nobel, great-grandnephew of the founder of the Nobel Prizes, and immediate past-President of the Nobel Family Society;
• Alec Sokolow, Academy Award nominated screenwriter (Evan Almighty, Garfield, Cheaper by the Dozen, and Toy Story);
• G. P. Taylor, best-selling author (Shadowmancer, Wormwood, Tersias)

The official Calaspia Literary Competition web site is www.calaspia-competition.com

[edit] References

• ISBN 81-8386-026-5 (hardcover, November 2006)

1. ^  http://tehelka.com/story_main21.asp?filename=hub102806vanity_fair.asp
2. ^  http://www.twins.guptara.net/conspiracy.htm#endorsements
3. ^  http://www.intentblog.com/archives/2007/08/guptaras_conspi.html
4. ^  http://www.twins.guptara.net/news.htm

[edit] External links

[edit] Official

• Official Guptara Twins Web Presence
• Guptara Twins on Literary Agency Author page
• Web Presence of German Publishing House Rowohlt

[edit] Interviews

• Recorded audio of interview with Guptara Twins from BBC World Service
• Jyoti Guptara talks about their lives Recorded audio of interview, Jyoti Guptara talks to Hans Fischer of SwissEduc
• Business Standard Q&A, 24 December 2006, New Delhi