Before reading, “The House of Fear” I had not heard of Ibn-E Safi. I don’t think anyone from my generation must have and I have to say that they are then missing out on one of the finest Urdu mystery writers’ works. It is not only written in simple language, but also has wit and charm attached to it.
The House of Fear is a publication of Random House India, which consists of two novellas – The House of Fear and Shootout at the Rocks. While reading them, I thought they were unusually short for a novella, however it struck me later that it is best for mystery novellas/novels/short stories to be short or else it will not be able to hold the readers’ interest. I have always loved a good mystery and more so something which is unique.
In this case, it is but the sleuth Imran, whose father Rahman is the Director General of the Intelligence Bureau in Karachi, Pakistan. Imran is an odd ball, who seems rather stupid to the rest of the world, however manages to solve cases with his razor-sharp mind and deductive logic powers. He is after all the Perfect Spy, who I thought was just being incospicuous to be able to solve cases better.
In this volume, the two novellas that I mentioned are constructed around simple plots: In the House of Fear, dead bodies are found in an abandoned house, with one clue: Each body bears three identical dagger marks. Who is behind these murders?
Shootout at the Rocks was my personal favourite amongst the two, as it spoke of the world’s deadliest gangs, Li Yu Ka and how a certain Colonel Zargham gets involved with them and it is up to Imran to save his life.
Agatha Christie singled Ibn-E Safi as the original Urdu detective writer in the entire subcontinent and I not surprised why. There is something about the way the man wrote his stories. Ibn-E Safi started writing the Imran series from 1955 right up to 1980. There are almost 120 of Imran’s books alone and I wonder if we will ever be so lucky to be able to read all of them. I hope so.
P.S: The translation by Bilal Tanweer is superbly done. You might also want to check out more on Ibn-E Safi on his official website: http://www.compast.com/ibnesafi/
Of Books and Reading 
Dear Sir!
I wonder wht u r deleting my message. Infact, Rechel of Random House and Mr Aseseesh of Hindustan TImes did have acquired my help to get some high resolution images of Ibne Safi Sahab which i have provided. Ms Sohini also asked to me place a promo at my web site http://www.wadi-e-urdu.com (another official web site on ibne safi: ref: wikipedia.com/ibnesafi) title of Imran Series translated by Bilal Tanveer- I hope that this time u wont delete my comments
Regards
RASHID ASHRAF
Admn: http://www.wadi-e-urdu.com ( a site on ibne safi)
When do we expect the inauguration ceremony of Ibne Safi’s novels in New Dehli ?
Regards
RASHID ASHRAF
I am a big fan of Ibne Safi. I have read many of his books and I don’t think if any other writer has impressed me as much Ibne Safi’s writings have. It is so good to hear that his books are being translated into English.
Thank you.
Dear Obiad and All Ibne Safi Lovers:
There is a fresh article on ibne safi published in Pakistan’s widely circulated newspaper Business Recorder on June 19, 2010 with title ” IBNE SAFI-A GREAT FICTION WRITER” . The same is also included at wikipedia’s Ibne Safi page. Random House’s officials were also informed about this article.
You can read it, here is the link:
http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=1071237&currPageNo=1&query=&search=&term=&supDate=
RASHID ASHRAF
It is heartening to know the great works of the gret writer Ibne Safi are being translated in English. His marvellous words deserves to be appreciated by the people all over the world. I love to read his English novels. Please do inform as to how and where I can get his English novels. I am looking forward to your kind response
Anxiusly waiting for English version of “Jasoosi Duniya” another Master Balaster Series of the Great Master Ibne Safi….
inam shah
i m fan of books
Hello there 🙂
If you are under 30, then I am of your generation and I have read all the novels of Imran Series and Jasoosi Dunya both by ibn e safi during my early to mid teens itself ;D
It is so amazing to see that FINALLY his work is getting translated in English too!