TALES OF LOCKWOOD LAND
THE BLUE GATE

(Novel)

AYISHA ALISHBA

The narration in this novel never even once flags in its energy level, or suffers from repetition or lack of novelty. At every turn there is something unexpected awaiting the reader. It could be the instance of the protagonists growing wings in place of arms at a particular juncture or the betrayal of their trusted companion when the escape was so near. The gift of imagination makes this narrative sparkle with excitement and sustains curiosity.

K. Jayakumar
(Foreword)

FOREWORD

Rich Harvest of
Fertile Imagination

Ayisha Alishba is barely a teenager. But what she has accomplished in this work of fiction is truly amazing. ‘Tales of Lockwood Land: The Blue Gate’ is explosively creative. No reader would escape the feeling of wonder and excitement after going through this adventure story. I do not wish to summarise the story lest it should spoil the thrill of narration. The story of the trials and tribulations of three young people, Leah, Evelyn and Leonardo in a land far removed from reality but suffused with supernatural energy succeeds to grab the attention of the reader right from the beginning till the end. They get to the Lockwood land not out of their will but by strange events that rationality may not succeed to explain.
Too much of rationality stifles imagination. That is why younger minds are in a better position to dream/imagine, defying the rules and restrictions of rationality. As we grow old imagination recedes and rationality takes over. That also explains why it is always stimulating to talk to younger people. They allow their imagination to fly high. True creativity is about believing in the imagination and not getting bogged down to the ‘real’. It is that ‘unrealness’ which adds beauty and enchantment to the works of young writers. This ‘willing suspension of disbelief’ is the magic key that opens the doors to mystery. The classic work, ‘Alice in Wonderland’ has satisfied generations of readers because imagination creates a wonderland where the rules of the rational world are inversed. Harry Potter and the mysterious events and characters created by J.K. Rowling too have fascinated millions of readers, both young and old, by the audacity of imagination. Living a socially confirmative life as law abiding citizens, all of us (meaning us adults) have always felt a subconscious (often unexpressed) urge to declare our individual freedom and defy restrictions. We too have wondered: ‘why should life be always serious, predictable and dull devoid of adventure and excitement?’
For a writer as young as Ayisha Alishba this proclamation of the freedom of imagination is not an act of rebellion or defiance but a natural commitment to imagination. She has a natural instinct for the ‘willing suspension of disbelief.’ She naturally asserts her right to imagine; to visualise. That does not however mean that the world and situations she creates are always ideal, just and simple. Far from it. Her imagination conjures up strange good and evil characters, weird encounters and rare experiences. Finally, Leah and Evelyn are able to pass through the Blue Gate and walk back to freedom. In the Lockwood land there is the benevolent Lujain, Elgie and the maid Shezareya as well as the evil queen Mehsas and Adiam with the wolves. The chain of events leading to the exit and farewell are so riddled with unheard of tests and fierce encounters that the readers find themselves on the edge of the chair in nail-biting excitement.
Ayisha is a natural story teller with commendable grip on the techniques of effective narration. She knows what will excite the readers and how to hold their interest. The narration in this novel never even once flags in its energy level, or suffers from repetition or lack of novelty. At every turn there is something unexpected awaiting the reader. It could be the instance of the protagonists growing wings in place of arms at a particular juncture or the betrayal of their trusted companion when the escape was so near. The gift of imagination makes this narrative sparkle with excitement and sustains curiosity.
In a way (may not be intended by the author) Lockwood land could be everywhere. The novel could be read as a story of all of us as we too are faced with the good and bad of life, opportunities and threats, tests and rewards. And with perseverance and faith one can cross the ‘gate’ and regain freedom. The evil queen could symbolize power in its selfish and corrupt form. However, no such interpretations and allusions are really required to bask in the enchanted sunshine of Ayisha’s imagination that illumines these pages.
Let not the world with its pragmatism make the writer in her more practical. Her sheer indifference to rationality and pragmatism is the seed of magic of this novel. May the reader undertake the sojourn of this enchanted country with beasts and beauty and enjoy this harvest of imagination.
I foresee a great creative career for this young and daring writer and visualise her works prominently displayed in leading book stores across the globe. Even as I write this, I feel I have glimpsed the flicker of a blue light nearby heralding the arrival of the benevolent Lujain who grants our wishes.

K. Jayakumar
October 2024