idra F Sheikh’s intergalactic panorama has turned a shade darker, and the Pakistani sci-fi scene is all the better for it.

Seven years after Sheikh introduced The Light Blue Jumper to the literary world, its sequel continues the unapologetic comedy of errors in outer space with plot twists galore. A Shade Darker can be read as a satirical account of the usual thematic suspects: love, power, jealousy, greed, envy etc. It can also be viewed as a subtle commentary on the untold ‘ever after’ of heroic tales: the complexities of governance.

Even though Sheikh reverts to the absurdly comic elements to prevent the narrative from turning too dark, the difference between the first and second instalments of her sci-fi series is undeniable. The pop culture references and nods to iconic sci-fi characters are still there. But the tone has shifted. A Shade Darker is more nuanced and introspective than its predecessor, reflecting the evolution of, both, the writer’s stylistic capability and the storyline.

The expansion of the intergalactic universe in the second book is matched by Sheikh’s intentional exploration of sub-themes and sub-plots. The result is a world building endeavour populated by characters befuddled by the complexities of their own thoughts and emotions. This is not a story for the complacent reader. The narration is like fine sand, simultaneously revealing and concealing details of the storyline and characters’ personalities. Be inattentive at the risk of, literally, losing the plot.

Beginning with the title itself, A Shade Darker is peppered with hints about the possible trajectory of the plot. However, veiled references to the self-destructive tendencies of the inhabitants of a little blue dot in the universe are possibly the only clues that can be correctly guessed. Loopholes undermine assumptions just as the reader thinks they have finally unravelled the remaining plot. There is a deliberate omission of rational thought and progression of timelines. The multiple-narrators ploy assists the sudden switches in time, place, and most importantly, sub-plots. The shifts in perspectives tie in smoothly with the recurrent emphasis on ambiguities and the fallacy of believing in absolutes.

The beloved hero, or anti-hero, Zaaron from The Light Blue Jumper, can no longer be viewed simply as a bumbling saviour. Each glimpse into a character’s psyche reveals a new facet, reiterating the exploration of the spaces between good and evil, black and white. The motley crew of possible heroes might have assembled again but they are no Avengers. Sheikh smashes all ideals of larger-than-life heroism, choosing instead to focus on the absurdity of human(ish) desires.

There is a constant juxtaposition of self-interest with the collective ‘good,’ a trope that Sheikh applies to each strand of A Shade Darker: relationships, governance, individualism, and authoritarianism. Imperialism and its ally, colonialism, make appearances in multiple scenes. Discrimination, through colourism and gender stereotypes, slips into conversations between characters. Repression of free speech and the rewriting of histories by successive power blocs are constants, lending an air of tragicomedy to each commander’s enterprise of facilitating the ‘greater good.’

Suspension of disbelief is usually a must while reading sci-fi. But it’s eerily disconcerting how Sheikh’s narration of interplanetary interactions does not seem too far-fetched. Subtle commentary about the insidious and unstoppable integration of AI into everyday functions is interwoven with corruption and greed for power – a perfectly plausible scenario in the coming decades.

A Shade Darker’s claim to sci-fi could have possibly crumbled beneath such weighty concerns. But Sheikh balances the profound with the utterly mundane. Each instance of philosophical thought is deftly destroyed by comical missteps with galactic implications. None of the characters, and their sub-plots, are immune to the ridiculous.

There are times, particularly halfway through the story, where the constant plot twists might make a reader give up. But most readers will be too invested by that point. Curiosity will lead them to the ending, only to leave them with a niggling suspicion that the story is not really over.

There are no neat endings. Nor is this a feel-good novel. Sheikh does not dole out hope for a miraculous recovery for populations intent on paths of planetary destruction. She simply provides a brief look at the descent into chaos. Layered with wit and a Doremon filter for gentle sensibilities, of course.

Is A Shade Darker the 1984 of contemporary Pakistani literature? C’est possible.

A Shade Darker

Author: Sidra F Sheikh

Publisher: Windy Beach Books, 2025

Pages: 270

Price: Rs 2,700

The reviewer is a public policy analyst based in Pakistan