This is my fourth journey to Supernova by Dee Lestari. After reading Aroma Karsa early last year, I repeated my journey with Supernova which was delayed due to collection and financial limitations.
I think the universe did plan today as the perfect time to explore the amazing wilderness of Dee's imagination.
Ready for this universe?
Zarah and Her Unusual Journeys
During this trip, I met Zarah, a girl who grew up in a conservative family in Batu Luhur. Through the hands of Firas, her father who is also a lecturer, she received an unusual education. Her father's guidance was able to make her a smart girl even though it was opposed by many groups.
Her life was fine again. She has complete parents and a younger sister named Hara. Just like Zarah, Hara is taught the same values by Firas. However, Zarah's life has completely changed since Firas has an interest in functions, no longer in religious lessons which earned her the label of role model in Batu Luhur. By the local community, Firas are said to adhere to black magic and often perform rituals that are contrary to the teachings of Islam on an untouched hill called Bukit Jambul. Firas becomes estranged.
Only Zarah Firas can share the results of his research and findings. Unlike people who think he is crazy, Zarah firmly believes in Firas whatever he has taught her. Even though he doesn't understand the details, Zarah is the only person trusted to keep Firas's journals.
The climax of the controversy in the Firas family was when Aisyah, Sarah's mother suffered a miscarriage. The shape of the baby that was born by Aisyah was very strange, it was suspected that it was a punishment from the power because Firas had carried out a series of black magic on Bukit Jambul. But later Zarah finds out that her sister has a rare disease called Harlequin Ichthyosis.
Since that incident, the people's view of Firas has become increasingly negative. Firas career as a lecturer just let go. Instead of making a living for his family, he is busy doing research at Bukit Jambul until one day Firas disappears. He just disappeared, and his body was nowhere to be found. Only Zarah has a hint about her father, even though she doesn't know exactly where Firas is. Is Firas still alive or dead? Unlike the other members of his family, Zarah is the only person who believes that Firas is not dead. Through the journal left by Firas, she begins her exploration of Bukit Jambul until he experiences an unusual phenomenon after eating a mysterious mushroom.
After Firas died, Zarah started her journey as an ordinary girl. Zara returns to school. Her intelligence, which surpasses that of her age, makes Zarah skip classes. There she met Koso, an immigrant from Africa. Koso is Zarah's only close friend because the two of them have one thing in common, namely strange humans. That's how Zarah gave her and Koso the nicknames. Zarah becomes Koso's teacher who turns out to be dyslexic. Her partnership with Koso did not last long. Koso ended up moving to another country and they had to go their separate ways. Zarah returns alone.
Mysterious Camera
On Zarah's seventeenth birthday, she received a camera from an unknown person. The arrival of the camera made Zarah sure that Firas had not transmigrated, because Firas had promised to give her a camera. While accompanying Firas to research all types of Fungi, Zarah must take pictures of these fungi.
With the gift camera, Zarah suddenly won a photo contest. She doesn't know who sent the photos so he can win a trip to Tanjung Putting, Kalimantan. There she met the wilderness which brought him closer to nature. Zarah feels so comfortable in Tanjung Putting that she doesn't want to go back to her house. Zarah chose to become a volunteer which eventually brought her to a wildlife photographer named Paul.
Her encounter with Paul opens the opportunity for Zarah to search for her missing father.
About Zarah Universe
Zarah is the fourth character in the Supernova: Particle series. The Universe of Zarah is different from the three previous universes, Ferre in Knight, Princess, and Falling Star, Bodhi in Roots, and Elektra in Lightning. To complement the diversity of Supernovas, Zarah comes from the majority in Indonesia. Zarah's life is told more complex but successive so that in some parts I feel bored. It happened when Zarah was diving into the forest in Tanjung Putting. Her detailed journey with an orangutan named Sarah made me have to leave this story for a while.
For me, the story of Zarah starting her journey as a wildlife photographer could be shortened, especially about her relationship with an orangutan named Sarah. It is interesting to have a story about Orangutan, who is can grow up belonging to a human being. But for me, It was boring.
I found interest again when Zarah began her journey in London. The discussion about fungi was brought up again when Zarah found a gap about Firas. Her meeting with Koso and Storm makes this fourth series even more colorful. In the previous two series, the character's romance was not exposed. Although not as detailed as the story of Fere and Rana in the first series, Zarah's love journey is no less interesting than the mysterious discovery and research of Firas.
The climax of this story occurs when Zarah meets Simon Hardiman, a rich man in London who also believes in Aliens. Simon is the one who keeps a copy of Firas' last journal which Aisyah burned. This is a very interesting and staple part of the Particles series. Here is a more detailed explanation of entheogen. Repeating her experiences in another world, with the help of her experts, Zarah again ventures into the spiritual world to find Firas.
Rich in Insights
Just like Dee's other books, Supernova: Particles is a series full of new insights. Entheogen, Fungi, and Harlequin Ichthyosis are new things that have repeatedly entered my knowledge. But I have to admit, I have a hard time remembering the types of fungi that Dee mentions in his book. I'm still a muggle showing a lot of wrinkles in the things Zarah finds on her travels.
Getting Closer to the Real Mission
The real mission of this Supernova series comes from Ruben and Dimas which is then continued by Gio who is desperately looking for the whereabouts of the Diva. In this fourth book, Dee gives a spin-off about another book, namely the meeting of Bodhi and Elektra. This is a sign that the mission of the Supernova is getting closer and clearer.
However, from the two female characters in the Supernova series: Lightning and Particles, I have one thing in common. Where the characters Elektra and Zarah tend to be quiet and not ambitious. Both are designed to where life's path takes them. If these two characters mingled, I probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference between the two.
Besides, I really can't wait to find the end of this supernova galaxy.
Later I will discuss the story of Elektra here. Since I read it first, I need more energy to remember Elektra's story and retell it here.
Although it is not my responsibility to complete my review of Supernova, I am very happy to discuss all of Dee's books here.
Promise I'll be back with Elektra and Ferre universe.