Sir Salman Rushdie (75) is a British-Indian author known for books like The Satanic Verses and Midnight’s Children. After a death sentence was issued against him in 1989, he lived in hiding for 10 years. During this time, video games became a welcome distraction for him.
What kind of author is he? Salman Rushdie was born in India in 1947, and from the age of 14, he attended a school in England. He achieved international acclaim in 1981 with his second novel, Midnight’s Children.
Why did he live in exile? In 1988, Rushdie published “The Satanic Verses,” which led to the Iranian revolutionary leader Ayatollah Khomeini condemning the author to death.
For about 10 years, Rushdie lived in constantly changing accommodations, sometimes without windows. At times, he reportedly did not even know what city he was in. During this difficult period, video games offered a welcome alternative to reality.
Did Rushdie perhaps find enjoyment in the new Mario movie as well?
Rushdie discovered his love for Super Mario through his son
How did the author discover gaming for himself? In 2012, Rushdie published his autobiographical novel “Joseph Anton,” which was named after his pseudonym in exile. In the book, the author recounts his experiences with Super Mario.
At one point, it is said that he grew fond of the Italian plumber thanks to his son Zafar: Super Mario World felt like a happy alternative to the world in which he spent the rest of his time.
His wife was less enthusiastic about the author’s newly discovered passion. She told him to read a good book instead.
When he finally defeated the evil Bowser a few days later and rescued the “insufferably pink Princess Toadstool,” he was glad that his wife did not witness this triumph.
Super Mario even influenced a novel
Did his passion for video games end there? Not quite. The Millions established a connection in 2012 between Super Mario and Rushdie’s novel “Luka and the Fire of Life.”
In this novel, “Super-Luka” embarks on a mission to steal the fire of life to awaken his father, the storyteller Rashid Khalifa, from his deep sleep. To accomplish this mission, the boy must master different levels.
Furthermore, Luka gets 999 lives, of which he loses one or more if he gets caught by an enemy. He can save his progress by hitting a golden ball at the end of a level.
This already resembles video game mechanics that one knows from the “Super Mario” games. If that isn’t enough: Luka also enjoys spending time on the console, much to the dismay of his mother, who believes that “hedgehogs and plumbers” are hardly going to improve his spelling.
Moreover, the author is said to have developed a fondness for the mobile game Angry Birds.
Parallel worlds in books and games
Writers and games, do they fit? In fact, it is not so far-fetched that a serious author can be passionate about video games: Rushdie’s works can be classified within the movement of Magical Realism, blending reality and magic.
Video games that can showcase “an infinite number of parallel realities” fit well in this context. The narrative structure of many games, which does not always have to be linear and sometimes allows for exploration and side quests, also corresponds to the storytelling style of the author.
Even though the circumstances are much more drastic than those of most video game enthusiasts, Rushdie’s reports from exile are surprisingly relatable. After all, who hasn’t faced the incomprehension of family members or lost themselves in games to escape reality for a while?
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