It is really hard to define what kind of book this is, something lika a Victorian science fiction/fiction label might come somewhat close. The story jumps back and forth in time and follows different characters, weaving everything together beautifully. In a future an egyptuian clerk (named Antar) in New York City bumps into a lost ID card. It belongs to a strange man that Antar met a long time ago. The man claimed to be the world authority on Ronald Ross, the man that solved the mystery with malaria in Calcutta 1898. While Antar digs up information about what really happend to the man, a mystery unravels and by the time Antar finds himself involved into it, it's to late to get out. I'm glad that I read this book, it was really a joy to read. Amitav Ghosh tells the story in a way that you have a hard time putting the book down, you get completly caught up in the book.