Adiga provides both a chronological and geographical framework for this collection of stories, a prequel to his Man Bookerwinning The White Tiger (2008). The stories take place during the years between the assassinations of Indira Gandhi in 1984 and Rajiv Gandhi in 1991. Each story is introduced by an excerpt from a guide for a weeklong tour of the fictional city of Kittur, located on Indias southwestern coast. The blandness of the travel guide is a counterpoint to the vibrant, messy city life, where Hindu, Muslim, and Christian, high and low caste, rich and poor, all jostle together. As in The White Tiger, corruption and injustice are important themes, and while a few characters find ways to strike back, most are caught in the daily grind of trying to survive. Although sometimes heavy handed, the stories are sharply tactile, and the city of Kittur is richly imagined. Once again, Adiga offers a panoramic view of India, this time by giving voices and names to the multitude.