Lit-start your week: From sci-fi twists to soul-soothing reads

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1 The Man Who Saw Seconds (CLASH Books)

This high-concept sci-fi thriller hinges on a deceptively small advantage the ability to see five seconds into the future. Alexander Boldizar crafts a sharp narrative around Preble Jefferson, whose gift makes him unbeatable, yet increasingly isolated. The work probes consequence, and the burden of foresight.

2 A Guardian and a Thief (Penguin Random House)

Set in a near-future Kolkata strained by climate collapse and surveillance, Megha Majumdar's novel brings together two sharply drawn figures - a state enforcer and a young thief - on intersecting paths. On the longlist for the National Book Award, the narrative balances urgency with interiority.

3 The Cat Who Saved Books (Pan Macmillan India)

A cosy, heartwarming fable that celebrates the enduring power of reading. Sosuke Natsukawa's tale follows a withdrawn boy talked into a series of quests to save books by a speaking feline. Beneath its whimsical premise lies a reflective meditation on grief, connection and the meaning of stories.