Historical Fiction & International Intrigue
Ashish
Basu
Stories of forgotten peoples, shifting loyalties, and the long arc of history — told across continents and generations.
Explore the Books
Historical Fiction & International Intrigue
Stories of forgotten peoples, shifting loyalties, and the long arc of history — told across continents and generations.
Historical Fiction
Kachin Hills, 1942 → Thailand → Japan → Texas
A Shan family's saga begins during the Japanese occupation of Burma in WWII, when two artifacts of immense cultural importance change hands. From the remote hills of Northern Burma, the story travels across continents over decades — weaving together espionage, personal betrayal, and unexpected alliances, illuminating the pride, dreams, and struggles of an ethnic minority the world has largely forgotten.
View on Amazon →
Historical Fiction
Kyushu, 1945 → Korea → and beyond
The story of an American soldier begins on the island of Kyushu just after WWII, as a new American base takes shape in Beppu, Oita Prefecture. From occupied Japan, the narrative follows him into the crucible of the Korean War — a journey that tests the limits of duty, humanity, and what it means to do good in a world still raw with conflict.
View on Amazon →
Short Stories · October 2025
Riga → Calcutta → Culiacán → California
A collection of fictional short stories inspired by real-life experiences of hardship. Spanning generations and continents, the stories range from evading capture in Riga during WWII to avoiding deportation in California — exploring economic, ethnic, religious, and political conflicts. Each story views the struggles of the real world through the eyes of those who lived them.
View on Amazon →Readers Say
A masterful work of historical fiction. I learned so much about the history of Burma through the lens of several characters. The diasporic experience is something many can relate to as the characters move from Burma to Thailand, Japan, and finally to the United States.
An educational and gripping read. It is hard to categorize this book — a whodunit, wrapped in historical fiction, wrapped in a family saga. The biggest credit goes to the immense sense of humanity with which Ashish brings forward the story of a little-known tribe.
Ashish masterfully crafts a narrative that immerses readers in the tumultuous landscape of Southeast Asia, where political volatility and covert machinations reign supreme. Every twist and turn serves to deepen the intrigue and heighten the tension.
As the events unfold in different parts of the world and finally converge in Texas, Ashish keeps the readers alert and surprises with unexpected turns page by page. The story ends with a note of relative success of an immigrant family, yet leaves you wondering about many more untold stories.
I was fascinated by the fact that a software professional could have this creativity and imagination. Was I in the presence of the next Andy Weir? Much to my pleasant surprise, it was an educational and gripping read. The book is over 300 pages, and I could not put it down.
More than just a thrilling spy novel — a richly textured exploration of power, morality, and the lengths to which individuals will go to achieve their goals. With compelling characters, intricate plotting, and an immersive setting, this is a book that lingers long after the last page.
Ashish Basu was trained as an engineer. His career in the enterprise software sector has taken him to dozens of countries across five continents — immersing him in communities, histories, and perspectives that few get to witness firsthand.
That breadth of experience became the foundation for his fiction. He writes about exceptional people in fascinating places: the overlooked, the displaced, the quietly heroic. His novels bridge continents and eras, finding universal threads of humanity in the margins of history.
Ashish and his family live in Northern California.
Get in Touch
Find both novels on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions. For speaking engagements, book club inquiries, or general correspondence, use the form or reach out directly.
Book clubs, speaking requests, or just to say hello.