by Gore Vidal
First published 1996
Kalki declares himself the final avatar of Vishnu, destined to end the world and begin again. He gathers followers who believe in his divine mission to cleanse the earth of its corruption. As his movement grows, Kalki reveals his ultimate plan: total destruction of humanity followed by the creation of a new race from carefully selected survivors. His disciples must grapple with the reality of following a leader who promises salvation through annihilation. The chosen few who will survive face the weight of becoming the foundation for an entirely new human civilization. Kalki forces them to confront whether rebirth can truly come from complete destruction, and whether any person should hold the power to decide humanity's fate.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, 20th-century, apocalyptic
Vibes: dark, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: chosen-one, unreliable-narrator
Setting: India
Period: 20th-century
Audio Cassette · Homespun Productions
Content warnings: violence