by Anand Gandhi
First published 2026
Yachay lives cut off from Maya, the living forest that serves as his planet's neural network. While billions of citizens connect daily to shared dreamscapes, the nineteen-year-old remains hidden with his grandfather Daddu, who raised him in isolation. When the immortal Divyas announce their trials, a competition where billions will fight for godhood, Daddu pushes Yachay to enter. The young man refuses until his grandfather dies, revealing decades of secret training and an underground resistance. Now Yachay must decide whether to stay invisible or join a battle against beings who harvest every thought and memory, who predict futures and reshape reality itself. In a world where everyone connects, everyone gets tracked, and everyone falls under control, Yachay faces a choice between safety and freedom. This opening volume of the MAYA universe weaves together science fiction, fantasy, and philosophy while drawing from South Asian mythology and contemporary concerns about data control.
Genres: science-fiction, dystopia, adventure, fantasy, speculative-fiction, young-adult
Vibes: dark, high-stakes, immersive, introspective, philosophical, thought-provoking
Tropes: chosen-one, coming-of-age, found-family, hidden-identity, mentor-figure
Setting: Maya
Paperback · Department of Lore
Content warnings: death