Book: The Code of
Manavas (Maha Vishnu Trilogy-1)
Author: Arpit Bakshi
Publisher: Rupa Publications
Everyday we hear of
the environment getting degraded. With every technological leap that mankind
has taken, nature has paid the price. With pollution levels extremely high and
shortage of basic necessities like water, what is the future of mankind?
The Code of
Manavas by Arpit Bakshi is
set some 2 million years past 2050, which was when Earth, as we know it, ceased
to exist and so is mankind. The planet, now known as Bhoomi, is divided into 2
city-states-Ayudhpur & Madhavpur. The protagonist is Krishna, who in the earlier
days was a scientist and a researcher, working on ways to save the planet at
NYCAR in USA. He developed a chemical called Bhoomidium which helped in stabilizing
the crust of the Earth as well as develop the humans into a more advanced
version of themselves, called the Manavas.
The plot of the book
is basically set in Madhavpur, which is a technologically advanced city with
all modern technologies like MagVahn or Maglev Trains, Invisibility
Suits, Space travel and Supercomputers-Samganak & Paramganak. The Manavas
have developed exceptional powers through Bhoomidium and thus are categorized
between CD3++ (lowest) to CD1++ (highest). This is basically the level of
development of the Cortex and determines a person’s intellect.
Krishna, long with
his friend and colleague Mohan are working on a project called Café Evolution,
which seeks to seek a solution to the declining condition of the Bhoomi’s
Crust. Through his research, they manage to find a plane resembling Bhoomi
called Prithvi-1408, where they observe and seed life and allow it to develop
through evolution.
But like all good
things, this one also has an enemy, one who wants to subjugate all Manavas.
Will the Swarnim
Yuga of the Manavas end at the hands of this enemy?
Would Krishna be the
savior of all?
The book is very
well written. Arpit has combined mythology, fantasy and Science Fiction to
create a wonderful and unique narrative. Basing the story on mythological characters
and current situations gives it a different vibe to it. Coupled with unique yet
simple names of Bhoomidium, MagVahn, Brahmportation etc., the book is easy to
picture. Another interesting fact about the plot is that all characters of the
book, Krishna, Vallabha, Gopal, Mohan etc. are named after different names of
Krishna. The Character development of all the characters is done perfectly with
details given vividly. Apart from Madhavpur, the glance at Ayudhpur is subtly
done, which is ruled by Shriram, another veiled reference to the mythology.
Setting the stage for
a beautiful plot, The Maha Vishnu Trilogy should be a definite entry in your
TBRs.
I would rate the
book 4/5.
No comments:
Post a Comment