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One woman and her pilot are about to change the future of the species in an epic space opera about aspiration, compassion, and redemption.

For five centuries, human life has been restricted to Earth, while posthuman descendants called alloys freely explore the galaxy. But when the Earthlike planet of Meru is discovered, two unlikely companions venture forth to test the habitability of this unoccupied new world and the future of human-alloy relations.

For Jayanthi, the adopted human child of alloy parents, it’s an opportunity to rectify the ancient reputation of her species as avaricious and destructive, and to give humanity a new place in the universe. For Vaha, Jayanthi’s alloy pilot, it’s a daunting yet irresistible adventure to find success as an individual.

As the journey challenges their resolve in unexpected ways, the two form a bond that only deepens with their time alone on Meru. But how can Jayanthi succeed at freeing humanity from its past when she and Vaha have been set up to fail?

Against all odds, hope is human, too.

Finding a place to belong becomes a girl’s ambitious quest in a thrilling epic about space, humanity, and self-discovery.

Akshaya is the hybrid daughter of a human mother and an alloy, a genetically engineered posthuman—and she’s the future of life on the planet Meru. But not if the determined Akshaya can help it. Before choosing where her future lies, she wants to circumnavigate the most historic orb in the universe—the birthplace of humanity: Earth.

Akshaya’s parents reluctantly agree to her anthropological challenge—one with no assistance from alloy devices, transport, or wary alloys themselves who manage humanity and the regions of Earth called Loka. It’s just Akshaya; her equally bold best friend, Somya; and a carefully planned itinerary threading continent by continent across a wondrous terrain of things she’s never seen: blue skies, sunrises, snowcapped mountains, and roiling oceans.

As the adventure unfolds, the travelers discover love and new friendships, but they also learn the risks of a planet that’s not entirely welcoming. On this trek—rapturous, dangerous, and life-changing—Akshaya will discover what human existence really means.

Reviews

★ “Empathy convincingly overcomes anxiety in this thoughtful, inventive, and impressively understated space opera . . . Divya filters the immensity of outer space through the lens of close personal relationships, crafting compassionate and responsible characters (whatever their physical forms may be) that will surely win over readers. The result is subtle, strange, and immensely satisfying.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review

“VERDICT This is a thrilling combination of traditional SF space travel and forward-thinking examinations of what “humanity” will mean in the future. With its blend of science fiction and social justice concepts, this will appeal to advanced teen and adult readers alike who enjoy progressive science fiction.” — Library Journal

“LOKA’s fascinating speculations about the future of technology, the evolution of consciousness, and the ethics of co-existence blend perfectly with its smart and empathetic coming of age “around-the-world-in-80-days” journey.” — Kate Elliott, author of UNCONQUERABLE SUN

“A breathtaking epic tale that challenges our views of humanity and how two individuals can bond. Again, S. B. Divya forges a new trail into what science fiction can be, follow her and be amazed.” — Mur Lafferty, Hugo and Nebula award finalist

“Meru is a thought-provoking and imaginative future. With an intrigue spanning across interstellar distances, it still manages to be an intimate portrait of love.” — Mary Robinette Kowal, Hugo Award–winning author

“The world presented here is rich and complicated, [and] the love story, plus plenty of jaw-dropping space scenes, will reward readers.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Divya’s latest (after Machinehood, 2021) is full of twists and turns to keep readers glued to the pages, with rich worldbuilding that will truly invest them in the character’s fates. Meru transcends genres and will appeal to fans of science fiction, philosophy, and fantasy.” — Booklist

“The big questions it asks get even bigger, encompassing the nature of community and what it means to belong to each other. “Meru” proves a worthy addition to the canon of post-human space epics.” — Washington Post

“Meru is the definition of epic sci-fi, and it’s also a story that is different from what we’ve seen before in that subgenre. It’s a worthy read for fans of that space (pun intended, sorry), but perhaps especially worth a read for those who have warily eyed books in that category in the past.” — Reactor

“[LOKA] deepens Meru’s extensive worldbuilding and continues to draw on its core themes of what humanity means in a post-human future. However, this is, at heart, a coming-of-age story that will appeal to young adult readers as much as to older fans of Divya’s.” — Library Journal

“"Loka" is a triumph of imaginative science fiction storytelling. … With its vibrant world, compelling characters, and underlying messages of hope and self-empowerment, "Loka" is a must-read for fans of the genre and anyone seeking an inspiring, thought-provoking adventure.” — Hidden Sci-Fi