An expansive narrative universe

MAYA: Seed Takes Root

MAYA is an expansive narrative universe created by Anand Gandhi and Zain Memon. MAYA unfolds across films, games, graphic novels, books, toys, and immersive experiences. The journey begins with MAYA: Seed Takes Root.

Welcome to Planet Neh

Home to 6 sapient species that coexist in a delicate balance. They've invented a complex civilization but can't agree on the color of the sky.

“The rule of the sword is long gone, and with it, the rule of the coin. It's the age of the rule of the mind. This is the gift of Maya.”
— Divyendra, the mind of the great body

The Six Sapient Species

Manushyas—The enterprising manushyas alter their environment to survive. Their industries are powered by large unwinding springs, built upon tall towers pulled from the ground itself.Rakshasis—The rakshasis, with their malleable bodies and advanced biotech, resist reckless manushya expansion into nature.Vaanars—The militaristic vaanars patrol the high grid-networks of every city, tasked with maintaining order across the lands.Naags—Naags operate on the fringes of law, inching back into the mainstream after decades of persecution. Their historic rivals, the garudas, have amassed great wealth as the religious leaders of civilization.Garudas—The garudas have amassed great wealth as the religious leaders of civilization. They are the historic rivals of the naags.Dangsa—The sixth sapient species of Neh. Details about the Dangsa remain undisclosed in current published material.

MAYA: Seed Takes Root

When you gaze into Maya, Maya gazes back into you. Yachay is an ordinary nineteen-year-old manushya, raised in isolation by his grandfather. His ailing guardian, Daddu, wants him to participate in the upcoming Divya Trials — a once-in-a-lifetime competition, where the prize is amortality and omnipotence. But Yachay harbors no such ambition, and has a dangerous secret. He has never tethered to Maya. Meanwhile, Kshar, a covert naag operative embarks on his deadliest mission yet — assassinate Tarkash, a Divya-Scion favored to win the Trials. Pursued by shadows, befriended by a flesh-eating rakshasi, and recruited by a garuda champion, Yachay realizes that his frail grandfather has been training him his whole life. But what will Yachay do next? Not even the all-knowing Divya can predict his moves.

Characters

Yachay

Protagonist

Daddu

Yachay's Grandfather

Kshar

Covert Operative

Tarkash

Divya-Scion

Ulupi

Historian

Taara

Detective

Lore

Maya—(noun) Origin: Sanskrit. Cosmic illusion, delusion, simulation, the indescribable.The Divya Trials—A once-in-a-lifetime competition, where the prize is amortality and omnipotence.The Three Inherited Debts—Three debts all peoples of Neh labour to repay, hoping to live on in Maya's memory.The Divyas—Amortal beings who harnessed the true power of Maya to ascend in knowledge, power, and status.

Press

“A narrative superstructure… a story that rewires the way we tell stories in the first place.”

— Esquire

“A richly imagined universe — one that's both alien and eerily familiar for readers of all types of fandoms.”

— Comic Crusaders

“Immersive and fascinating worldbuilding… a sweeping story of chaos and control.”

— ScreenRant