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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.

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

“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

“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

“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

“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