Lord of Light

Lord of Light, published in 1967, is a science fantasy novel by American writer Roger Zelazny. It won the 1968 Hugo Award for Best Novel and was also a Nebula Award finalist in that category. Two sections of the book originally appeared as separate novelettes in the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction: "Dawn" in April 1967 and "Death and the Executioner" in June 1967. Zelazny stated that he wrote the novel so readers could interpret it as either science fiction or fantasy. The story places modern Western characters within a world shaped by Hindu and Buddhist traditions.

The narrative takes place on a planet settled by survivors from Earth who arrived on the spaceship *Star of India*. To improve their odds of survival, the original crew used chemicals, biofeedback, and electronics to alter their minds, creating enhanced self-images called "Aspects" that allow them to channel powers. They also developed a method to electronically transfer a person's *atman*, or soul, into a new body. This process of reincarnation through mind transfer created a potential for immortality and let the former crew establish a Hindu caste system, with themselves at the top. Using their great abilities, they control the planet's native non-human races—whom they label demons—and present themselves as gods to the descendants of later colonists. Adopting the names and powers of Hindu deities, these "gods" maintain authority by tightly controlling access to reincarnation and suppressing technology beyond a medieval level, fearing that enlightenment or progress could lead to a technological revival that would undermine their rule.

The protagonist, Sam, can manipulate electromagnetic forces. He is a former crew member who refused godhood, instead taking the role of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha. As the last "Accelerationist," Sam believes technology should be available to everyone and that reincarnation should not be an elite privilege. He introduces Buddhism as a new religion to challenge the gods' power. His revolt unfolds in stages, based on the idea that while an army can oppose in a short time, a single person must spread resistance over many years to succeed.

In a monastery, the death-god Yama, with help from Tak the ape (formerly the gods' archivist) and Ratri, Goddess of Night, builds a secret radio transceiver to extract Sam's *atman* from the planet's ring system, the "B