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Vimana
LEGENDS HAVE IT THAT GODS FLEW IN AIRCRAFT CALLED VIMANAS AND WAGED WAR WITH FEARSOME WEAPONS. WHAT IF THESE TURNED OUT TO BE TRUE?College student by day and wannabe fighter pilot by night, Aaditya’s immense knowledge of flying and fighter planes is displayed only on flight sims and Internet forums.A chance encounter propels him into the centre of an ancient conflict between good and evil that has been raging for thousands of years, revealing to him a hidden world that we today dismiss as mere myths from our ancient past.Alongside Shiva, Karthik, Durga, Indra and other gods, Aaditya has to stop the terrible plans of Kalki, the prodigal son. Seated at the controls of the deadly vimanas, Aaditya finds himself living his dream in a way he had never imagined possible!
Kindle Edition
First published March 31, 2011
55 people are currently reading
390 people want to read
About the author
Mainak Dhar
58 books279 followersAfter finishing his schooling at Modern School, Barakhamba Road and his under-graduation at Hindu College, Delhi, Mainak Dhar graduated from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. He has spent two decades in the corporate sector — starting with Procter & Gamble in India. He spent eighteen years with P&G, fifteen of them outside India across the Asia Pacific region. In 2014, he moved back to India as the CEO of the India operations of a major consumer products multinational.
A self-described cubicle dweller by day and writer by night, Mainak is also the author of over a dozen books, some of which have been bestsellers in India and abroad. These books have been translated into Turkish, Vietnamese, Japanese, French, German and Portuguese. He lives in Mumbai with his wife, Puja, and their son, Aaditya. When not at work or with his family, he can usually be found working on, or thinking about his next book. Learn more about him and contact him at www.facebook.com/AuthorMainakDhar.
A self-described cubicle dweller by day and writer by night, Mainak is also the author of over a dozen books, some of which have been bestsellers in India and abroad. These books have been translated into Turkish, Vietnamese, Japanese, French, German and Portuguese. He lives in Mumbai with his wife, Puja, and their son, Aaditya. When not at work or with his family, he can usually be found working on, or thinking about his next book. Learn more about him and contact him at www.facebook.com/AuthorMainakDhar.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
November 23, 2011
Vimana is a Sci-Fi thriller that uses a third person narrator and follows Aabitya, a young Indian man who is caught up in a fight that is truly otherworldly. The author weaves and spins a tale that includes the birth of Homo Sapiens to the lost city of Atlantis, UFO's, the pyramids all the way up to Armageddon. It opens up the mind to explore and accept story origins that are not western yet are still intriguing in a way that allows the reader to identify with the characters.
I didn't give it 5 stars even though I hardly put it down because. first I found at least a dozen typo's second I believe the writer could have added another twist or two that would have let us truly feel the depths of despair that Aabi felt in the under water realm.
I believe I am going to read some more from Mainak Dhar, he may be one of the up and coming stars of current sci-fi
I didn't give it 5 stars even though I hardly put it down because. first I found at least a dozen typo's second I believe the writer could have added another twist or two that would have let us truly feel the depths of despair that Aabi felt in the under water realm.
I believe I am going to read some more from Mainak Dhar, he may be one of the up and coming stars of current sci-fi
April 30, 2012
I'm not sure how this book got to the top 10 on Amazon's sci-fi list, but it must be because of the low, low, price, because it's not that great a novel. There's nothing new here - aliens as gods of yore has been done a thousand times. (If you're into that kind of thing, I recommend the Stargate SG-1 TV show, which does it much better.) This whole book read like some kid's fantasy of meeting aliens.
There's practically no depth to any of the characters, aliens or humans, and the villain is equally two dimensional. The story has quite a few inconsistencies - like if the aliens live forever and can replace their bodies with whatever appearance they choose why is there such a difference between the good guys and the bad guys? And why couldn't they rescue some of the aliens that died and get them into new bodies? You'd think people who lived 15,000 years and are in the middle of a war would have better contingency plans. And lastly, the death of one of the characters is glossed over so completely I wonder why the author bothered writing it in at all. The only parts of the book that show any depth at all are the combat scenes. Those are quite well written.
I can't really recommend this book, as there are a lot better "aliens have been on earth for millenia" books out there that are just as cheap, or free with Amazon Prime, as this one. Try Resurrection by Arwen Elys Dayton for example.
There's practically no depth to any of the characters, aliens or humans, and the villain is equally two dimensional. The story has quite a few inconsistencies - like if the aliens live forever and can replace their bodies with whatever appearance they choose why is there such a difference between the good guys and the bad guys? And why couldn't they rescue some of the aliens that died and get them into new bodies? You'd think people who lived 15,000 years and are in the middle of a war would have better contingency plans. And lastly, the death of one of the characters is glossed over so completely I wonder why the author bothered writing it in at all. The only parts of the book that show any depth at all are the combat scenes. Those are quite well written.
I can't really recommend this book, as there are a lot better "aliens have been on earth for millenia" books out there that are just as cheap, or free with Amazon Prime, as this one. Try Resurrection by Arwen Elys Dayton for example.
August 19, 2012
Simply awful. Dreadful leaps and gaps in the story line, this reads like it was written for and by a 13-year-old. Although my own 13-year-old would never have written or read such schlock.
November 7, 2018
An orphaned son of a former Air Force pilot,Aditya is living a pretty normal life studying economics, unsure of his future.An aspiring pilot,his ambitions were cut short, when an accident causes an amputation and leaves him with a prosthetic leg.
Fate, however has other plans, and when Aditya tries to help a women who is attacked on the road, he stares in disbelief as a couple of UFO's appear. Questioning his mental sanity, he goes to college, only to be drawn into a millennial old war of ancient beings. How will a mere mortal alter the course. Read on, decent entertainer.
Felt let down by the choice of villian, my only little complaint.
Fate, however has other plans, and when Aditya tries to help a women who is attacked on the road, he stares in disbelief as a couple of UFO's appear. Questioning his mental sanity, he goes to college, only to be drawn into a millennial old war of ancient beings. How will a mere mortal alter the course. Read on, decent entertainer.
Felt let down by the choice of villian, my only little complaint.
November 24, 2011
A cross-genre science fiction thriller
There is a saying in science fiction circles that says that any sufficiently advanced technology will seem like magic to a less advanced civilization encountering it for the first time. Imagine people of the 16th century, using horse drawn wagons, encountering an automobile. This well written book applies that notion to the concept of ancient alien visitations to Earth. Of course the people of that time would regard the alien visitors as gods, and a distorted version of the stories of their visits would be passed along throughout the centuries in the form of myths and legends. This book answers the question of what would happen if the aliens returned, and we now, with greater capacity to understand them, came to realize that the myths and legends were based on fact and largely true. The book combines science fiction, mythology, and thriller tropes to create a unique cross-genre blend that is entertaining and thought provoking. Besides the concept of ancient alien visitation, elements of the Bermuda Triangle and Roswell, New Mexico (“Area 51”) mythos are explored, in new and unexpected ways.
Given the current fascination with 2012 end-times prophecies based on ancient legends, this story, depicting a contemporary battle between good and evil, could not be more timely. This book kept me reading late into the night to see what happens next. It is not surprising to me that this novel has been in the top ten best sellers in science fiction on Amazon for a while.
The kindle edition also has a preview of the first couple of chapters of the author’s book Heroes R Us, which I’ve previously read and reviewed.
There is a saying in science fiction circles that says that any sufficiently advanced technology will seem like magic to a less advanced civilization encountering it for the first time. Imagine people of the 16th century, using horse drawn wagons, encountering an automobile. This well written book applies that notion to the concept of ancient alien visitations to Earth. Of course the people of that time would regard the alien visitors as gods, and a distorted version of the stories of their visits would be passed along throughout the centuries in the form of myths and legends. This book answers the question of what would happen if the aliens returned, and we now, with greater capacity to understand them, came to realize that the myths and legends were based on fact and largely true. The book combines science fiction, mythology, and thriller tropes to create a unique cross-genre blend that is entertaining and thought provoking. Besides the concept of ancient alien visitation, elements of the Bermuda Triangle and Roswell, New Mexico (“Area 51”) mythos are explored, in new and unexpected ways.
Given the current fascination with 2012 end-times prophecies based on ancient legends, this story, depicting a contemporary battle between good and evil, could not be more timely. This book kept me reading late into the night to see what happens next. It is not surprising to me that this novel has been in the top ten best sellers in science fiction on Amazon for a while.
The kindle edition also has a preview of the first couple of chapters of the author’s book Heroes R Us, which I’ve previously read and reviewed.
September 14, 2011
This isn't usually the type of book I would read but I was so surprised, It was excellent. I honestly enjoyed book. This book grabs your attention from the beginning and doesn't let go. I was on the edge of my seat, its a definite page turner. It was much more than the usual sci-fi thriller. It was a great mix between myth, beliefs, and science fiction. Pick it up today!
November 23, 2011
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Vimana. I swallowed it up in two days! I love how the author craftily and seamlessly incorporates the good vs. evil, God vs. devil plot into his stories. It was creative, well written, and very well executed. It is my opinion that any book lover would enjoy reading this. Job well done once again!
September 16, 2011
Wow... this book really surprised me! I've read quite a bit of sci-fi AND thrillers... this is a great combination of both. It melds mythology, fantasy and the reality of war seamlessly. I couldn't put it down! Kudos to Mr. Dhar!
November 3, 2011
This was an intriguing read. It covered a lot of areas of mystery: our possible origins, ancient astronauts, the Gods of men and antiquity, UFO's, unexplained events in history. Pretty creative actually.
November 29, 2011
I give it about a 75% out of a 100 (what else would a percentage be out of?). The book was average. Some good ideas in the book, and it's not poorly written, it's just average. For 99 cents for the amazon kindle, a decent purchase, although I've read better for the same cost.
December 9, 2011
Cannot say I was thrilled with this book. I would consider it a book for the younger audience at best.
I found the story rather childish, contrived and quite unbelievable (even for Sc-Fi).
I found the story rather childish, contrived and quite unbelievable (even for Sc-Fi).
September 18, 2012
Teenager s.f.
May 5, 2024
Perhaps the author should have considered using different names or at least respected the significance of the characters' names. It is quite odd to imagine Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh, and Ganesh drinking tequila shots. While some people may find the idea of Gods as aliens intriguing, it did not captivate me. It was rather dull to read.
I do have a question though, was the author intending to name the daitya 'Kali' because Kalki is the name of an avatar of Vishnu? Did he truly confuse Kali and Kalki? I guess I'll never find out.I cannot recommend this book as it failed to hold my interest,I even fell asleep while reading it.
I do have a question though, was the author intending to name the daitya 'Kali' because Kalki is the name of an avatar of Vishnu? Did he truly confuse Kali and Kalki? I guess I'll never find out.I cannot recommend this book as it failed to hold my interest,I even fell asleep while reading it.
March 25, 2018
This a YA book that I really enjoyed reading. I loved the premise and the author's imagination although the writing was a bit cliched. Would need some knowledge of basic Hindu mythology to appreciate the nuances of some of the references.
June 6, 2020
One of the best science fiction.
July 13, 2025
I enjoyed this book. The beginning was a little slow but it definitely picked up. I loved the Indian God references.
December 8, 2011
I discovered Mainak Dhar when I ordered his 2 IN 1 thrillers combining Line Of Control & Hindustaan. I was pleasantly surprised at his knowledge of military weapons and tactics, especially since he has not served in a military.
Vimana is a fascinating blend of myths, religions, history, prophecy, mystical places, science fiction--with some fantasy thrown in, and current events. The story is based upon ancient India stories (myths?), described in Sanskrit epics, about a war between the gods who have wondrous flying machines. And that is where the story begins.
Devils and gods from several religions are the basics for some of the characters. Since this is science fiction and fantasy, the author is allowed wide latitude in telling his tale. I do not know if Dhar writes in English, but with one exception, I found his writing to flow and kept me turning the pages. The exception is his use of the word “learnt” where I would use “learned”.
The end of the world as prophesied by the end of the Mayan calendar, Atlantis, the Bermuda Triangle, are some to the legends skillfully woven into a highly readable story.
The protagonist is a starts out as an unlikely hero, and his character is developed as his adventures continue. One might say that the antagonist is a devil.
A very good read, especially for 99 cents.
Vimana is a fascinating blend of myths, religions, history, prophecy, mystical places, science fiction--with some fantasy thrown in, and current events. The story is based upon ancient India stories (myths?), described in Sanskrit epics, about a war between the gods who have wondrous flying machines. And that is where the story begins.
Devils and gods from several religions are the basics for some of the characters. Since this is science fiction and fantasy, the author is allowed wide latitude in telling his tale. I do not know if Dhar writes in English, but with one exception, I found his writing to flow and kept me turning the pages. The exception is his use of the word “learnt” where I would use “learned”.
The end of the world as prophesied by the end of the Mayan calendar, Atlantis, the Bermuda Triangle, are some to the legends skillfully woven into a highly readable story.
The protagonist is a starts out as an unlikely hero, and his character is developed as his adventures continue. One might say that the antagonist is a devil.
A very good read, especially for 99 cents.
December 2, 2011
An exciting and thrilling adventure; legends come to life in modern time.
With the year 2012 approaching, and all the hype about end times and the Mayan calender, there have been a lot of stories and films that have tried to capitalize on this theme. Few, if any, have been as successful as this one, however.
If you are fascinated with myths and legends, this is one book you shouldn't miss.
The author makes the legends come alive in modern times, mixing together tales of disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle, visitation by extraterrestrial aliens in ancient times (and their contemporary return), and the federal government's coverup of the crash of an alien spacecraft in Roswell.
The novel ties all these events together in a believable and thrilling adventure story that will keep you reading. One in which nothing less than the destiny and continued survival of humanity is at stake.No wonder this has been such a best selling science fiction tale on amazon. The end of the story ties it all together in an eye opening and satisfying conclusion. This is one book I was sorry to see end.
With the year 2012 approaching, and all the hype about end times and the Mayan calender, there have been a lot of stories and films that have tried to capitalize on this theme. Few, if any, have been as successful as this one, however.
If you are fascinated with myths and legends, this is one book you shouldn't miss.
The author makes the legends come alive in modern times, mixing together tales of disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle, visitation by extraterrestrial aliens in ancient times (and their contemporary return), and the federal government's coverup of the crash of an alien spacecraft in Roswell.
The novel ties all these events together in a believable and thrilling adventure story that will keep you reading. One in which nothing less than the destiny and continued survival of humanity is at stake.No wonder this has been such a best selling science fiction tale on amazon. The end of the story ties it all together in an eye opening and satisfying conclusion. This is one book I was sorry to see end.
January 6, 2012
I didn't realize until I received the actual book as a gift (from my wish list) that it was self-published. I was pleasantly surprised that it didn't have as many typos and grammatical errors as most self-published works I've read so far. Until the last quarter of the book, and then it got a little sloppy. The format was different from traditional publishing because it had lines breaks instead of paragraph breaks with indents. Despite these possible distractions, I enjoyed the fast pace and gleeful sci-fi fireworks. It's about a young man in India who gets caught up in an ongoing war between alien creatures with advanced technology. These creatures are the same ones who spawned the myths and legends of India. I think what made this enjoyable was that the author clearly enjoyed writing it, and I got the feeling that his creative process with the story was a lot like me playing with my Star Wars action figures as a kid.
September 14, 2012
I was happy to receive a free book through Goodreads First Reads, but other projects kept me from picking it up. Finally, coming down from the latest George RR Martin installment of Song of I&F, I cracked open Vimana.
I appreciated the perspective Mainak Dhar brought to the age old story of the good vs. evil in weaving current events, technology, myths, ancient wonders and Armageddon into his YA Sci-Fi tale.
Although I felt that a few introductory characters (college pals/girl) were abandoned leaving them as little to no impact to the story's development, I enjoyed the light easy read. Yes, there were a couple typos, but overall it was succinctly written and found I couldn’t put it down.
Thank you Mainak Dhar for an uplifting adventure and looking forward to more as your writing evolves.
I appreciated the perspective Mainak Dhar brought to the age old story of the good vs. evil in weaving current events, technology, myths, ancient wonders and Armageddon into his YA Sci-Fi tale.
Although I felt that a few introductory characters (college pals/girl) were abandoned leaving them as little to no impact to the story's development, I enjoyed the light easy read. Yes, there were a couple typos, but overall it was succinctly written and found I couldn’t put it down.
Thank you Mainak Dhar for an uplifting adventure and looking forward to more as your writing evolves.
May 1, 2012
It is an interesting story, one that mixes both indian and western mythology with standard science fiction. While the story is intriguing, the advanced alien technology does not appear consistent with aliens that have been around for a millenia or more as in some cases earth technology seems to be close behind the alien's - though I recognise the proposition that it is the alien's involvement with Earth that advanced our own technology. My only other concern is the initial relationship with his girlfriend that suddenly ceases with no apparent emotional or lasting impact. Otherwise it is a good read, especially for one like myself who is attuned to the more classical science fiction writers.
November 6, 2012
I have to admit that the cover art intrigued me while browsing the Kindle store. The spaceship over the pyramid reminded me of one of my favorite movies and TV series, Stargate. This was nothing like Stargate, but it wasn’t bad.
This story begins with Aaditya, a young man, attempting to help a woman who appears to be getting mugged or raped. He tries to help the woman only to find that her attackers seem to have super-human strength and so does she. A strange airship hovers over the area where the woman was being attacked and a man gets out to help the woman. They fight off the attackers and then take off in the airship. Aaditya is convinced that he just witnessed a secret government operation. Later on, he finds out that the government had nothing to do with it.
This story begins with Aaditya, a young man, attempting to help a woman who appears to be getting mugged or raped. He tries to help the woman only to find that her attackers seem to have super-human strength and so does she. A strange airship hovers over the area where the woman was being attacked and a man gets out to help the woman. They fight off the attackers and then take off in the airship. Aaditya is convinced that he just witnessed a secret government operation. Later on, he finds out that the government had nothing to do with it.
December 14, 2011
When I purchased this book I took a lot of time reading the reviews since Mainak Dhar was recommended to me. I was even a little skeptical with a story about a war that dated back 15,000 years. I would say I was amazed at what an amazing story the author was able to weave. The way the author was able to combine myths and legends and still captivate the reader. The way Mainak Dhar uses the fight scenes and imagery takes this book from a simple science fiction novel to a science fiction thriller. The use of separate story lines and fitting them together to keep a good flow to the story kept me reading from the first page to the last.
October 26, 2016
The blurb made me think that the story would be a bit stereo typical and related deeply with the Hindu mythology. Its not.
The story is good and almost unique. Of course the underdog winning the fight will never be completely unique, but trust me, the presentation is. Hindu mythology is not exactly a part of it, except where it is used for character naming.
It is YA Sc-Fi and a very well done one at that.
I don't read too much sci-fi, and definitely not YA sci-fi, and I still liked this book a lot, so I think the ppl who actually like these genres are truly going to love it.
Oh and it is also a treat for anyone who is an aviation buff.
The story is good and almost unique. Of course the underdog winning the fight will never be completely unique, but trust me, the presentation is. Hindu mythology is not exactly a part of it, except where it is used for character naming.
It is YA Sc-Fi and a very well done one at that.
I don't read too much sci-fi, and definitely not YA sci-fi, and I still liked this book a lot, so I think the ppl who actually like these genres are truly going to love it.
Oh and it is also a treat for anyone who is an aviation buff.
November 29, 2018
My favorite thing about this book was they way the author keep me in suspense only revealing bits of information as I read. It kept me hooked and yet there was just enough information to satisfy. The way the mythology, religion etc was all intertwined and incorporated was so creative and I never saw it coming. I really liked how intense and yet real the action was. At times I forgot I was reading a science fiction story. Very well done and I would definitely recommend it to anyone wanting a good book.
December 2, 2011
Wow! What a story. The battle between good and evil continues in this action pack thriller. If you find the mysteries of the Bermuda Triangle, Roswell, and mythology fascinating this book does not disappoint. The concept of aliens visitation is not a new one but the way this story is told is very creative. It is set in modern times which makes the characters relatable. I appreciate how it integrates the 2012 end of times concept into the story. It is pure excitement and will have you rooting for none other than the hero who just might save humanity.
September 1, 2014
This book was just good enough to make me want to rewrite it. I mean, it had unfulfilled potential. Where it could have been good, it was okay. Where it could have been okay, it was bad. There were no places where it was great. I would have liked to give it 2.5 stars but I rounded up to three for trying, and for at least being cast against a non-Christian culture.
The book is about an 18-year-old Indian guy who is just entering collage because he doesn't have anything better to do with his life. I seriously get the feeling the book was written by that guy.
The book is about an 18-year-old Indian guy who is just entering collage because he doesn't have anything better to do with his life. I seriously get the feeling the book was written by that guy.
September 16, 2011
A gifted writer with an ingenious imagination. I enjoy reading Sci-Fi thrillers. After reading “Vimana” I was impressed. I especially loved the aerial combat scenes.
Mainak Dhar captures the true essence of this genre and so much more. As I began to read the pages of this book – I was enthralled onto a journey that I had never taken before. Dhar carefully crafted the plot into a suspenseful, exciting story, that keeps you engaged from start to finish.
Mainak Dhar captures the true essence of this genre and so much more. As I began to read the pages of this book – I was enthralled onto a journey that I had never taken before. Dhar carefully crafted the plot into a suspenseful, exciting story, that keeps you engaged from start to finish.
November 30, 2011
Vimana is an excellent science fiction book. Modern terminology used such as iPod and PS3 help you to relate to some of the terminology used throughout story. Aaditya had dreams of becoming a fighter pilot, but his dream were cut short by a traumatic childhood event. It was ironic that his good luck charm was a hawk, because his heart was in the sky. Great plot, keeps you wanting to read more!!
February 2, 2012
A decent read. It was interesting to get such an Indian twist on a common sci fi plot. Nothing surprising in this predictable book, but quick and good pulp to break up some of the more involved books I've been reading
Reminds me strongly of the first entry in Ringo's, uh, human empire series. The one with Colin McIntyre. That one. Not a bad thing.
Reminds me strongly of the first entry in Ringo's, uh, human empire series. The one with Colin McIntyre. That one. Not a bad thing.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews