While the books are written in the fantasy genre, what lends it credibility is the impeccable logic that Krishna Uday Shankar weaves into the stories that we all know so well. If you have ever questioned what would have motivated Krishna to start a war which resulted in the annihilation of a generation of warriors and an end to an epoch, then this is the series for you.
Every character, its personality, upbringing and motivation is well etched to breathe life into it. A royal who grew up with cow herds is likely to have more affinity for the common people than the ruling class convinced of their superiority. Krishan's relation with Panchali forms a central theme in the story and her character is used to symbolize the state of the people of the land. The larger canvas portrays, a society which looked the other way on the mis-deeds of its demi-god rulers and how a single incident and a single catalyzing force brings the society to a point where it splits it into two opposing halves pitting brother against brother and probably two opposing ideas of the land.
If you are a fan of the much acclaimed Game of Thrones, find here the original game of politics and the logic which would have resulted in improbable partners in the great war. The story behind the driving force and the unifying ideal which might have allowed a much weaker challenger to defeat the combined might of the bulk of India's armies.
Was the Mahabharata the story of demi-gods or was it a story of a war against class friction, degeneration of morals, hoarding of knowledge and power politics? The sheer degree of research and the word craft utilized to treat a delicate and complicated subject which also encompasses the greatest philosophical work in Hinduism, the Bhagvad Gita, marks the series apart from other books in this genre. This one is a must read.
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