Ashok K. Banker

COMING IN SPRING 2025: THE RAMAYANA SERIES - FIRST PUBLICATION EVER! A MILESTONE IN MODERN MYTHOLOGICAL FICTION FROM INDIA'S EPIC STORYTELLER Twenty-five years after his landmark Ramayana Series changed Indian mythological retellings forever, internationally acclaimed and bestselling author Ashok K. Banker returns with the grandest, richest edition of the Ramayana ever attempted With his original retelling of the ancient Indian epic Ramayana, Banker set the bar for how Indian mythological tales would be told and spawned hundreds of imitators. With this new edition, Banker redefines the Ramayana itself—returning to his original eight-book series and expanding and enriching it to include all the core legends and myths that he was unable to include in the original series.   Before Rama, before Sita, before the battles that would shape history, there was a war that determined the fate of the mortal world. The Last Asura War rages as the mighty King Dasaratha of Ayodhya takes his place as humanity’s greatest defender against the terrifying Asura hordes. Through pulse-pounding battles, legendary alliances, and a love story that would shape the course of destiny, this volume brings to life:   - The rise of Dasaratha, his epic clashes with the demon king Ravana, and his ascension as the mortal world’s greatest warrior.   - The fearless warrior-queen Kaikeyi, whose courage on the battlefield won her Dasaratha’s heart—and the two fateful boons that would one day change the course of history.   - The divine prophecy of Vishnu’s avatar, as the gods fear Ravana’s growing power and conspire to send their champion to Earth.   - The end of the Asura Wars on Earth, as Dasaratha and his allies fight the final, brutal battle against Ravana and his forces—securing a fragile peace that will not last.   - The legendary yagna of Rishyasringa, the sacred ritual and sharing of the payasam that miraculously led to the births of not one but four sons of Dasaratha.   - The secret origins of Manthara, whose bitterness and vendetta will ultimately lead to one of the most infamous betrayals in mythology.   - The early childhood adventures of Rama, Lakshman, Bharat, and Shatrughan, as the young princes begin to reveal the qualities that will one day define their destinies.   - Epic scale and scope: each book is over 1,000 pages - that's 10,000 plus pages over the 10 book series, more than three times the length of the original Ramayana Series - Available worldwide in hardcover, paperback, ebook and audiobook editiond The Blood of Yodhas marks a landmark in both Western epic fantasy and Indian mythology genres. With Banker’s masterful storytelling, immersive world-building, and cinematic action sequences, this is the definitive retelling of India’s oldest epic.   RAMAYANA SERIES: THE SWORD OF DHARMA EDITION THE BLOOD OF YODDHAS: Book 1 THE WISDOM OF GURUS: Book 2 THE HEARTS OF ASURAS: Book 3 THE FAITH OF VANARS: Book 4 THE LORDS OF LANKA: Book 5 THE DUNGEONS OF NARAKA: Book 6 THE WAR OF DEVAS: Book 7 THE GATES OF SWARGA: Book 8 THE RIDDLE OF DASA: Book 9 THE SWORD OF DHARMA: Book 10 Ashok K. Banker is the internationally acclaimed author of over 107 books that have sold over 3 million copies in 36 languages and 72 countries. Their hugely successful Ramayana Series is credited with having launched the genre of English-language mythological retellings and influenced an entire generation of authors. They are credited with being the author of India's first crime novels in English, first fantasy series in English, first ebooks, and several other firsts. As a journalist, they broke front-page news stories for the Times of India, The Week and Outlook. As a screenwriter, they created and wrote India’s First TV Series in English, and co-created and co-wrote Malaysia’s First TV Series in English, as well as several other hit comedy, police procedural, and historical shows. Born in Mumbai, Ashok is of Irish-Portuguese-Sri Lankan-Indian parentage, and lives in Southern California.