Herman Hesse's 1922 Bildungsroman parallels the life of Buddha and seems to argue that lessons cannot be taught but come from one's own struggle to find truth. Siddhartha is that most unusual of all stories - one that follows a character throughout most of his life . . . and describes that life in terms of a spiritual journey.
It is long after the death of Earth. A band of men and women on a colony planet has gained control of technology. With it, they have given themselves immortalty and godlike powers, and they rule their world as the gods of the Hindu pantheon: Kali, Goddess of Destruction; Yama, Lord of Death; Krishna, God of Lust. All are opposed by him who was Siddhartha, who is now Mahasamatman, Binder of Demons, Lord of Light
