Rajasthan Author Toshit Agarwal Explores Humanity’s Final Frontier in His Debut Novel The Last Manifest
Kota, Rajasthan: What happens when Earth can no longer remain humanity’s home? And if people are given the opportunity to start again on another world, would they truly build a better future—or simply repeat the mistakes of the past?
These questions lie at the heart of The Last Manifest, a debut science-fiction thriller by Rajasthan-based writer Toshit Agarwal. Set in 2046, the novel presents a future in which humanity is forced to look beyond Earth for its survival.
But the story goes beyond the familiar idea of space exploration. Instead, it uses a futuristic setting to examine something much closer to home: human behaviour.
A Story About More Than Survival
The Last Manifest brings together science fiction, thriller, adventure and psychological drama while exploring questions of morality, fear, survival and human decision-making.
The central premise revolves around the possibility of a “second Earth.” If humanity were given another world and an opportunity to rebuild civilisation, would people learn from what went wrong the first time?
That question became the foundation of the novel.
Rather than presenting a simple vision of humanity escaping to another planet, the story looks at the uncertainty that accompanies such a monumental transition. New surroundings may offer a fresh beginning, but they do not automatically erase old fears, conflicts or ambitions.
This creates the larger tension at the centre of the book: can humanity create a new world without recreating the problems that damaged the old one?
The Challenge of Bringing the Story to Life
The idea may have been simple, but turning it into a completed novel proved far more demanding.
Developing a full-length story meant making countless decisions about characters, dialogue, pacing, plot and structure. At the same time, Agarwal was managing his professional commitments, making it difficult to find consistent time and mental space for writing.
There were also moments of doubt. Like many first-time authors, he had to navigate the gap between having an exciting concept and actually bringing that concept to its conclusion.
For Agarwal, persistence ultimately became as important as creativity. Returning to the question that first inspired the story helped him continue working on the manuscript until it was ready to become a published book.
“I wanted the book to be more than just a story about people travelling to another planet,” Agarwal says. “The more interesting question for me was what happens to people when they are given the opportunity to start again. Do we change the world, or do we simply carry our old problems with us?”
From Manuscript to Published Book
The journey of The Last Manifest continued beyond the completion of the manuscript. Following its initial release, the novel went through a revised edition, with changes aimed at improving the overall reading and presentation experience.
For a debut writer, this process also meant discovering the practical side of publishing—from preparing the manuscript for readers to understanding how a book finds its audience.
Agarwal is now looking to expand the novel’s presence through bookstores, reading communities and literary spaces across India. Copies have also begun reaching independent book spaces, including bookstores in Kolkata.
Readers can explore The Last Manifest through Amazon, Flipkart, and Google Play Books.
A Creative Journey That Is Just Beginning
For Agarwal, writing is ultimately about curiosity, learning and creating stories that can stay with readers after they have finished the final page.
His ambition extends beyond a single publication. He hopes to explore different genres, continue developing his voice as a writer and create work that connects with a wider audience.
The Last Manifest represents the beginning of that journey. Its futuristic setting provides the scale of an interplanetary adventure, but its central concerns remain distinctly human.
When humanity is offered another world, perhaps the greatest challenge is not reaching it. Perhaps it is deciding what kind of civilisation deserves to begin there.
And that leaves readers with one final question:
If humanity were given another world, would we finally do things differently?
About the Author
Toshit Agarwal is a Rajasthan-based writer and author with a background in finance and investment analysis. He holds B.Com, M.Com and MBA qualifications and is currently pursuing an MA in English.
He is a National Record Holder for Fastest Mental Maths, recognised in the Limca Book of Records 2013 and India Book of Records 2015. In 2016, he ranked 7th in the Mental Calculation World Championship held in Bielefeld, Germany.
In 2026, he published The Last Manifest, his debut science-fiction thriller.
For professional enquiries, Agarwal can be contacted at Toshitagarwal9413@gmail.com or 9636708899.
