I find myself wondering if perhaps the Wachowski Brothers (or perhaps the Brothers Wachowski) were in any way influenced by Steve Brust's writings. For example, there is, in the Matrix-future, a thick, permanent Enclouding that blocks sunlight from reaching the surface of the Earth. More to the point, though [minor spoilers for Matrix Revolutions]: At one point, Neo wakes up in a certain place, and finds a young girl, of perhaps 7 or 8 years with brown hair and brown eyes [1], standing over him. He is in a place that he finds he cannot leave without the permission of the local "god". The girl's name, as it turns out, is "Sati", but I noticed when they rolled the credits that the actress' name is "Tanveer Atwal". "Tanveer" sounds a little like "Devera". A coincidence, perhaps, and a minor homage rather than any huge similarity. But I thought I would point it out. [1] OK, and also brown skin, which I am not sure Devera has. Nevertheless.