4 sci-fi novels starring Middle Eastern protagonists you should read
Novels, perhaps the most popular form of written text, have existed for close to 1000 years in the Islamic region. From the The story of Sindbad during the Islamic Golden Age to current day sellers like A Thousand Splendid Suns by Afghan-American Khaled Hosseini, Islamic fiction has proven to be a great source of wisdom and value for the youth and adults alike.
One of the lesser-known genres of the fiction made by this region happens to be fantasy/ sci-fi.
This list aims to appease fantasy lovers by providing a look into 5 sci-fi and fantasy novel writers by authors of Muslim descent living in the MENA region or in the diaspora. These authors exhibit world-building with their fantasy worlds, representation, magic, and descriptive scenery. These books, though very different, have roots in Islamic storytelling and mysticism.
1. Ms. Marvel. Vo.1 No Normal by G.Willow Wilson(Cairo, Egypt)
Kamala Khan is a Muslim POC girl from a strict home who is blessed with superpowers overnight. She embraces her talents and becomes a teenage vigilante of some sort as she combats marginalization and the dark forces across New Jersey.
It is ultimately very heartwarming to see Kamala’s inner battle as she goes through self-exploration on how to remain a good Muslim girl while contending with her desire to fit in.
2. The City of Brass by S.A Chakraborty(New Jersey, USA).
Taking place in 18th century Cairo, this Islamic mythology fantasy novel stars a swindler named Nahri. She fends for herself in the turbulent streets of Cairo by wielding her ability to heal sicknesses and speaking multiple languages. Nahri embarks on an odyssey to a foreign land where she aims to discover her roots.
City of brass takes inspiration from a popular Middle Eastern folklore story called One Thousand and One Nights. The fusion of magic, culture, political intrigue and family dynamics and morality makes for a very enthralling read. This novel also manages to blend in the real world tension at the time between the Ottoman and the French.
3. Throne of the Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed(Egypt, Lebanon, USA)
This is a wonderful collection of short stories by sci-fi writer, and comic book writer, Salahin Ahmed. It covers a wide array of stories from various settings, eras, and traditions.In these eight stories, readers are transported from the world of little towns to huge cities, and from historic settings to futuristic ones.
“Iron Eyes and the Watered Down World” is the last tale featured in this book and it centers on the friendship of three adventurers in a fantasy world who look out for each other despite their own struggles. “ The Hooves and Hovel of Abdel Jamala” is a unique, joyous tale which details the journey of an exiled court physician.
4. The Light at the bottom of the world by London Shah(Pashtun, UK)
This book is set in London and tells an unlikely story set in 2099 where the world happens to be under water after an asteroid releases loads of water causing a massive flood. Our protagonist is a 16year old of Afghan descent, Leyla who is on a mission to rescue her father who has been wrongly arrested.
This book is full of brilliant portrayals of a post-apocalyptic world as it describes the challenges Leyla faces she takes on anthropoids from the sea and faces obstacles from the corrupt government. Throughout this adventure, the ever so perseverant Leyla falls back on her faith to get her though.
The book also does not shy away from social commentary as it tackles “terrorism”, and criticism on society.