Speculative Fiction from Around the World
Noura al Noman is a science fiction writer from the United Arab Emirates, author of new novel Ajwan. Here, we are delighted to publish the English-language version of an interview with her, conducted by Cristina Jurado, and published by permission of the Sense of Wonder blog. Noura al Noman Interviewed by Cristina Jurado Cristina Jurado: Ajwan is an... Continue Reading →
Fascinating interview in Arablit with new Arabic SF writer Noura Noman. AL: Do you think science fiction could (should, will?) have a wider Arabic-reading audience? What will help grow the audience for Arabic sci fi? NN: From the response I have had on twitter, and from the handful of young writers who said they read it... Continue Reading →
Cheryl Morgan interviews Egyptian writer Ahmed Khaled Towfik. Originally published in Locus. Ahmed Khaled Towfik Interview By Cheryl Morgan Ahmed Khaled Towfik is one of the most prolific authors in Egypt, having written over 500 books. A trained doctor himself, he specializes in medical thrillers and horror, but he has also written science fiction and it... Continue Reading →
Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar writes on Arabic Science Fiction: A Journey into the Unknown: This past decade has seen a shift in the Arab zeitgeist. There is an acute confidence among creators and audiences which is propelling Arabic sci-fi forward. Over the past years, more writers, filmmakers, artists and many others have utilized the genre in... Continue Reading →
We're a bit remiss in not covering this sooner, but Saladin Ahmed's debut novel, Throne of the Crescent Moon, is now available! From Saladin Ahmed, finalist for the Nebula and Campbell Awards, comes one of the year’s most anticipated fantasy debuts, THRONE OF THE CRESCENT MOON, a fantasy adventure with all the magic of The... Continue Reading →
The National reports on YA science fiction in the United Arab Emirates: It was back in September 2009 that The National reported that teenage fiction in Arabic "doesn't exist". Publisher Dareen Charafeddine, of the Sharjah-based Arabic publishing house Kalimat, said: "If you find any [such books], they are very traditional. Nobody knows how to write for this... Continue Reading →
Arabic Literature in English has a post on Science Fiction in Egypt: A number of futuristic works of the last few years have tried to inscribe a sort of national story in futuristic books, such as Utopia, by Ahmed Khaled Towfik, (trans. by Chip Rossetti, 2011), Revolution 2053, by Mahmoud Osman (2009), and Donkey Flu, by Amal Sedik Afif (2010).... Continue Reading →
Strange Horizons reviews Ahmed Khaled Towfik's Utopia: Utopia, the first novel by the prolific and popular Towfik to be translated into English, was published in Cairo in 2008. It was an instant bestseller, and has been reprinted four times. Set in 2023, it depicts a bleak Egypt divided into the pampered inhabitants of Utopia, and... Continue Reading →
Islamscifi.com interview Achmed Khammas: Backgound: This is the first interview in a series of interviews with Muslim Science Fiction authors and people who have written about Sciene Fiction with Islamic themes. Achmed Adolf Wolfgang Khammas has written on the subject of the lack of Science Fiction in Arabic Literature and has written Sciene Fiction stories... Continue Reading →
The Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA) have just announced the nominated works for their annual Nebula Awards. French author, and Apex Book of World SF contributor Aliette de Bodard is nominated for Best Novelette, with "The Jaguar House, in Shadow", from Asimov's, while the forthcoming Apex Book of World SF 2 Indian contributor Shweta... Continue Reading →
The World SF Blog 