Rockport Public Library

Arab and Muslim science fiction, critical essays, edited by Hosam A. Ibrahim Elzembely and Emad El-Din Aysha

eng

Includes bibliographical references and index

illustrations

index present

essays

Arab and Muslim science fiction

bibliography

1296690040

edited by Hosam A. Ibrahim Elzembely and Emad El-Din Aysha

Critical explorations in science fiction and fantasy, 74

critical essays

"How is science fiction from the Arab and Muslim world different than mainstream science fiction from the West? What distinctive and original contributions can it make? Why is it so often neglected in critical considerations of the genre? While other books have explored these questions, all have been from foreign academic voices. Instead, this book uses an own-voices approach to examine the nature, genesis, and history of Arabic and Muslim science fiction, as well as the challenges its authors face. Through personal narratives, these authors share their stories and their struggles with the censors, recalcitrant publishers, critics, the book market, and the literary establishment. Their uphill efforts, with critical contributions from academics, translators, and literary activists, will enlighten the sci-fi enthusiast and fill a gap in the history of science fiction. Topics covered range from culture shock to conflicts between tradition and modernity, proactive roles for female heroines, blind imitation of storytelling techniques, and language games" --, Provided by publisher

Preface / Hosam A. Ibrahim Elzembely -- Section I: Whose Science Fiction? Introduction / Marcia Lynn Qualey ; Dividing Lines : The World-View of Science Fiction / James E. Gunn -- Section II: Local Voices : Essays and Interviews. North Africa. The Continuum : Four Waves of Egyptian Sci-Fi / Hosam A. Ibrahim Elzembely ; Mapping the Maghreb : The History and Prospects of SF in the Arab West / Kawthar Ayed ; The Mechanics of Writing Algerian SF : Resistance to the Speculative Tools of the Trade / Faycel Lahmeur ; Libyan SF : A Short Story in the Making / Abdulhakeem Amer Tweel ; The Survival Guide to Egyptian Dystopia and Apocalypse : Post-Arab Spring Sci-Fi Comes of Age / Ahmed Salah Al-Mahdi ; Mending the Egyptian Gap : A Case Study in the Problems Facing Arab-Islamic Science Fiction / Emad El-Din Aysha ; Morocco, Then and Now : The Struggle for Arabic Science Fiction / Mouad Bouyadou ; Interview with Ziane Guedim : Prospecting the Next Generation of Algerian SF Writers / Egyptian Society for Science Fiction -- The Levant. Science Fiction Literature : A Very Personal Journey / Taleb Omran ; Interview with Jeremy Szal : Global and Local Imperatives in Lebanese Science Fiction / Egyptian Society for Science Fiction ; The Arabs Haven't Given Up on Utopia Just Yet : The Nano-Ethics of Heaven on Earth / Fadi Zaghmout ; The Story of Syrian SF : The Struggle for a Voice of Its Own / Mohammed Abdullah Alyasin ; Exiled to the Future : Mental Hurdles on the Road Towards Palestinian Science Fiction / Emad El-Din Aysha ; An Eye on the Past, an Eye on the Future: Charting an Independent Course for Iranian SF / Zahra Jannessari-Ladani ; The Family in Time : An Expatriate's Pilgrimage to a Better Future / Ibrahim Al-Marashi ; Turning Youthful Curiosity into an Arab Growth Industry / Noura Al Noman ; Pursuing the Imagination : One Kuwaiti's Experience with Science Fiction and Other Abnormals / Abdulwahab Al-Rifaee ; Interview with Farkhondeh Fazel Bakhsheshi on Publishing Science Fiction in Iran / Egyptian Society for Science Fiction ; An Interview from Kuwait : Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa, Creator of The 99, on Therapy, the Comics Industry, and Muslim Modernization / Egyptian Society for Science Fiction ; SF for a Troubled Nation : An Interview from Yemen with Wajdi Muhammad Al-Ahdal / Egyptian Society for Science Fiction ; Black Magic and Djinn in Omani Literature : Examining the Myths and Reality Manar / Al Hosni -- Europe, Russia and Central Asia. The Codex of Bosnian SF : Raspberries on the Edge of Chaos / Harun Šiljak ; Science Fiction in Turkey : Skirting the Edge of a Remembered Future / Gamze G. Özfırat and İsmail Yamanol ; A Talk with Shamil Idiatullin : Muslims in the "Contracting" Universe of Post-Soviet SF / Egyptian Society for Science Fiction ; Hamid Ismailov on the Remnants of Central Asian Fantasy and Science Fiction / Egyptian Society for Science Fiction ; Perceiving Afghanistan : Abdulwakil Sulamal on Realism, Translation, and Fantastical Literature / Egyptian Society for Science Fiction ; Falling in Love with Science Fiction : From Turkey to Tomorrow / Müfit Özdeş ; Girlhood Dreams : An Interview with Funda Özlem Şeran on the Necessity of Turkish Sci-Fi / Egyptian Society for Science Fiction -- South Asia. The Hero in All of Us : Saqib Sadiq on Muslim SF in the English Language Mirror / Egyptian Society for Science Fiction ; The Indian Recipe for Good Science Fiction : Technology, Politics, and Religion / Sami Ahmad Khan ; Muhammad Aurangzeb Ahmad : An Interview on Islam and Sci-Fi, AI Ethics, and Sustainable Development / Egyptian Society for Science Fiction -- Africa. The Expanse of Mauritanian SF : Tuning French to a Future Informed by the Past / Moussa Ould Ebnou ; From Arrakis to Senegal : The Science Fiction of Interfaith Dialogue and Spiritual Coexistence / Mame Bougouma Diene ; Rafeeat Aliyu : Identity, Islam, and Women's Writing Meet in Afro-Futurism / Egyptian Society for Science Fiction ; A Bird's Eye View of the Comic Book Scene in Nigeria / Ashiru Muheez Afolabi ; The Sudan and Genre Literature : Between Historical Speculation, Magic Realism, and Science Fiction / Amir Tag Elsir -- Far East. Science Fiction : A Living Reality for Every Malaysian / Azrul Bin Jaini ; Raising the Elements of Locality and the Moral Story in SF : An Attempt to Make SF a Classy Genre in Indonesia / Riawani Elyta ; The Writer's Prerogative : An Interview from the Philippines with Kristine Ong / Muslim Egyptian Society for Science Fiction ; Aditya Nugraha Wardhana on Indonesia's New Wave SF : Comics, Cartoons, and Leveraging Literature Between the East and West / Egyptian Society for Science Fiction -- Section III: A Literature in Appraisal. Archiving the Future : A Conversation with Rebecca Hankins on the Fictional Frontiers of Muslim and African SF / Egyptian Society for Science Fiction ; Under the Microscope : An Academic Appraisal of the Evolving Milieu of Arab SF / Barbara K. Dick ; Between Two Traditions : A Testimonial on Translating Arabic Science Fiction Stories / Areeg Ibrahīm -- Conclusion / Hosam A. Ibrahim Elzembely