Middle East/North African Lit discussion

Hello Readers, we'll be starting the discussion of 'Iraq +100'', an anthology of short fiction about Iraq in a hundred years. The discussion officially starts on November 1. I wanted to welcome you to this discussion. I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts and opinions.

My disclaimer: I've been traveling and have been unable to get a copy of the book but my local bookstore has assured me that they would get a copy for me by the time I'm home, tomorrow! If anyone has comments or questions they would like to bring up, please do.

I'm so disappointed because my library doesn't have a copy!
I might try an interlibrary loan.

I've requested a copy!

I have ordered a copy from Amazon. Looking forward to reading and discussing.

I requested that my library buy it. If that does not work I'll try and inter library loan.

I hope to have the book by Saturday. My library DOES have it but I'm buying a copy to mark up. BTW, I tried to buy a copy at 2 different Waterstones Bookstores in the UK last week and they didn't have it. It was published by Comma Press in the UK and I thought it was now being published in the US by ? I just messaged Comma Press to ask about where to find it.

In case you want to start by reading a review, here's one that NPR (National Public Radio) published online:

http://www.npr.org/2016/12/10/5030680...

My library has 7 copies. You might be able to ILL it from Timberland Regional Library - ask at your local library.

I was able to buy the book through my local bookstore. This is the American edition, published by TOR and with a different subtitle. I find the difference somewhat disturbing:

UK full title: Iraq+100: Stories from a century after the invasion
American full title: Iraq+100: the first anthology of science fiction to have emerged from Iraq

According to the Introduction (p. 8-9 of TOR), the authors were asked to write about 100 years after the Iraq invasion of 2003 and that "... they were not required to write science fiction but had complete freedom to choose any genre of writing that could address the future."

I have not gotten into the book very far yet but have two questions:

1. How is science fiction defined, what makes a piece of fiction 'science fiction'?

2. As we read the stories, do they all seem to be science fiction according to the definition?

Okay, I'll admit that I don't like the US cover or subtitle as much as the UK publisher's choices.

Kate wrote: "My library has 7 copies. You might be able to ILL it from Timberland Regional Library - ask at your local library."

I'm in Canada.

Sorry, Lila!

Not trying to over-comment but I'm reading and I like finding out stuff about what I'm reading. I listened to this very interesting discussion with/about Anoud, the first story's author:

https://www.pri.org/stories/2017-02-1...

What is the start date to read this book, and what is the end date?

It started on November 1 but I don't think there's an end date. I think you can comment forever but at some point there may not be anyone replying.

Hoping that in another week there might be more comments.

Anyone wanting a peek at a review: https://theintercept.com/2017/01/15/t...

Hey, thank you for sharing the links Kate. Really great project.

I've been wanting to read this ever since reading Hassan Blasim's 'The Corpse Exhibition', and was really excited when I saw you all were reading for the month.

Two stories left to go, and it's been really interesting. Don't know how much I should comment on the actual stories yet, but, there's a quote by Samuel R. Delany that I've been constantly reminded of while reading:

"Science fiction doesn’t predict the future. It offers a significant distortion of the present."

These stories really speak to that idea... and it's been fascinating and depressing considering what that means in the context of these stories.

To your questions;

1. How is science fiction defined, what makes a piece of fiction 'science fiction'?

To be honest, I don't really know. Most of what I read is considered 'sci-fi', but I really don't know how to define it. The dictionary definition is "fiction based on imagined future scientific or technological advances and major social or environmental changes, frequently portraying space or time travel and life on other planets." I think ultimately, science fiction to me is a genre that uses alternate worlds and possible futures to explore ideas and concepts in a deeper way then they maybe could otherwise. As for what makes fiction 'science fiction', I think there are degrees. It depends on how far the author chooses to exaggerate or distort the present. Pretty vague, but... labels are hard to pin down I think, haha.


2. As we read the stories, do they all seem to be science fiction according to the definition?

I would say yes. I still have two to go, but so far, they all use depictions of the future to explore what is happening in Iraq and the world right now, and also to reflect on the history of Iraq. The writers use technological advances, major societal shifts, and dramatic ideas about possible worlds to reflect on what it means to be Iraqi in the present moment. Some stories may be stretching the definition (for example, the story where a corporal in the Iraqi army is essentially thrown into the future by angels after going to heaven) but I think they all do fit my own definition and the dictionary definition.

Also, I agree that the UK subtitle is much better. Even though I do consider the stories sci-fi, Blasim makes a point in the introduction that he did not set out to have people write science fiction necessarily, and some of the authors may not consider the stories sci-fi themselves. I think 'Stories from a century after the invasion' serves another purpose by steering the reader's thoughts towards the invasion of Iraq, the 'starting point' Blasim gave to the authors to write from. Important to think about the stories in the context of the war.

Wow, thanks Bin, for starting in on the book and adding your thoughts. I also read The Corpse Exhibition and thought it was brilliant. The third story was written by Ali Bader, the only other author in the collection that I had read before. I read his The Tobacco Keeper which I also liked. I'm a slow reader and I'm trying to read a single story in a day so that I can reflect on the style (I'm weak on being able to see what the author is doing and too often read for either the story or the use of language. Anyway, I'm finishing The Worker tonight.

I think of science fiction as having some aspect of science or technology and the future in the story. I don't usually read SF although I've definitely read fiction that would be said to be of that genre. Maybe I interpret it too narrowly.

Will get back to reading now.

Last night I finished the fourth short story in the collection, The Worker, by Diaa Jubaili. I appreciated the writing, thought it and the translation were well done. It did not read like sci fi, though, probably the least so of all I've read so far. I didn't know anything about Diaa Jubaili so I looked online and found another short story, The Darwinist, by him published online by Strange Horizons. Another good one! Link to The Darwinist:

https://tinyurl.com/y93rbg8t

Then I found an interview with the author (in two parts) in which his writing is described as speculative fiction (rather than SF):

https://thecommapressblog.wordpress.c...

https://thecommapressblog.wordpress.c...

And btw (I apologize for so many postings, I hate to dominate the discussion, here), I heard back from Comma Press about the American version of Iraq+100 published by TOR. They said that only the cover (not the content) was changed (in my opinion, to the worse).

Has anyone else besides Bin and me gotten a copy of the book?

Just wanted to let you know I really wanted to read this and join in, but haven't been able to get the book yet!

The library has only one copy and there's one person on hold ahead of me. So it will be a while.

Lila, I'll send you mine when I finish. Send me your address in a private message.

Tamara, great to hear. It may be that most of the discussion will end up being later since two of you (Lila and you) are still trying to get copies.

Today I read Mortada Gzar's The Day by Day Mosque. From the first sentence I immediately loved the language and the surreallism, the nonlinearity and surprises of the story. So far, this story is my favorite one in the book.

As is usual, I wanted to know who this author is and searched the internet. I found an interview that he did while at the Iowa Writers Workshop in 2016. It starts with him reading in Arabic from a book he's published, My Beautiful Cult, and then answers questions in English. Here's the interview:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eInrS...

There's also another story written by him that was published online by Newfound and titled Don't Put Your Elephant in Your Luggage which I have not yet read but am providing the link below:

https://newfound.org/current-issue/tr...

And finally, Arablit has written about him:

https://arablit.org/2017/04/01/mortad...

Hello! I read through the book, and the story that stood out in my reading is Zhraa Alhaboby's "Baghdad Syndrome." She writes with a strong sense of place, rooted and committed to Baghdad. She also draws inspiration from history and myth. I enjoyed her use of Shahrazad and Shahrayar in her futuristic tale, although they appear simply as eternal lovers united by Shahrazad's storytelling. There are other pairs of lovers who seem to fit the image of simple, eternal lovers. And the tale of Shahrazad and Shahrayar seems a little too complex to fit the image they are given in this story. This was my initial reaction, but I have come to accept the depiction as fitting within the folklore of Baghdad. Alhaboby sees this pair of lovers as representing a special part of Baghdad's character. They represent eternal love that unites all the generations of Baghdad.

Oh, I loved that one, too. It was like a mystery solved through research and enquiry. It may have been my favorite so far. Haha, I just saw that the story before this one is what I said was my favorite so far. Maybe I like them more and more as I read.

I am enjoying the diversity of styles in this book.

I haven't finished the book - had another library book on hold that I needed to check out and finish reading before it was due. I'm back on Iraq +100 again.

Kate wrote: "Lila, I'll send you mine when I finish. Send me your address in a private message.

Tamara, great to hear. It may be that most of the discussion will end up being later since two of you (Lila and y..."

Kate, that's very kind of you! I am still hoping I can get it from my library. For whatever reason they couldn't get it for me as a library loan, but they have still not replied to my suggestion that they purchase it. I am hoping that's a sign that they are considering it!
If that doesn't work I might just take you up on your offer.
In any case I really did want to read and join in!
Please don't apologize about all your posts! I am reading them with great interest!

I finished the book last night. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. In general I have mixed feelings about the Science Fiction genre: I don't like the speculative type with space ships and future technology as the main story but really enjoy something that is based on a more realistic story line. These are, for the most part, literary and well-written. I also liked being introduced to new authors, especially focused on authors from one country only.

My final favorite story in the book: 'Baghdad Syndrome' for it's mystery solving and keeping me wanting to know what happened next.

The most fun to read: 'The Day by Day Mosque' which leaps off the page from sentence one onward. I loved the language.

Most erotic: "Kuszib' of course!

Least favorite: 'The Gardens of Babylon' which I hate to even admit since I've read 'The Corpse Exhibition' by Hassan Blasim and absolutely loved it. But this story seemed choppy, not the gorgeous language of the novel. He was also the editor so perhaps he was distracted, or maybe I should just read it again.

One of the stories, 'Operation Daniel' would not normally be one that I liked but the fact that it is about language, culture, history, really saved it for me.

I'll keep monitoring the discussion but will be going on to finish other books and maybe even get started on our next read.

If anyone has a question to pose for discussing, please do: Anything that bothered you, or that you thought was especially thought provoking?