‎Feature: How Do You Write a Middle Eastern Sci-Fi Epic?

Library > Community Presentations

Presenter: Mazen Jomaa

Delivered: Dubai on February 10, 2018

In this afikra feature, Mazen Jomaa looks into Sci-Fi epics, mentioning examples of the different Arab epics that have passed throughout history and how they used to write them and how middle-eastern sci-fi epics are written today.

Sources & Future References

• Future: All That Matters - Ziauddin Sardar - Google Books

• Close encounters of the Arab kind - BBC News

• Science Fiction in the Arab World: Tawfiq al-Hakim’s Voyage to Tomorrow

• Epic and Genre: Beyond the Boundaries of Media | Comparative Literature | Duke University Press

• The Epic of Gilgamesh & SF Origins - Sci-fi and Fantasy Network

• The Big Book of Science Fiction by Jeff and Ann VanderMeer

• Arab Science Fiction: Thriving Yet Underappreciated - Al-Fanar Media

• Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson | Goodreads

• The Journey of Ibn Fattouma by Naguib Mahfouz | Goodreads

• What Is Arabic ‘Science Fiction,’ And Who Gets to Write It? – Arablit

• Why Arab Authors Must Write Futuristic Fiction – Arablit

• Iraq + 100: stories from a century after the invasion by Hassan Blasim | Goodreads

• Building a Better Definition of Science Fiction ‹ Literary Hub

• The State of Arabic Science Fiction (in Translation) – Arablit

• Science Fiction in Arabic: ‘It Was Not Born All of a Sudden’ – Arablit

Note: All community presentations are prepared & presented by non-experts on the subject. They are sharing information in the hopes of spurring interest in that subject.

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About Afikra Community Presentations

Delivered and prepared by afikra Community members, the presentation’s goal is to showcase the presenter’s curiosity and research, and share some knowledge on a ‎topic related to the Arab world’s histories and cultures. The presentation is the ‎culmination of the afikra coaching process to help identify a topic, find research, and develop the ‎presentation. afikra presentations come in two forms, a long question-driven afikra Feature, and a short afikra FWD with the purpose of sharing something interesting.