Islam and Science Fiction Interview of Noura Al Noman

  By Muhammad Aurangzeb Ahmad | October 30, 2012 - 2:28 pm | , , ,
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  Background: Noura Al Noman is an Emirati writer from Sharjah. She studied English literature at the UAE University and got Masters in Translation in 2004 from the American University in Sharjah. Previous to her current foray into Science Fiction she has written children’s books in the past. Ajwan is her first science fiction novel and will be launched on the second day of the Sharjah International Book Fair November 8th, 2012. It is being … Continue reading →

Islam Sci-Fi Interview of G. Willow Wilson (Part II)

  By Muhammad Aurangzeb Ahmad | July 1, 2012 - 8:02 pm | , ,
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Background: Part 2 of the interview with Muslim American writer G. Willow Wilson which was conducted by Rebecca Hankins. Part I of the interview is here. Her official website is at the following URL: http://www.gwillowwilson.com R. Hankins: There are statistics that suggest there is general low readership and literacy period in the Muslim World; your perception and perspective? G. Willow Wilson: I believe the two percent thing, whatever it was, that we represent ten percent … Continue reading →

Silicon Arabic

  By Muhammad Aurangzeb Ahmad | June 29, 2012 - 1:45 am | ,
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I usually do not post about my projects but this one is relevant to the theme of the site so here it is. I will let the project speak for itself. Here is a relevant excerpt from the site: Silicon Arabic combines the aesthetics of the traditional and ancient Islamic Art of Calligraphy with a modern medium – Silicon circuit boards.I have been practicing Arabic Calligraphy for more than a decade now and Chinese calligraphy … Continue reading →

Review: Apex Magazine’s Arab/Muslim Issue

  By Sofia Samatar | June 19, 2012 - 8:01 am | , ,
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Issue 18 of Apex Magazine, the “Arab/Muslim” issue of November 2010, will no doubt go down as one of the most memorable installments of the magazine, and an emblem of Catherynne M. Valente’s brief but influential term as editor. If nothing else, the issue will be remembered as Valente’s response to Elizabeth Moon’s blog post about Muslim immigrants to the U.S.—a post that sparked a storm of controversy and led to the withdrawal of Moon’s … Continue reading →

WisCon 2012: Panel on Islam and SciFi

  By Muhammad Aurangzeb Ahmad | May 23, 2012 - 5:38 pm | , ,
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I will be on a couple of panels at the 36th annual WisCon 23 this weekend being held in Madison, Wisconsin. WisCon is the world’s leading feminist-oriented science fiction convention and conference. I will mainly be talking about Science Fiction in translation (mainly from the Muslim world) and Science Fiction with Muslim and/or Islamic themes. Be sure to stop by if you are the conference. Speculative Fiction in/and Translation Date: Sat, 8:30–9:45 am Room: Capitol … Continue reading →

Islam SciFi Interview of Larissa Sansour

  By Muhammad Aurangzeb Ahmad | May 11, 2012 - 12:52 pm | , ,
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Official Website: www.larissasansour.com/ Bio: Larissa Sansour is a Palestinian artist. She was raised in Palestine but had to move when the events in the Middle East forced her to move first to Europe and then for higher studies in the US where she received MA in Art from NYU. Her work is interdisciplinary in nature and covers multiple mediums and is usually informed by current political themes. Her work spans utilities video art, photography, documentary, … Continue reading →

Islam and Sci-Fi Panel at PCA/ACA Boston April 11-14, 2012

  By Muhammad Aurangzeb Ahmad | April 5, 2012 - 2:22 am | , ,
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PCA/ACA: Conference April 11-14, Boston MA April 14, 2012 3:00 pm -4:30 pm, Conference Website Copley Marriott Hotel in Boston Special Roundtable Session: Countering the Master Narrative:  Locating Muslims and Islam in Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Comics Abstract: Science fiction, fantasy, and comic book literature is experiencing a “revival” in modern day Muslim communities with Muslim and non-Muslim writers use of the faith of over a billion adherents to enhance and often drive the narrative … Continue reading →

Review: Throne of the Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed

  By Sofia Samatar | March 21, 2012 - 5:40 pm | , ,
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The first blurb on the back of Saladin Ahmed’s debut novel, Throne of the Crescent Moon, comes from Nebula winner Walter Jon Williams. Williams writes: “Readers yearning for the adventures of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser will delight in the arrival of Adoulla and Raseed.” The comparison accurately places Throne in the genre of adventure fantasy, and specifically in the sword-and-sorcery subgenre of Fritz Leiber’s famous duo, who first appeared in the pulp magazines of … Continue reading →

Review: The Mirage by Matt Ruff

  By Sofia Samatar | March 5, 2012 - 11:18 pm | ,
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The Mirage, Matt Ruff’s new novel, is based on a striking reversal of history. Set in the Islamic and democratic United Arab States, it opens with the traumatic events of November 9, 2001, the day a group of radical Christian terrorists hijacked four planes. The terrorists flew two planes into the Tigris and Euphrates World Trade Towers in Baghdad, and a third into the Arab Defense Ministry building in Riyadh. Now, in the aftermath of … Continue reading →

Islam Sci-Fi Interview of G. Willow Wilson

  By Muhammad Aurangzeb Ahmad | February 19, 2012 - 2:40 pm | , ,
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Background: Our latest interview is with Muslim American writer G. Willow Wilson which was conducted by Rebecca Hankins. Wilson is a writer and scholar, a convert to Islam whose commentary often addresses Islamic and interfaith issues. An avid supporter of new and alternative media, Wilson has written for political and culture blogs from across a wide spectrum of views. Her official website is at the following URL: http://www.gwillowwilson.com http://www.gwillowwilson.com R Hankins: Tell us a little … Continue reading →