Baxtyar Hamasur: “A Strand of Hair Shaped Like the Letter J”
Baxtyar Hamasur has dedicated his life to stories, even wearing a pair of story glasses. “I see everything as a story,” he says.
Fiction
Yassini Girls—a Powerful Yet Flawed Account of Historical Trauma
Natasha Tynes reviews a Palestinian novel that thoughtfully examines intergenerational trauma, making it an insightful and worthwhile read.
10 Recommended Stories in The Markaz Review 2024
TMR's five main editors have selected two of our favorite stories of the year for your reading pleasure. Of course, we are utterly subjective.
“Not a Picture, a Precise Kick”—metafiction
A writer from Cairo imagines a chance encounter between two writers in Prague enamored of Kafka.
“The Head of the Table”—a story by Natasha Tynes
A celebration quickly spirals into a lifetime of trauma when an unforeseen 'head' makes a shocking appearance.
“The Curse of the Chinar Tree”—a family horror story
For one family, faith is overshadowed by the bitter taste of suffering rather than the peace it is meant to provide.
“Eve”—fantasy from Afghanistan
When Eve leaves Adam in Purgatory to settle their score once and for all, she's devastated by what she encounters on Earth.
“The Small Clay Plate”—a Siwa folk tale
A tale of a tailor from the deserts of Siwa, Egypt, where fortune reveals the invaluable lesson of recognizing what is truly precious.
“Orient Tavern” & “The Hungarian Hut”—fantasy by Azher Jirjees
“Orient Tavern” and “The Hungarian Hut,” from Azher Jirjees’ collection, explore post-2003 Iraqi struggles.
“Ghosts of Farsis”—a cyberpunk story
The story is part of Hussein Fawzy's cyberpunk story collection “Graduation Project” recently published by Waziz House.
The Conqueror of Time—Egyptian Cryogenics
Nihad Sherif's 1972 novel is a pioneering Arabic sci-fi work on human cryopreservation, with prose reminiscent of Mahfouz and Taha Hussein.
The Time-Travels of the Man who Sold Pickles and Sweets—an Excerpt
Ibn Shalaby, like many Egyptians, is looking for a job. Yet, unlike most of his fellow citizens, he is prone to sudden dislocations in time.
“The Spirit of Mutiny”—speculative fiction
An excerpt from a novel of speculative fiction envisioned a post-imperialist future, with Gaza as a key symbol of resistance against Empire.
A Galaxy Run in 30 Minutes or Less
May Haddad delivers an exciting prequel featuring celestial courier Carna, who travels through time and space in 30 minutes or less.
“Envy”—a story by Huda Hamed
The ambivalence that leads to the break up of a decade-long marriage must first face a mother's wrathful disappointment.