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Pakistan, 2083 AD. Allah has burned the sky away. A mysterious snow falls over everything. Is it an endless winter? Is it the result of a nuclear exchange with India? A celestial impact? Now a barren wasteland, what little is left of Pakistan is heavily segregated along religious lines. For Avaan, a gun in the hand feels as natural as breathing. An apostate pariah living under martial law and religious bigotry, violence has become a way of life. What respite he had from this terrifying world -- his brother, his family, and Doua, the love of his life -- was snatched away in military raids. Now broken, Avaan finds himself involved in a civil war that poisons everything he's ever believed in. The army shadows his every move, a mob boss wants him dead, and a legendary resistance leader has taken a keen interest in him. But there is a ray of hope: Avaan discovers that Doua is alive. Obsessed with finding her, he takes a stand against the army, the mob, and Pakistan itself with the only thing he has ever been able to count on: the gun in his hand.
About this Author
Born in Saudi Arabia, Saad T. Farooqi moved to Pakistan before his first birthday. There, he survived three separate kidnapping attempts before he was eight. His family eventually settled in the United Arab Emirates. After initially enrolling in electrical engineering to please his parents, Saad graduated with a BA in English Literature from the American University of Sharjah. He then earned an MFA in Creative Writing from Kingston University, London. Saad immigrated to Canada in 2015 and resides in London, Ontario. At Kingston University, he studied under several notable authors, including Rachel Cusk and Elif Safak. His short stories and poems have appeared in various magazines in the US, UK, and UAE.
Reviews
"Pakistan's historical treatment of religious minorities, including minority sects of Islam, makes the world Farooqi evokes feel all the more visceral - and horrifyingly possible. ... White World is a gritty read that shocks, frightens, and challenges."
"[Saad T. Farooqi] transports readers to late 21st century Pakistan, reaching beyond established narratives to create a unique speculative work that truly explores the most fraught and damaging aspects of the political climate in the country, eschewing more romantic ideas that have unpinned much of previous literature about this specific place."
"White World is a prescient warning of a fractured global society that, with the rise of ideological extremism, may already be on its way. ... [Farooqi] offers insight into how the rights of various populations have been at risk throughout history and makes a compelling case for why religious freedom is worth protecting now more than ever."
"[White World] will delight and surprise you and disturb you a bit ... it absolutely should be read."
"White World makes the idea of the wandering hero in a dystopia feel fresh again. Farooqi creates a world that is fully wrought, his characters fleshed-out, and their desires nuanced yet genuine. ... White World's blend of action, adventure, passion and compassion make it a gripping read."
"This is one of those books I couldn't put down, and it is one of those books that are written to be read again and again, revealing more details and another piece of clarity each time. The book is intelligent, weaves in an LGBTQ+ narrative, its details connected through the story arc, uses historical names for some of the rulers and characters, but is also funny in parts despite its bleak plot ... White World is an immersive, vivid story, conveying a sadness that remains with us. I suspect that there's a lot more to come from Farooqi and his storytelling talent once this novel has reached the minds and hearts of his readers."
"This isn't just a book -- it's a mirror held up to society. A chilling dystopian tale that challenges everything you think you know. If you're into thought-provoking fiction with powerful symbolism and real-world relevance, this is a must-read."
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