NajwanJiddah
Back-cover description from the published edition:
THE STRANGERS OF SILVER
On the surface, this is an adventure and science-fiction novel for younger readers. Beneath that surface lies a moral and philosophical story about collective responsibility.
Though modest in length, it contains a large cast of characters and an abundance of events, mysteries, and contrasting elements. Within its pages, readers will find fantasy and reality, horror and wonder, comedy and tragedy, adventure and suspense, vivid portrayals of traditional Iraqi rural life, puzzling secrets and enigmas, as well as the familiar activities, conflicts, and social interactions of a close-knit community.
Unlike much contemporary fantasy, the story does not unfold in a parallel world, an undefined land, or an unknown age. The fictional village in which the events take place closely resembles the villages of central and southern Iraq as they existed roughly two centuries ago.
One need not journey to another world to encounter astonishing wonders, disturbing evils, or extraordinary adventures. In the author's view, all these things already exist within the human soul itself. It is enough for a person to look inward to discover things stranger and more remarkable than anything that might be imagined in a distant imaginary world.
In short, this is a novel that attempts to say much with the fewest and simplest words possible.
Young readers may enjoy it as an exciting tale of mystery, adventure, and discovery. Yet they may return to it years later, with greater maturity and experience, and uncover deeper philosophical dimensions hidden between its lines.
NAJWAN NAJAH AL-JIDDAH is a contemporary Iraqi philosopher and writer whose published works span literature, philosophy of science, philosophy of history, philosophy of psychology, and other fields of inquiry.
Alongside his literary and philosophical work, Al-Jiddah established a proposed physical framework based entirely on Euclidean geometry and named it E