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April 1, 2017

Intriguing and potentially controversial because of the unexpected overlay of Islamic belief, this new work by Algerian author Sansal is another example of the dystopian literature attracting interest after the 2016 presidential election. Here, the prophet Abi rules rigidly in the name of the god Yolah, proclaiming that "submission is faith and faith is truth." Order has been restored after a horrific war left millions dead, and belief in the one true god is mandatory, with punishment swift for anyone who does not conform. Ati has returned to Abistan's capital after a two-year absence spent in pilgrimage and at a sanatorium. Although he falls into a routine, he no longer takes pleasure in common activities like spying. With a colleague, he begins excursions into so-called ghettos and realizes that somewhere out there are civilizations where freedom is possible and the old beliefs survive. That puts him on a dangerous journey. VERDICT Sharply satiric but portentous and sometimes distancing, the narrative takes some getting used to, but it's worthwhile watching Sansal dig fiercely into the essence of the all-controlling religious belief he roundly condemns. Winner of the Grand Prix du Roman from the Academie Francaise.

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