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bridge_overbooked's review against another edition
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I was surprised that I had never heard of this book before I included it as part of a Read Around the World Challenge - it won the 2013 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel! I enjoyed some aspects of this book, especially the mythology and learning more about Arabic and Islamic cultures. However, the pacing was extremely uneven, the supporting character development was weak, and the technology was not coherent. I was interested in how the book unfolded, but I was ultimately not satisfied with the ending and expected more.
"Alif the Unseen" is a blend of cyberpunk and fantasy set in an unnamed Middle Eastern city on the brink of revolution. The story follows Alif, a young Arab-Indian hacker, who finds himself entangled in a dangerous web of politics and magic after his forbidden relationship with a woman from a higher social class is discovered. With the help of a jinn and a group of rebels, Alif must navigate a world where technology and ancient mysticism collide while fighting against a corrupt government and powerful adversaries. As he discovers the true extent of his abilities and the secrets hidden within the digital realm, Alif learns that liberation can only be achieved through embracing his identity and confronting the forces that seek to control him.
"Alif the Unseen" is a blend of cyberpunk and fantasy set in an unnamed Middle Eastern city on the brink of revolution. The story follows Alif, a young Arab-Indian hacker, who finds himself entangled in a dangerous web of politics and magic after his forbidden relationship with a woman from a higher social class is discovered. With the help of a jinn and a group of rebels, Alif must navigate a world where technology and ancient mysticism collide while fighting against a corrupt government and powerful adversaries. As he discovers the true extent of his abilities and the secrets hidden within the digital realm, Alif learns that liberation can only be achieved through embracing his identity and confronting the forces that seek to control him.
categj's review against another edition
4.0
In her fabulous debut novel, G. Willow Wilson, weaves a magical story that blends elements from mystical middle Eastern folk tales from the Islamic Golden Age with the 21st century cyberworld of hackers and bots.
Alif the Unseen is a wild, exciting and sometimes terrifying tale that takes place in a fictional Arab Emirate that sits at the juncture between our earthly world and the supernatural domain of the Djinn.
After an ill-fated romance, Alif — a brilliant hacker — is relentlessly hunted by a government internet censor known as the Hand of God. Alif is joined in the fight against the Hand, by his devout neighbour Dina, an elderly imam, an American convert, a co-hacker who is also an Arab Prince, a roguish Djinn, known as Vikram the Vampire and various other denizens of the Empty Quarter, the demonic realm of mysterious creatures, ghosts and spirit beings.
Combining politics, modern technology, sorcery and middle eastern theology, Wilson builds an enthralling world where anything can happen and nothing is as it seems. Part Arabian Nights, part thriller this book takes us to that place where the veil between the visible and the unseen has separated — and we are thrown into the rift. A rollercoaster ride of darkness, magic, fantasy and reality. A story that illustrates the value of faith, the power of love and the strength that comes from believing in oneself.
I found Alif the Unseen to be a thoroughly enjoyable read: funny, clever, quirky and thought-provoking. Read it!
Alif the Unseen is a wild, exciting and sometimes terrifying tale that takes place in a fictional Arab Emirate that sits at the juncture between our earthly world and the supernatural domain of the Djinn.
After an ill-fated romance, Alif — a brilliant hacker — is relentlessly hunted by a government internet censor known as the Hand of God. Alif is joined in the fight against the Hand, by his devout neighbour Dina, an elderly imam, an American convert, a co-hacker who is also an Arab Prince, a roguish Djinn, known as Vikram the Vampire and various other denizens of the Empty Quarter, the demonic realm of mysterious creatures, ghosts and spirit beings.
Combining politics, modern technology, sorcery and middle eastern theology, Wilson builds an enthralling world where anything can happen and nothing is as it seems. Part Arabian Nights, part thriller this book takes us to that place where the veil between the visible and the unseen has separated — and we are thrown into the rift. A rollercoaster ride of darkness, magic, fantasy and reality. A story that illustrates the value of faith, the power of love and the strength that comes from believing in oneself.
I found Alif the Unseen to be a thoroughly enjoyable read: funny, clever, quirky and thought-provoking. Read it!
songwind's review against another edition
5.0
This book is a heady mixture of tech thriller and urban fantasy, with a pinch of horror.
Wilson does an excellent job of combining these disparate threads into an unusual but very readable whole.
Alif is the online handle and adopted name of our protagonist. He acts as a "gray hat" hacker, providing hosting, encryption and other services for a wide variety of dissidents in his fictional Middle Eastern emirate. He and his associates are constantly defending against State security, particularly in the form of an online presence known as the Hand of God.
Before long, Alif's life is thrown into turmoil as his upper-crust girlfiend tells him that her family is giving her away in an arranged marriage. His attempts to hide himself from her attract the attention of the Hand, and Alif's life may never be the same.
The book is well written, tightly plotted, and interesting. In addition, it leans on the Quran and Muslim folklore for its supernatural elements, which makes it stand out from the crowd in modern fantasy offerings. Wilson uses a deft hand to make the material accessible to outsiders, but maintains a great deal of nuance and complexity in her depiction of Middle Eastern social structure, religion and magic.
Highly recommended. Particularly if you are a Muslim looking for a multifaceted depiction of your coreligionists in fantasy, anyone who likes to see fantasy outside its standard settings, or are interested in jinn and other Middle Eastern folklore.
Wilson does an excellent job of combining these disparate threads into an unusual but very readable whole.
Alif is the online handle and adopted name of our protagonist. He acts as a "gray hat" hacker, providing hosting, encryption and other services for a wide variety of dissidents in his fictional Middle Eastern emirate. He and his associates are constantly defending against State security, particularly in the form of an online presence known as the Hand of God.
Before long, Alif's life is thrown into turmoil as his upper-crust girlfiend tells him that her family is giving her away in an arranged marriage. His attempts to hide himself from her attract the attention of the Hand, and Alif's life may never be the same.
The book is well written, tightly plotted, and interesting. In addition, it leans on the Quran and Muslim folklore for its supernatural elements, which makes it stand out from the crowd in modern fantasy offerings. Wilson uses a deft hand to make the material accessible to outsiders, but maintains a great deal of nuance and complexity in her depiction of Middle Eastern social structure, religion and magic.
Highly recommended. Particularly if you are a Muslim looking for a multifaceted depiction of your coreligionists in fantasy, anyone who likes to see fantasy outside its standard settings, or are interested in jinn and other Middle Eastern folklore.
saraanneb3's review against another edition
4.0
Really amazing book! Here’s the reason for 4, instead of 5: there’s not a lot of depth to the characters, and it ends really abruptly, for me. Otherwise, interesting story and plot, and with a helpful glossary and lots of fascinating cultural descriptions. I felt like I could visualize the city and country Alif lives in.
I know there’s a lot of Harry Potter comparisons, but it doesn’t remind me of HP, other than mentions of the Philosopher’s Stone (which J.K. Rowling did not invent, y’all). It reminds me most of the show The Good Place, esp season 3, and of “Stardust”, and a little of the second two Grisha books.
I know there’s a lot of Harry Potter comparisons, but it doesn’t remind me of HP, other than mentions of the Philosopher’s Stone (which J.K. Rowling did not invent, y’all). It reminds me most of the show The Good Place, esp season 3, and of “Stardust”, and a little of the second two Grisha books.
authoraugust's review against another edition
4.0
I waffled excessively between 4 and 5 stars for this book. Not because it wasn't stellar urban fantasy, but because I doubt I'll remember its specifics.
I read [a:Maggie Stiefvater|1330292|Maggie Stiefvater|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1460918410p2/1330292.jpg]'s review of this book and I wholeheartedly agree that there are some problematic elements. And as an outsider of the cultures described in the book myself, I certainly can't say whether or not Wilson was respectful in every way. But reading Alif, I'm certain Wilson could have lived among, loved, and researched any culture and written about it in the same compelling way she laid out in this novel.
Because this book didn't feel as grounded as I wanted it to feel. It was clear she'd done her homework. But that was sort of the problem. It was really clear she'd done her homework, not truly lived through it. Alif suffered from exactly the sins Vikram describes Western literature committing, even if there wasn't really any sex.
But I thoroughly enjoyed this novel nonetheless, and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys this kind of fictional escape. It's very well built and executed, on the whole.
I read [a:Maggie Stiefvater|1330292|Maggie Stiefvater|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1460918410p2/1330292.jpg]'s review of this book and I wholeheartedly agree that there are some problematic elements. And as an outsider of the cultures described in the book myself, I certainly can't say whether or not Wilson was respectful in every way. But reading Alif, I'm certain Wilson could have lived among, loved, and researched any culture and written about it in the same compelling way she laid out in this novel.
Because this book didn't feel as grounded as I wanted it to feel. It was clear she'd done her homework. But that was sort of the problem. It was really clear she'd done her homework, not truly lived through it. Alif suffered from exactly the sins Vikram describes Western literature committing, even if there wasn't really any sex.
But I thoroughly enjoyed this novel nonetheless, and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys this kind of fictional escape. It's very well built and executed, on the whole.
kerithea's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
lsparrow's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book that combined myth, faith, politics, technology into one story. The characters were all ones that we seldom see beyond as side characters. I really enjoy this authors story telling and this was no exception.
kirbyherzog's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
tricapra's review against another edition
3.0
Last book of the year. It was definitely a fun read, and the middle eastern setting was a big change of pace for me. The main character Alif was definitely an annoying shithead though, so that really put a damper on things. I prefer Wilson's work on Ms. Marvel and Air to this, but I'd give her next novel a shot if she decides to write one.