Fast Forward Book Review for February 2006

 

Felaheen
by

Jon Courtenay Grimwood
New York: Bantam, 2005
http://www.j-cg.co.uk/

A review
by Colleen R. Cahill

Whenever I consider science fiction and Islamic culture, my first thought is of George Alex Effinger's Budayeen Trilogy. The mix of cyberpunk, criminals and Muslim heritage has always left me wanting more and now I have a new source. Jon Courtenay Grimwood's Arabesk series brings forth a wonderfully edgy world which has echos of Effinger's books, but is in no way a copy. Grimwood combines alternate history, biological enhancement and detective fiction with great characters and writing for a truly fascinating story

The Arabesk books exist in a history where World War I never happened, the Ottoman Empire still exists and the major world powers are the United States, Germany, and France. The third volume of the series, Felaheen, finds Ashraf Bey, the former Chief of Detectives for the city we know as Alexandria, Egypt, at loose ends. While in the last volume of the series he gained a huge dowery for his niece Hani, the pair have no real cash in hand and they can live on his reputation as a former diplomat, former governor and supposed son of the Emir of Tunis for only so long. Raf's alcoholic mother was never forthcoming on whether his father was the Emir or a Swedish hitchhiker. When an assassination attempt is made on the life of the Emir, Raf is reluctantly drawn to Tunis, leaving Hani with Zara, daughter of one of the wealthiest men in North Africa, and Raf's former fiancee who is currently living in his house. Raf does have a few advantages, such as the medical procedures he went through as a child that left him with superior senses and reflexes, an eidetic memory with a few holes, and a computer chip in his head that gives him advice. The Fox, as Raf refers to the artificial intelligence, seems to have mainly one purpose: to keep his owner alive, be it through gun fire, torture or political intrigue. And our hero has found plenty of the latter in Tunis, where he might have not only a possible father, but two brothers to face, one of which is scheming to take over the country. Raf finds he must seek answers to these questions, even though he feels his skills come from "the Andy Warhol school of detective work."

Felaheen is a great book, with a plot that has wheels within wheels, creating mystery and excitement. Raf, Hani and Zara are complex characters driven not only by the lives they lead, but by the cultures that surround them. Both Hani and Zara have to deal with the restrictions that face women living in a Muslim culture, and they do this with style and flair. Raf, who as lived in many countries and cultures, tries to fit in, although he is always aware of his differences, both cultural and biological.

You can appreciate Felaheen without having read the earlier two books, Pashazade and Effendi, but why cheat yourself out of such great books? If you have read the earlier two works, there is a big pay-off in this volume, as Raf discovers one secret from his past. Get the whole trilogy, it is well worth the price. And don't be surprised if like me, you hope there is another Arabesk book in the future.