Alif
the Unseen, G.
Willow Wilson (4.0)
I am
happy to say I was surprised and delighted by this book. Sometimes stories from present day that delve
into fantasy can lose their way, but this one holds its own and I felt
comfortable sliding between the known and the unknown. The main story line is about a young hacker
in present day Iran (likely during the Arab spring timeframe). We see him as he falls in love, deals with
‘The Hand’ (the government on-line oppressor of young rebellious hackers), and
as he generally struggles with his family situation. What really makes this book special is the
overlay of another world, based on the ancient Arabic belief in genies that
parallels and intersects Alif’s life. The
characters he meets are fantastical and interesting. The theories of religion and the world
workings that they espouse are magical.
Stories of good and evil are ubiquitous throughout history, so it is
refreshing to read one that takes old concepts, interweaves them with new
technology and all with interesting characters who possess varying degrees of ‘bad’
and ‘good’. I agree with previous
comments that this book is partly ‘Golden Compass’ and partly any Neal
Stephenson book. I can see similarities
and love both.
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