Technologies of the Self - (Driftless Unsolicited Novella) by Haris a Durrani (Paperback)

About the Book

In this timely and instantly notable fiction debut, Haris Durrani immerses readers in the life of a young American Muslim struggling to understand himself in the context of his family, classmates, and contemporary urban life.

Book Synopsis

"So true to mixed experience, it feels defiant."

-Sofia Samatar, winner of the World Fantasy Award

In this timely and instantly notable fiction debut, Haris Durrani immerses readers in the life of a young American Muslim struggling to understand himself in the context of his family, classmates, and contemporary urban life.

Engineering student Jihad, or "Joe" as he introduces himself in the confusing intersections of post 9/11 New York City, finds himself on a personal quest of possibly a spiritual nature, even if he isn't sure that's what it is - after all, it's hard enough to keep halal in his Dominican-Pakistani-Muslim Washington Heights household.

He's surprised to find himself in the stories his Uncle Tomás tells of his own youth, stories in which Tomás fights both the devil and the weaknesses of the flesh - often at the same time. Culture, nation, religion, family, identity, race, and time battle for dominion over Jihad until he realizes he is facing the same demon his uncle claims to have defeated, and all Jihad has to fight with is himself.

Durrani's stories, memoirs, and essays have appeared in Analog Science Fiction and Fact, The University of Toronto Undergraduate Journal of Middle East Studies, The 2014 Campbellian Anthology, The New York Review of Science Fiction, and The Best Teen Writing of 2012, 2011, and 2010. He writes for altMuslimah and has appeared regularly on John Hockenberry's NPR show The Takeaway.

Review Quotes

Haris Durrani's wonderful tale is as much about family, jobs, friends and growing up as it is about demons, time travel, and God - and that's as it should be. Rich, humane, funny and outlandish, it presages a great career for a young writer with lavish gifts and a generous spirit. -John Crowley, author of Little, Big Haris Durrani's debut is both a quirky coming-of-age story and a meditation on the technologies we use to make ourselves: immigration, religious conversion, science fiction, sex. It's so true to mixed experience, it feels defiant. -Sofia Samatar, winner of the World Fantasy Award Fantastic, taut, lyrical, funny, and vivid-a family history of faith, time travel, and selfhood in the face of saints and demons. -Max Gladstone, author of Last First Snow Technologies of the Self is brave and ruthless, gorgeous, and delicious. It is really magical and magically real: an unfiltered, unapologetic, and unforgettable narrative. -Daniel José Older, author of Shadowshaper and the Bone Street Rumba series A subtle and controlled gaze at the contemporary coming-of-age that trusts the reader to travel across time and science. Prerequisites in demonology and philosophy not required but are recommended. This is the kind of yes-yes world-embracing story-telling to challenge plastic realism and announce a writer. -Ali Eteraz, author of Native Believer Beautifully written, eloquent, Mr. Durrani's novella evokes time travel in the only way we can make sense of it--through memory. The book is thick with images that rise up larger than themselves, stronger than themselves, softer than themselves. -Paul Park, author of A Princess of Roumania In the tradition of Junot Díaz, Durrani offers a rare peek into the rich, often surprising cultural complexities of being Latino and Muslim in post-9/11 America. An inimitable novella about wrestling with identity where the costs couldn't be higher. Funny, original, and wonderfully written, Technologies of the Self will keep you turning pages and leave you impressed. -Murad Kalam, author of Night Journey