The New Damascus

Built upon a high-concept alternate history premise—asking what would happen if the Arab-Andalusian forces won the Battle of Tours in 732 AD—the narrative blends historical intrigue with speculative realism. Set initially in early 1980s Damascus, the story follows Mousa, an unassuming postal clerk whose curiosity leads him to illicitly read intercepted letters. This secret obsession connects him with collectors of ancient manuscripts and eventually propels him through a temporal doorway inside Damascus's historic Zahiriyya Library. Transported to the battlefield of Poitiers, Mousa intervenes directly to change history, returning to a transformed, reimagined world order where a "New Damascus" thrives. Al-Sabiq explores identity, state surveillance, historical contingency, and the existential weight of human memory.

It is a uniquely creative alternate history narrative that masterfully combines temporal mystery, political philosophy, and historical reimagining.

Ideal for readers of historical fiction, fans of alternate history and speculative literature, and scholars or enthusiasts of modern Arabic narrative.