About the Book
From Sami Shah comes Fire Boy, an urban fantasy set in modern-day Pakistan, where djinns roam the street alongside corrupt cops, hustling beggars, and creatures from the darkest corners of Eastern mythology.
Growing up in Karachi isn’t easy. Wahid has a lot on his mind: the girl he likes, mostly, but also choosing a good university and finding time to play Dungeons & Dragons. Oh, and the fact that he can see djinns, other-worldly creatures made of a smokeless and scorching fire.
After a horrific car accident kills his best friend and djinns steal his girlfriend’s soul, Wahid vows to find out why. Fortunately, he has help in finding the djinns that tried to kill him. Unfortunately, that help is from the darkest of all spirits, the Devil himself …
Fire Boy is filled with supernatural entities and high-paced action, but it also gives the reader a vivid insight into life in Pakistan.
You can buy the book from the following retailers:
Also available print on demand and at your local independent bookstore or Dymocks from 1 July 2016.
Comedian and writer Sami Shah has been profiled in the New York Times and on ABC’sAustralian Story, and has appeared on BBC Radio 4, BBC Asian Network, TEDx, The Project, and a run of shows at London’s Soho Theatre. He wrote and performed a 2-part series for BBC Radio 4 – A Beginners Guide To Pakistan – and appeared as a panelist on episode 03-Season M of QI with Stephen Fry. Sami won the award for Best Local Act at the 2013 Perth International Comedy Festival. His autobiography, I, Migrant, was nominated for the NSW Premier’s Literary Award and the Russell Prize for Humour Writing. He also writes columns for SCOOP Magazine, Fairfax Media, the Courier-Mail, and many other publications, and is a frequent contributor on ABC720 and ABC Radio National. Sami lives with his family in Melbourne.
‘Bold, compelling fantasy with a truly original setting.’ – Saladin Ahmed, author of the Throne of the Crescent Moon.
‘I was enchanted by his lyrical and atmospheric prose – he brings the streets of Karachi to life with a deft hand, ancient folklore colliding with the modern internet age.’ – Kylie Chan, author of White Tiger.
‘With Fire Boy, Sami Shah blends the tenderness of Octavia Butler, with the supernatural folklore of Nalo Hopkinson. His characters – human and otherwise – are skilfully drawn, and the vibrant streets of Karachi are vividly brought to life. Fire Boy is an eloquent imagination explosion.’ – Maxine Beneba Clarke, author of Foreign Soil.
‘Captivating. Sami Shah‘s imagination is a place of wonder and terror.’ – Kamila Shamsie, author of A God in Every Stone.
‘I got sucked right into Wahid as a character … The writing is engaging and smooth and the many interludes were just as fun as the main text.’ – Goodreads review.
‘In addition to the mythological worldbuilding, the real-world portrayal of Karachi was fascinating to this ignorant Westerner…’ – Goodreads review.
Extract 1: The Fare
Extract 2: Roadside Picnic