"In the Arab Spring-inspired The Republic of Memory, Mahmud El Sayed asks us what we owe our past and what we would risk for our future. It is a thorny, sprawling story that weaves between slice-of-life, detective mystery, political treatise, and family drama. It’s a heady novel with one too many digressions, but is nevertheless startling in its breadth and depth."

– - Alex Brown, Reactor 

Praise for Republic of Memory

"It's rare that you come across a book that is doing something completely fresh with the genre, but The Republic of Memory is just that. A heady cocktail of Arabfuturism, linguistics, and revolution, this political sci-fi mind-stretcher is destined to be a classic. I was enraptured from the very first page."
—Nicholas Binge, author of Dissolution

"In The Republic of Memory, El Sayed creates a world of familiar politics and utterly fresh, engrossing newness. It is a world so full and intricately developed that I felt I could wander through it for years and still find more to live in. Those who love the depth and wonder of language, and who see it as the seed of revolution, will find this an essential contribution to the canon."
—Bethany Jacobs, author of These Burning Stars

"THIS is why we read science fiction. Not just for the sense of wonder, but for the possibility of hope. Of futures worth fighting for, revolutions we might win. I loved this ship, these people, this universe. And so will you."
—Sam J. Miller, USA Today bestselling author of Blackfish City

"Mahmud El Sayed has written something utterly original: a wildly futuristic space opera full of thrilling plot twists that is also deeply wise and politically nuanced. The Republic of Memory is a tale of love and revolution on a possibly doomed generation ship that may hold Earth’s last survivors. But it’s so much more than that. It’s about cultural transformation in space, the future of language, and how to build community in a closed environment. I loved this book with my brain and my heart."
— Annalee Newitz, author of Automatic Noodle and The Terraformers

"A generation ship story more concerned with social structure and language than space travel, The Republic Of Memory shines with innovative voice and story structure, a rich and complex world, and fascinating, memorable characters."
—Wole Talabi, author of Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon and The Fist of Memory

"The Republic Of Memory offers a brilliant, timely, and incisive look at the power of community and the myriad ways the past still rules our present. With a wonderful cast of believable characters, this is science fiction at its finest, and not to be missed."
—M.H. Ayinde, author of A Song of Lost Legends

"The Republic of Memory is a riveting and deeply thoughtful book, brilliantly intertwining linguistics and popular uprisings on a generation ship haunted by a fallen empire. El Sayed has woven a thrillingly intricate epic which tackles questions of political movements and loyalty with nuance and beauty, this is a book to feed the soul."
—Lorraine Wilson, British Fantasy Award winner 

"A breathtaking, textured, wildly imaginative tapestry set aboard a generation ship. I loved every moment of it."
—Aliette de Bodard, Nebula-award winning author of The Dominion of the Fallen series

"A novel of astounding scale and ambition, The Republic of Memory is an instant classic that deserves to be spoken of in the company of Iain M. Banks' Culture Series or Alastair Reynolds' Revelation Space. A brilliant debut about the struggle to save the future of humanity and the eternal clash of generations set in a tower of babel aboard a generation ship."
—Gautam Bhatia, author of The Wall and The Horizon

"Science fiction as it's meant to be—big ideas, big politics, and amazing characters journeying through space in an arc-ship 200 years from home."
—Stewart Hotston, author of Project Hanuman

"El Sayed’s debut builds a polyphonic blend of voices with an ensemble cast that showcases a mix of political views, cultures, and languages, including inventive new slang. With its centering of Arab culture, the novel is a fresh take on generation-ship stories but still delivers the beats sci-fi fans love....El Sayed takes Arabfuturism to space in this vibrant, layered achievement that librarians can hand to fans of Kim Stanley Robinson’s political sci-fi or Rivers Solomon’s An Unkindness of Ghosts."
—Erin Niederberger, Library Journal
 

"On a gigantic spaceship halfway through its 400-year voyage to a new world, hundreds of Earth colonists are kept in frozen stasis by the ever-increasing maintenance crew. Not all the crew are happy with the way their lives are harshly controlled by the Administration, and peaceful protests have inspired whispers of revolution."

– - The Guardian