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Ossama Al-Muslim
Native name
Ossama Mohamed Saad Al-Muslim
Born5 March 1977
Al-Ahsa Governorate, Eastern Province,  Saudi Arabia
OccupationNovelist, Writer
LanguageArabic language, English Language
Nationality Saudi Arabia
Alma materKing Faisal University
Period2015
SubjectSuspense, Science fiction, Horror fiction
Years active2015 - till now
Notable worksBasaten Arabistan, Malhamet Al-Bohour Al-saba'a, Khouf
Notable awardsNational Cultural Awards Initiative, Literature Award, 2024

Osama Al-Muslim (born March 5, 1977) is a Saudi writer and novelist whose work is notable for its exploration of fantasy and historical fantasy genres.[1] His narratives are distinguished by their engrossing plots, cinematic techniques of storytelling, and dialogue. He frequently presents events in a non-linear fashion with unconventional and distinctive names, and the majority of his novels are distinguished by their unexpected conclusions. Some of his works, including Khouf, Basaten Arabistan, and the initial section of Lug, have been translated into English. He has additionally collaborated with Kuwaiti author Abdulwahab Al-Rifai on a novel entitled Makhṭūṭāt Madfūna (Buried Manuscripts). [2]In 2024, he was bestowed with the "Literature" accolade at the fourth iteration of the National Cultural Awards Initiative.[3]

Osama Al-Muslim has published 32 novels, with some of his works including Khouf trilogy (Khouf, Khouf 2, and Khouf 3), which is currently being adapted into a Saudi television series based on the novels.[4][5] Other noteworthy works include the Basaten Arabistan series, which comprises six parts; the Lug: Epic of the Seven Seas series, which consists of five parts; and the Sakhab Al-Khaseef short story series, which has three parts.[6] Additionally, he has authored one installment of Al-Dawa'ir Al-Khams (The Five Circles), which is part of the Basaten Arabistan series, as well as the two-part novel Wahg Al-Banafsag.[7]

Moreover, he collaborated with other authors on several occasions, contributing to the completion of Makhtuṭat Madfuna (Buried Manuscripts) and writing standalone novels such as Hatha Ma Hadatha Ma'ee (This is What Happened to Me), Al-Ghayhab, Al-Nida'a (The Call), Al-Waleema (The Feast), Al-Intihazi (The Opportunist), and Layla Matira (A Rainy Night). Additionally, he authored a five-part series, which can be read in any order, including Ageeg, Ard Al-Qarabeen (Land of Sacrifices), Gaheem Al-A'abireen (Hell of the Passersby), Shabakat Al-A'ankaboot (Spider's Web), and Saad Al-Dabbas.

Early life

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Osama Mohammed Al-Musallim was born on March 5, 1977, in Al-Ahsa Governorate. He completed his university education at King Faisal University in Hofuf, where he majored in English literature. This later enabled him to translate some of his works of fiction into English.[8]

Career beginnings and difficulties

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He commenced his professional journey as a reader, perusing a plethora of novels and dedicating a substantial portion of his life to reading and inquiry. Prior to the publication of his inaugural novels, he encountered challenges, including the inability to secure a publishing contract. Subsequently, he published his inaugural novel, Khouf, in 2015, followed by the release of approximately ten novels over the subsequent three-year period. He indicated that the novel Khouf was not originally intended for publication but was instead a personal diary or semi-autobiographical account written by the author. He further suggested that certain elements of the novel were based on his own experiences. He subsequently asserted, "It is not possible to publish a diary, but a novel based on a diary can be published." He financed the publication of his inaugural novel, entitled "Khouf," and distributed approximately one thousand copies to establish his reputation as a novelist. Subsequently, approximately 150,000 copies of the novel were released.[9]

He proceeded to explore the realm of enigmatic and unsettling fantasy, subsequently publishing the novel "The Orchards of Arabistan" in the same year.[10] In this novel, the author returns to the pre-Islamic era and continues to explore the nature of the mysterious fantasy. His decision to return to such events and times was motivated by his profound love and passion for Arab civilization, which he sought to experience through his writing. The series commences with the publication of the inaugural volume, entitled Orchards of Arabistan, which was succeeded in 2016 by the second part, League of Devils. The third part, Ryah Al-Hagr,[11] was released in the same year, concluding the initial narrative arc and introducing new elements, timeframes, and characters. Subsequent sections of the series, which are connected to the preceding events, commence with the fourth part, entitled "The Lame," published in 2018, and the fifth part, "The Hybrid Witch," released in 2020. These sections serve to integrate the various parts of the series and address interrelated narratives. The sixth part, "The Lion's Den," was published in 2021, and the final three sections of the series are collectively referred to as the "Lame Trilogy."[12]

Literary and narrative style

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Al-Musallim evinced a profound affinity for the enigmatic realm of the sea, which served as a rich source of inspiration for him, allowing him to fully unleash his creative imagination and explore the boundaries of freedom. Additionally, he held a deep fascination for the legends and myths associated with this mysterious world. He was fascinated by the notion of mermaids and the myriad of secrets that the sea harbours.

His research into this subject ignited a desire to utilize the rich seam of material available for writing purposes. Consequently, he elected to publish the "Seven Seas Epic" series. Subsequently, he elected to publish the "Epic of the Seven Seas" series in 2017, comprising five parts. These included the novel "Lug," "Queen of the Granites," and "The Revolt of the Poplars" in 2018, and "The Conflict of the Queens" in 2019.[13][14] The series concluded with the novel "Dawn of the Sirens" in 2021.

In 2016, he published the Sakhab Al-Khaseef series,[15] a short story collection comprising three parts. The series is notable for its blend of horror, mystery, and truncated endings, which led some to refer to it as the "fear series." Its terrifying events and narrative style contributed to its reputation as a noteworthy addition to the horror genre.

The narrative and rapid sequence of events make this type of novel the most challenging to write, as the writer notes. It requires the author to conclude an entire story with all its events in one or two pages while maintaining the style of suspense and linking events. In the same year, 2017, the author published the novel Violet Glow. Subsequently, in 2019, he published the novel The Five Circles, which is closely related to the Groves of Arabistan series. In certain sections of the novel, the narrative references events that transpired in the series from pre-Islamic times to the present day, as experienced by the protagonists in the 20th century. The intertextuality between the preceding series and the novel "The Five Circles" is evident in the way the characters seem to retain their vitality, as the author employs a technique of intertextuality and coincidence to create the characters in this novel.[16]

List of publications

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Since his inaugural publication in 2015, he has produced nearly 26 novels across four series, with one joint novel, Makhtuṭat Madfuna "Buried Scrolls," written in collaboration with the author Abdelwahab Al-Sayed Al-Rifai. Three of his novels have been translated into English. These include the opening volume of the novel "Khouf" and two parts of the "Basateen Arabistan " series of novels.[17]

Khouf Series

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Khouf Series
Name of the novel Pages Year of release Publishing House
Khouf[18] 302 Page 1 Januarry 2015 Arabic Literature Center
Khouf 2[19] 312 Page 5 March 2018 Arabic Literature Center
Khouf 3[20] 319 Page 30 September 2022 Arabic Literature Center

Basaten Arabistan Series

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The initial volume of the series was published in 2015 and is regarded as the inaugural series authored by "Al-Muslim." The series is a commercial success, with its novels ranking among the best-selling books in Gulf Arab countries and the broader Arab world. Additionally, they have consistently performed well at book launches and book fairs.[21] This is likely due to the series' blend of fantasy and horror elements.[22]

The series is an epic that takes place during the pre-Islamic era of Jahiliyyah. It revolves around the conflict and retribution between two women, Afsar, a Persian, and Da'aja, an Arab. To achieve their goals, they enlist the aid of a group of witches, initiating a war between them. The series is composed of two sections, each comprising three parts of a novel. It is anticipated that the series will conclude with the release of the sixth part, titled A'areen Al-Asad.[23]

Basaten Arabistan - The first three Parts
Name of the novel Pages Year of release Publishing House
Basaten Arabistan[24] 535 Page 8 March 2015 Arabic Literature Center
Aesabet Al-Shayateen[25] 512 Page 21 February 2016 Arabic Literature Center
Ryah Hagr[26] 573 page 14 August 2016 Arabic Literature Center
Basaten Arabistan - The Second three Parts
Name of the novel Pages Year of release Publishing House
Al-A'arga'[27] 512 Page 1 November 2018 Arabic Literature Center
Al-Sahera Al-Hagena[28] 528 Page 21 February 2020 Arabic Literature Center
A'areen Al-Asad[29] 655 page 2021 Arabic Literature Center

Series Malhamet Al-Bohour Al-Saba'a[30]

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Malhamet Al-Bohour Al-Saba'a is a fictional series that has been released in five installments from 2017 to the present. The series has achieved notable commercial success, ranking as a bestseller in the majority of Gulf Arab countries. The narrative is situated within the context of the Seven Seas, revolving around the protagonist, Princess Lug of the Seven Seas, who employs various strategies to assert her authority over the Seven Seas.[31]

Series Malhamet Al-Bohour Al-Saba'a - Horror Short Stories
Name of the novel Pages Year of release Publishing House
Lug[32] 512 page 5 March 2017 Arabic Literature Center
Malekat Al-Gharaneq[33] 512 Page 5 August 2017 Arabic Literature Center
Thawret Al-Hour[34] 504 page 1 June 2018 Arabic Literature Center
Sera'a Al-Malekat[35] 535 Page 1 August 2019 Arabic Literature Center
Fagr Al-Sayrenat[31] 503 Page 2021 Arabic Literature Center

Tholathyet Sakhab Al-Khaseef

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The novel is comprised of a series of Horror short stories, marking the author's inaugural experience with this literary form. The open endings of these stories contribute to their overall air of mystery, as the narratives pertain to other realms and the enigmas that surround them. The author capitalizes on this aspect by delineating the events of each story in a way that leaves the reader with a sense of wonder and curiosity. Currently, three parts of the novel have been released.

Tholathyet Sakhab Al-Khaseef - Horror Short Stories
Parts Name of the novel Pages Year of release Publishing House
1 Sakhab Al-Khaseef[36] 447 Page 4 February 2016 NovaPlus - Arabic Literature Center
2 Sakhab Al-Khaseef[37] 430 Page 5 November 2017 Arabic Literature Center
3 Sakhab Al-Khaseef[38] 528 Page 23 February 2019 Arabic Literature Center

Individual novels

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Name of the novel Pages Year of release Publishing House
Wahag Al-Banafseg[39] 304 page 26 April 2017 Madad For Publishing and Distribution
Wahag Al-Banafseg 2 424 Page 1 January 2020 Arabic Literature Center
Al-Dawa'er Al-Khams[40] 352 Page 2 November 2019 Arabic Literature Center
Makhtutat Madfouna[41] 335 Page 14 September 2017 Novaplus For Publishing and Distribution
Ageeg 119 Page 2021 Arabic Literature Center
Sa'ad Al-Dabas 111 Page 2021 Arabic Literature Center
Ard Al-Qarabeen 119 Page 2021 Arabic Literature Center
Shabaket Al-A'ankabout 119 Page 2021 Arabic Literature Center
Gaheem Al-A'abreen 111 Page 2021 Arabic Literature Center
Haza Ma hadath Ma'ay 447 Page 2021 Arabic Literature Center
Layla Matera 160 Page 2021 Arabic Literature Center
Al-Neda' 144 Page 4 September 2023 Arabic Literature Center
Al-Walema 247 page 2023 Arabic Literature Center
Al-Ghayhab 192 page 2023 Arabic Literature Center
Al-Entehazy 208 page 2023 Arabic Literature Center

Reception of his works

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Novelist Osama Al-Musallam attracted considerable attention from the Arab media following the overwhelming demand for his novels at the Rabat International Book Fair in 2024. This was accompanied by reports of stampedes and cases of fainting among those seeking his autograph.[42][43]

Awards

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In the fourth cycle of the National Cultural Awards Initiative, he was the recipient of the Literature Award.[44]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Osamah M. Al Muslim". goodreads. April 4, 2020. Archived from the original on 2019-10-29. Accessed on 2020-01-20.
  2. ^ "Buried manuscripts". almalomat. March 27, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-07-26. Accessed on 2020-01-20.
  3. ^ Hya, Magazine. "Honoring Creators at the Closing Ceremony of the National Cultural Awards - She Magazine." www.hiamag.com. Archived from the original on 2024-09-11. Accessed on 2024-09-10.
  4. ^ "A Critical Reading of Fear". makalcloud. March 27, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-07-20. Accessed on 2020-01-27.
  5. ^ "The author of the novel 'Fear': We are working on turning it into a Saudi series". Al-Arabiya Net. April 25, 2024. Archived from the original on 2024-04-25. Accessed on 2024-04-28.
  6. ^ "New Muslim 'Hustle of Khasif' Part 3 in bookstores". News. March 27, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-07-20. Accessed on 2020-01-27.
  7. ^ "Osama al-Musallam Authorship". adabbook. March 27, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-07-20. Accessed on 2020-01-20.
  8. ^ "About Osama al-Musallam". abjjjad. March 27, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-07-15. Accessed on 2019-02-20.
  9. ^ "Books by Osamah M. Al Muslim (Author of Khuf)". www.goodreads.com. Archived from the original on 2019-12-08. Accessed on 2018-08-24.
  10. ^ "About Gardens of Arabistan". almalomat. March 27, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-07-15. Accessed on 2019-02-20.
  11. ^ "Winds of Hagar - Orchards of Arabistan 3". Quotes. March 27, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-07-26. Accessed on 2019-02-20.
  12. ^ "Novelist Osama Al-Musallam at Al-Sharqiya Literary Club: Passion is the basis for writing novels" almnatiq. March 27, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-07-20. Accessed on 2020-01-20.
  13. ^ "About A Clash of Queens". almalomat. March 27, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-07-15. Accessed on 2019-02-20.
  14. ^ "Signing ceremony for 'Queen of the Granites' by Osama bin Mohammed Al-Musallam". Al-Bawaba News. Archived from the original on 2017-11-05. Accessed on 2018-08-24.
  15. ^ "About The Hustle and Bustle". almalomat. March 27, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-07-16. Accessed on 2020-01-20.
  16. ^ "Osama Al-Musallam in an interesting interview with Al-Adab News". theasian. March 27, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-07-20. Accessed on 2020-01-27.
  17. ^ Download Osama Al-Musallam's books.
  18. ^ "(Fear #1)". goodreads. April 4, 2020. Archived from the original on 2019-10-28. Accessed on 2020-01-20.
  19. ^ "(Fear #2)". goodreads. April 4, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-02-17. Accessed on 2020-01-20.
  20. ^ "Khouf 3#)". Goodreads (بالإنجليزية). Archived from the original on 2024-05-06. Retrieved 2024-05-06.
  21. ^ Abbas, Ali (May 15, 2024). "Literature and the Sixth Finger Generation. Osama al-Musallam the most famous unknown writer". Asharq News. Archived from the original on 2024-05-15. Accessed on 2024-05-15.
  22. ^ Download Osama Al-Musallam's books.
  23. ^ Download Osama Al-Musallam's books.
  24. ^ "(Orchards of Arabistan #1)". goodreads. April 4, 2020. Archived from the original on 2019-10-29. Accessed on 2020-01-20.
  25. ^ "League of Devils - Gardens of Arabistan 2". goodreads. April 4, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-07-26. Accessed on 2020-01-20.
  26. ^ "Winds of Hagar - Groves of Arabistan 3". goodreads. April 4, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-07-26. Accessed on 2020-01-20.
  27. ^ "The Lame - Orchards of Arabistan 4". goodreads. April 4, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-02-18. Accessed on 2020-01-20.
  28. ^ "The Hybrid Witch - Groves of Arabistan 5". goodreads. April 4, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-05-04. Accessed on 2020-01-20.
  29. ^ "The Lion's Den (Groves of Arabistan, 6#)". Goodreads (English). Archived from the original on 2024-05-06. Retrieved 2024-05-06.
  30. ^ "Dawn of the Sirens - L5". www.goodreads.com. Archived from the original on 2021-01-26. Accessed on 2021-11-17.
  31. ^ a b "Lug Series by Osamah M. Al Muslim". www.goodreads.com. Archived from the original on 2019-12-14. Accessed 2019-07-29.
  32. ^ "(Lug #1)". goodreads. April 4, 2020. Archived from the original on 2017-07-06. Accessed on 2020-01-20.
  33. ^ "Malekat Al-Gharaneq - Lug2". goodreads. April 4, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-07-26. Accessed on 2020-01-20.
  34. ^ "Thawrat Al-Hour - Lug3". goodreads. April 4, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-02-17. Accessed on 2020-01-20.
  35. ^ "Sera'a Al-Malekat - Lug4". goodreads. April 4, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-05-04. Accessed on 2020-01-20.
  36. ^ "(Sakhab Al-Khaseef #1)". goodreads. April 4, 2020. Archived from the original on 2017-04-03. Accessed on 2020-01-20.
  37. ^ "(Sakhab Al-Khaseef #2)". goodreads. April 4, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-05-04. Accessed on 2020-01-20.
  38. ^ "(Sakhab Al-Khaseef #3)". goodreads. April 4, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-05-04. Accessed on 2020-01-20.
  39. ^ "(Wahag Al-Banafseg)". goodreads. April 4, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-07-26. Accessed on 2020-01-20.
  40. ^ "(Al Dawa'er Al-Khams)". goodreads. April 4, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-07-20. Accessed on 2020-01-20.
  41. ^ "(Makhtutat Madfouna)". goodreads. April 4, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-07-26. Accessed on 2020-01-20.
  42. ^ "Crowds and fainting at book fair due to Saudi 'influencer'". al3omk.com. May 11, 2024. Archived from the original on 2024-05-16. Accessed on 2024-05-16.
  43. ^ "Rabat Book Fair turns into an open university Saudi Arabia's Osama al-Musallam is the latest 'trend'!". annaharar.com (in English). Archived from the original on 2024-05-16. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  44. ^ ""Saudi Culture" crowns pioneers and innovators in 16 cultural sectors". aawsat.com. Archived from the original on 2024-09-11. Accessed on 2024-09-10.