The Arabian Nightmare
core novel 1983 The Arabian Nightmare
Record
| First published | 1983 |
|---|---|
| Original language |  EN |
| Work type | novel |
| Canon status | core |
| Reader rating | 3.80 (810 ratings, collected 2026-11-02) |
| First-edition ISBN | 9780946626021 |
| Internal chronology | 1 |
Synopsis
In 1486 the Englishman Balian of Norwich arrives in Cairo, ruled by the Mamluk sultan. He travels as a pilgrim bound for the relics of Saint Catherine in Sinai, but he is secretly a spy for the English crown. Soon after he arrives, a Venetian painter who came with him is seized by the sultan's guards, and Balian falls ill and begins to have vivid dreams. He is pursued through the streets by strange figures, among them the Master of Cats. The tale is told by a storyteller in a chain of nested stories, so that dream and waking life blur together.
Where it sits
- Universe: The Arabian Nightmare
- Series: The Arabian Nightmare core; position 1 of 1 in the series' recorded order
- Author: Robert Irwin
Notes
- First published in Britain by Dedalus; revised in 1987 for the Viking edition.
- From the series record (The Arabian Nightmare): A standalone dream-fantasy novel set in Cairo in 1486.
Sources
- Encyclopedia of Science Fiction: Robert Irwin
- ISFDB data (via AuthorWars): Dedalus edition, ISBN-10 0946626022
- Wikipedia: The Arabian Nightmare
- Publishers Weekly review
- Danny Reviews
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