GOLDEN FLIGHT

Amid a revolution to end the oppression of Lower Earth’s inhabitants by Upper Earth, an operation is conceived to bring disparate resistance groups together in hopes of liberating humanity.

In this thrilling sequel to Fledgling (2024) set in a dystopian future shaped by climate catastrophe, brutal technology like scalplinks allows Upper Earthers to control Lower Earthers; the new program SomaScape even allows them to play games using their bodies. Lower Earth refugees are funneled into so-called safe zones that function as concentration camps, where parents are separated from children, fueling the exploitative system. The Ahraar, a Lower Earth rebel group leading the revolution, has splintered into factions, but they plan to unite for Operation Golden Flight, a mission to infiltrate Le Vol Doré. This masked gala, held every 10 years, venerates those who have died in service to Upper Earth. The grand occasion offers a cover for the Ahraar’s plan to destroy the megaprocessor that enables mass enslavement. A diverse coalition of characters—a rebel with royal ties, a mysterious masked avenger, a widower in mourning, and a secret asset—converge in the fight for peace. Ali explores the impact of colonization, environmental devastation, imperialism, and more in a story that also engages with resistance efforts that grapple with the danger of becoming like the evil they fight. Arabic and Islamic cultural elements are an integral part of the worldbuilding.

Dystopian fiction at its breathtaking best; a duology closer enriched by interwoven real-world complexities.