Djinn City
Bangladesh

Djinn City

by Saad Z. Hossain

Adventure & Journey Fantasy Fiction 2017

Summary

Djinn City is a darkly comic fantasy novel set in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where ancient supernatural forces exist alongside the chaos of modern urban life. The story follows ten-year-old Indelbed, a lonely boy living in a decaying mansion with his eccentric father, Dr. Kaikobad. When his father falls into a mysterious supernatural coma, Indelbed discovers that his family has a secret connection to the world of djinn—powerful, long-lived beings drawn from Islamic and Middle Eastern mythology.

With the help of his older cousin Rais, Indelbed uncovers the truth about his origins and learns that he has become the target of a dangerous hunt. His journey draws him into the complicated politics of the djinn world, where ancient rivalries, strange creatures, and powerful factions threaten both humans and supernatural beings.

Blending fantasy, science fiction, mythology, and sharp social satire, Hossain creates an imaginative adventure that explores family, power, and the consequences of ancient conflicts. The novel also offers a distinctive portrayal of Bangladesh, using its vibrant capital as the setting for a world where the extraordinary hides beneath the everyday.

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Country
Bangladesh
Asia
About the author
Saad Z. Hossain
Saad Z. Hossain

Saad Z. Hossain is a Bangladeshi novelist known for blending science fiction, fantasy, black comedy, and adventure. Born and raised in Dhaka, Bangladesh, he studied English literature and commerce at the University of Virginia in the United States. He later returned to Dhaka, where he lives and works. Hossain made his debut with Escape from Baghdad! (originally published as Baghdad Immortals in 2013), a darkly comic novel set in Iraq following the US invasion. He gained further recognition with Djinn City (2017), which combines modern Dhaka with supernatural mythology, and The Gurkha and the Lord of Tuesday (2019), a satirical science-fiction novella. His other works include Cyber Mage (2021) and Kundo Wakes Up (2022). His fiction often reimagines elements of Islamic mythology within futuristic or contemporary settings, using humour and imaginative world-building to explore power, technology, social inequality, and human nature. Hossain’s distinctive blend of speculative genres has established him as a notable voice in contemporary Bangladeshi literature written in English.

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Details
Published
2017
Author
Saad Z. Hossain