The Queue by  Basma Abdel Aziz

The Queue

Basma Abdel Aziz

This is a dystopian novel set in Egypt (though it is not named) following the failure of the Arab Spring. After the uprising every aspect of life is controlled by The Gate. People must join the Queue for the Gate to obtain permission for almost everything, but the Queue never seems to move. Phones are hacked, people disappear. A chilling and thought-provoking read in equal measure.

Extract

Permits authorizing the removal of bullets shall not be granted, except to those who prove beyond doubt, and with irrefutable evidence, their full commitment to sound morals and comportment, and to those who are issued with an official certificate confirming that they are a righteous citizen, or, at least, a true citizen. Certificates of True Citizenship that do not bear a signature from the Booth and the seal of the Gate shall not be recognised under any circumstances. 

Parallels
  • 1984 by George Orwell
  • The Castle by Franz Kafka
  • The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood