By Mohammed Hanif
A primary novel of the 1st order—provocative, exuberant, wickedly clever—that reimagines the conspiracies and coincidences resulting in the mysterious 1988 airplane crash that killed Pakistan’s dictator common Zia ul-Haq.
At the guts is Ali Shigri: Pakistan Air strength pilot and Silent Drill Commander of Fury Squadron. His father, one in all Zia’s colonels, dedicated suicide less than suspicious conditions. Ali is set to appreciate what or who driven his father to such desperation—and to avenge his death.
What he fast discovers is a snarl of occasions: american citizens in Pakistan, Soviets in Afghanistan, funds in each hand. yet Ali is still sufferer, made up our minds, a slightly world-weary (“You wish freedom they usually provide you with poultry korma”), and unsurprised at discovering Zia at each flip. He mounts an tricky plot for revenge with an ever-changing group (willing and never) that incorporates his silk-underwear-and-cologne-wearing roommate; a hash-smoking American lieutenant with questionable explanations; the manager of Pakistan’s mystery police, who mistakenly believes he’s in cahoots with the CIA; a blind girl imprisoned for fornication; Uncle Starchy, the squadron’s laundryman; and, now not least of all, a mango-besotted crow. normal Zia—devout Muslim and leering admirer of non-Muslim cleavage—begins on a daily basis by way of asking his leader of defense: “Who’s attempting to kill me?” and the reply lies in a conspiracy attempting its damnedest to occur . . .
Intrigue and subterfuge mix with misstep and good fortune during this darkly comedian ebook approximately love, betrayal, tyranny, family—and an international that all at once resembles our personal.