Books
Books about migration, belief and the supernatural machinery hidden inside ordinary life—plus stories and essays published across six collections.
Memoir · 2014 · Allen & Unwin
A comedian’s journey from Karachi to the Australian outback: politically sharp, open and frequently ambushed by wildlife.
“Humor at its most vigorous and unsparing.”
Kirkus Reviews · starred review
Shortlisted for the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards, WA Premier’s Book Awards and Russell Prize for Humour Writing.
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Fantasy novel · 2019 · Picador
Karachi as a city of djinns, devils and one young man trying to retrieve the soul of the girl he loves.
“Captivating. Sami Shah’s imagination is a place of wonder and terror.”
Kamila Shamsie
The complete novel, first published in two volumes as Fire Boy (2016) and Earth Boy (2017).
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Non-fiction · 2017 · ABC Books · HarperCollins
A reported journey beyond stereotypes into the many contradictions of Muslim life in Australia.
“Funny, informative and built from conversations rather than caricatures.”
Adapted from the ABC RN documentary series
From hijabs to jihad and everything in between: a portrait of Australian Muslims in their own complexity.
Find the bookStories & essays elsewhere
Short fiction and personal essays published in Australian and international collections.
Short fiction · 2017
Sami’s contribution: “Reap”
A supernatural horror story in which djinn and drone warfare occupy the same terrifying landscape.
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Short fiction · 2019
Sami’s contribution: “Ambulance Service”
A night shift with a Karachi ambulance crew whose calls require rather more than conventional paramedicine.
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Short fiction · 2021
Sami’s contribution: “The Blasphemy of the Gods”
Islamic and Norse histories collide in a shared anthology universe of trade, myth and political danger.
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Personal essay · 2017
Sami’s contribution: “Essay on a larger-than-life father”
A childhood collision with a warlord’s car reveals the true dimensions of Sami’s seafaring father.
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Personal essay · 2022
Sami’s contribution: “Slow Life”
Karachi velocity, Northam stillness and the unexpected education of learning how to do nothing.
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Personal essay · 2019
Sami’s contribution: “Forget Me”
An essay about the public split from Islam and the losses of culture, nationality and self that followed.
About the collectionNovel · Forthcoming
A new novel forthcoming from Penguin Random House Australia. Publication details and the first available extract will be shared here when they are ready.
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