The Republic of Memory: A Novel (The Song of the Safina)

By: Mahmud El Sayed

Published by S&S/Saga Press, 2026-05-05

A Memory Called Empire Meets Children Of Time In This Arabfuturist Debut Novel Set On A Generation Ship On The Brink Of Revolution As Its Crew Begins To Ask Why It Should Toil For A People, And An Empire, None Of Them Remember. The Safina Is A City Ship Halfway Through Its Four-hundred-year Voyage From The Ruins Of Earth To A New Planet. Its Crew Maintain The Ship, Generation After Generation, While Protecting Their Ancestors In Cryostasis So That One Day They Will Be Able To Enjoy A Fresh Start At Their Destination. But When Blackouts Start, Unrest Follows. The Ship Can Only Continue Running Smoothly With The Cooperation Of The Crew. And The Crew Has Had Enough. As Coordinated Acts Of Resistance Coincide With A Much More Complex Conspiracy, A Chain Of Events Is Set Into Motion That Will Change Life On The Sania Forever. Inspired By The Real-world Events Of The Arab Spring, The Republic Of Memory Is A Bold Interrogation Of Empire And A Energizing Portrait Of Revolution-- Provided By Publisher.