Alien Souls

Achmed Abdullah remains one of the most under-appreciated authors of the early 20th century, and this fine collection shows why he needs to be rediscovered. His gripping writing and superior characterization (particularly of Asian and Middle Eastern characters) were remarkable for the age in which they were first published, when Yellow Peril stories or romances featuring whitewashed sheiks were in vogue. Abdullah found a home in the pulp magazines, publishing a significant body of novels and short stories that were popular because they were exotic. Often they featured the sympathetic treatment of non-Caucasian characters—a novelty in the 1910s and 1920s.

Included in this volume are 14 of Abdullah's fine short stories:

Feud Reprisal The Home-Coming The Dance on the Hill The River of Hate The Soul of a Turk Morituri The Jester The Strength of the Little Thin Thread Grafter and Master Grafter The Logical Tale of the Four Camels The Two-Handed Sword Black Poppies The Perfect Way Tao