Thyme Travellers is a fantastic collection of Palestinian speculative fiction. I loved all of the stories, the amazing prose, the intriguing characters and plots. Highly recommended!

3,75 ⭐️

Anthologies are always a tough nut to crack – so many voices, so many differences. "Thyme Travellers" is a cross-section of various genres and ideas. It draws from historical context, as well as contemporary times, it's full of fantasies and possibilities. It's human and extraordinary, it's hopeful and heartbreaking, it's beautiful and painful. Some stories I liked more than the other, but overall I wouldn't rate it low – it's short but complex representation of Palestinian writing, both from across the world and from the very heart of the land.

From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.

Recently read and enjoyed this anthology of imaginative speculative fiction by Palestinian authors in the diaspora.

Editor Sonia Sulaiman’s preface opens with these powerful words:
▫️”Someone once said that all Palestinian fiction is speculative; we are always grappling with the past and living in expectation of the future, while our fictions tell of alternate histories-being, by definition, histories told by the colonized. Others say that the definition of the speculative is itself a colonial imposition.”

As she notes, the fourteen stories gathered here are “from another time and place”, this manuscript being prepared earlier in 2023 before the most recent aggressions took place. They range in emotion and concern, ever-present pasts and possible futures bearing the weight of now. Specific diasporic concerns such as the right to return, vulnerabilities around queerness, identity and belonging as Palestinians, make their poignant mark.

A number of stories stood out! One of my favourites was a story by Nadia Afifi titled The Generation Chip, an engrossing tale that explores all of the above with such heart, the characters’ stories tethered both outside of and inextricable from their ancestral lands. I’ll definitely be looking to read more works by this talented bevy of writers, and I hope for a future where Palestinians will be free to live and dream beyond the speculative.

This is an incredible collection of speculative fiction by Palestinian writers that explores the connection to a homeland for many Palestinians who have been forcibly displaced and who are living under the violent Israeli apartheid regime, imagining forms of resistance and affirmations of love and life despite this repression.

Thyme Travellers has given me a taste of what Palestinian writers have to offer in the speculative fiction scene. Like the other anthologies I've read before, some stories are better than others, despite that I like the variety of stories that were displayed here. I would love to check out the work of some of these writers in the future.

Here are my ratings for each story :
Down Under (JUMAANA ABDU) 4⭐️
The Third or Fourth Casualty (ZIYAD SAADI) 4⭐️
The Generation Chip (NADIA AFIFI) 5⭐️
Soul Searching (RANA OTHMAN) 3.5⭐️
The Heart Knows the Truth (LAYLA AZMI GHOUSHEY) ???⭐️
Cyrano de Al (KARL EL-KOURA) 4⭐️
The Frontrunner (J.D. HARLOCK) 3⭐️
A Table Set for Two (EMAD EL-DIN AYSHA) 3.5⭐️
In the Future, We Can Go Back Home (SARA SOLARA) 4⭐️
The Forty (SONIA SULAIMAN) 3.5⭐️
Remembrance in Cerulean (ELISE STEPHENS) 4⭐️
Gaza Luna (SAMAH SEROUR FADIL) 4⭐️
Orlando's Wolf (RASHA ABDULHADI) 2⭐️
The Centre of the Universe (NADIA SHAMMAS) 4⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Roseway Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book !

*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free book.*

I really enjoyed this collection of short stories written by Palestinian diaspora authors. Some of the stories truly touched me and will stay with me for a long time, others did not leave such a lasting impression on - but that is okay. Overall a wonderful collection I would highly recommend to anyone.

4 stars

As with any anthology, some of these stories were captivating and inspiring, and some just didn't quite work. Even these, however, had interesting and often unique concepts. This is definitely one of the stronger compilations of speculative fiction that I've read. I would be very happy to read full length novels of almost all of these stories, and will be picking up a copy of this.

Actual Rating 4.5

This is a collection of fourteen Palestinian speculative fiction short stories. Despite being speculative fiction, the feel of Palestine, its culture, and its people shine through the stories, adding much to the depth of each work. Themes of cultural identity, the love of your country, and hope for a better future are present in many of the stories.

For me, nine of the fourteen stories were 4 and 5 stars. Only one was a 2 star, and the remaining were 3 stars. My two favorite stories were:

- The Generation Chip by Nadia Afifi – 5 stars – In the future, it becomes possible for loved ones to pass on their memories when they die. This was probably my favorite story of the collection. It was beautifully written, powerful, and emotional.

- Soul Searching by Rana Othman – 5 stars – A young girl learns that sometimes seeing yourself from someone else’s perspective isn’t pretty. This was a strong contender for being my favorite. I loved how the story was told, the themes it emphasized (especially empathy), and the age range of the characters involved. Wonderfully creative and beautifully characterized.

My other favorites: Cyrano de AI by Karl El-Koura, Gaza Luna by Samah Serour Fadil, and Centre of the Universe by Nadia Shammas.

If you enjoy short stories, this is a strong collection that is absolutely worth reading. Many thanks to NetGalley and Roseway Publishing for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this eARC.

Thyme Travelers is a new speculative fiction anthology by Palestinian authors. Like all anthologies, there were stories I liked more than others in this one. Overall, the stories were quite short. In many cases, I was amazed at how much the author's were able to do in such a short time, though there were a few that could have used more exposition. Short reviews of each story are below. Overall, I think most lovers of speculative fiction will find something to love in this.

1. Down Under | JUMAANA ABDU ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Down Under follows a girl who is digging a tunnel from her home in Australia to Palestine. This short story was a metaphorical feast. While it is impossible not to think about some other tunnels in Palestine used by the resistance, their is a larger meaning here. At one point, it is said “Can you believe this is the easiest way?” Because digging a tunnel through the earth from Australia is easier for a Palestinian than simply traveling via plane or car. They are barred from entering their own land. An even greater theme in this short story is the idea of being Palestinian enough. There is a quote in the book that talks about people who are the "Real Palestinians". What a valid fear of those in the diaspora, cut off from their land and culture, facing erasure.

2. The Third or Fourth Casualty | ZIYAD SAADI ⭐️⭐️
This one went over my head.

3. The Generation Chip | NADIA AFIFI
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"There are people who want to cling onto the past, to this traditional idea of a Palestine we need to return to. It would be good to show Teta’s story— let people see that there were queer people in our society, hidden in the shadows. That we were all affected by the war.”

4. Soul Searching | RANA OTHMAN
⭐️⭐️⭐️
This felt very middle grade, but I didn't hate it.

5. The Heart Knows the Truth | LAYLA AZMIGHOUSHEY
⭐️⭐️
I did not understand this at all.

6. Cyrano de AI | KARL EL‑KOURA
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This story explores the use of integrated AI in everyday life, and whether AI assisted communication removes the "human" in human interaction. I loved this one.

7. The Frontrunner | J.D. HARLOCK
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
😭😭😭 I wish this one was longer! It's a scifi, spy, political short story and I want a whole book.

8. A Table Set for Two | EMAD EL‑DIN AYSHA
⭐️⭐️
This one went right over my head, but I did enjoy the prose. "The Levant, he lamented. It was the most stripped‑down part of the world. Bleeding and disfig‑ ured, from Palestine to Iraq and back, with a detour through Syria."

9. In the Future, We Can Go Back Home | SARA SOLARA
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This one is sweet, hopefully, and healing. An imagining of a better future. "There is so much I do not yet know , as much as I have tried to learn, because I was barely raised in my own culture, because it was taken from me in the vio‑ lence of colonialism that pressured my family to erase themselves. There is also the fact I am in love with a woman, and I cannot help but wonder: Will the land love me back in all my queerness? It all hangs heavy over my shoulders."

10. The Forty | SONIA SULAIMAN
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I love Sonia Sulaiman's writing. While this one went a little over my head, the theme of wandering in exile came through. "We are not our catastrophe. Never were.”

11. Remembrance in Cerulean | ELISE STEPHENS
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Damnnnn this was so good. I want a whole series on this. Mermaids, grief, commentary on peoples inherent fear of the other and the consequences of assuming the worst in people you are taught to demonize.

12. Gaza Luna | SAMAH SEROUR FADIL
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Gaza's building a rocket to plant a Palestinian flag on the moon? Hell yeah.

13. Orlando’s Wolf | RASHA ABDULHADI
⭐️⭐️⭐️
This one went over my head, but the writing was beautiful

14. The Centre of the Universe | NADIA SHAMMAS
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Another great one. "...but I know now a funda‑ mental truth about those who are blessed to be in the centre and those who wait for the light to touch on them from time to time: my suffering is compelling to the audience."

Anthologies are not usually my thing, but I am always eager to hear more voices from societies I don’t see much about. The palestinian short stories were delectable and rich in character, and I will be seeking out more.

A really solid collection of short stories! Overall I liked most of the stories, and I found them to be imaginative and interesting. Through them all you could feel the connection the Palestinian people have to their land and legacy, and made me appreciate this even more.
My favourite story was the queer one at the start of the collection, which really made me cry!

Thyme Travelers is a masterful work of speculative fiction that not only entertains but also educates and inspires. It’s a love letter to Palestinian culture, a lament for the injustices of history, and a hopeful reimagining of what could be. A must-read for those who enjoy speculative fiction with a heart steeped in resistance and storytelling as an act of defiance.

Excellent book, loved it! Looking forward to more from this author! Apologies for the lateness of my review

Thyme Travellers is a vibrant and evocative collection of 12 short stories, each written by a talented Palestinian writer. The anthology showcases a wide range of themes, from identity and displacement to the intricate connections between family, culture, and the passage of time.

What makes this collection shine is its diversity in narrative style, genre and themes. While each story feels distinct, they all contribute to a cohesive exploration of what it means to hold onto heritage while navigating both the past and the future.

Among the standout pieces, The Generational Chip left a lasting impact. I felt very connected to the family and the struggles of accepting the truth about their grandmothers life experience.

Soul Searching was another personal favorite, delving into the journey of self-discovery with a magical realism twist.

Each piece carries the distinct voice of its author, painting a rich and complex picture of Palestinian life, imagination and hope.

Overall, Thyme Travellers is an engaging and thought-provoking read. It’s a celebration of storytelling that will transport you through the many layers of time, history, and personal journeys. A must-read for anyone interested in diverse voices and meaningful, imaginative tales.

Through a veil of speculative fiction, his collection of tales beautifully illustrates not only the very real pain of the Palestinian people, but also how connected they are to their culture, their families, their religion, and also hope despite being spread out across the globe, unable to return home.

C’est un recueil de petites nouvelles écrit par des auteur.ices palestiniens qui se passe en Palestine et malheureusement j’ai pas trop accroché. J’ai bien aimé le concept mais les nouvelles ne m’ont pas plu plus que ça il y en a une ou deux avec lesquels j’ai accroché mais sans plus donc je suis un peu déçu de ma lecture

Post-read:

I'm very happy to say that I quite liked this anthology! The first couple of stories weren't my fave, so I was kinda worried that this might not be my thing (the previous Palestinian spec fic anthology I read, Palestine +100, was just okay).

But I'm glad that my reading experience turned out differently. I think after the first few stories, I got the gist of what the authors were going for (ambiguity, heavy on the metaphors, and leaning towards the fantastical on varying degrees), so it was much easier to understand the more I read.

Some of my favorites from this collection are:
The Generation Chip by Nadia Afifi
Soul Searching by Rana Othman
Cyrano de AI by Karl El-Koura
Gaza Luna by Samah Serour Fadil
The Centre of the Universe by Nadia Shammas


Pre-read:

I fear I might be slightly harsher when it comes to rating speculative short stories than my buddy reader. I'm more of a fan of straightforward, hero's journey type of stories, and so far, these stories are the total opposite. So, maybe take my reviews with a grain of salt.


Thank you to Roseway Publishing and NetGalley for this arc.



Down Under by Jumaana Abdu
3.5/5 stars

Nouran steps into a tunnel that supposedly leads to Palestine.

First story in this anthology! But I'm not too sure how I feel about it. I know Mel really liked it.

It's a very metaphorical story, with two different young women trying to find their way to Palestine. One is an emigrant while the other is a diaspora kid.

Mel said she liked the discussions on the differences and similarities on how they view and experience their Palestinian-ness. I liked that their search for Palestine through tunnels (and getting lost) is a metaphor for Palestine's existence in the future.



The Third or Fourth Casualty by Ziyad Saadi
3/5 stars

A group of children swim in the ocean by Gaza's shores.

This is another metaphorical story on children not being able to return to Gaza after dying while swimming. (Although the writer mentions several times that their deaths aren't relevant, which is an obvious red herring.)

Since it's a huge metaphor, I'm not sure if I understood it correctly. Maybe someone else might read it differently.



The Generation Chip by Nadia Afifi
5/5 stars

Kamel reunites with his family and becomes the sole custodian of his grandmother's "generation chip."

Excellent short story! So far, this one is my absolute favorite! Futuristic sci-fi dramas about family secrets are definitely my jam.

I'm not sure if there was any specific word count, but if there was, the author really used it to their advantage. There's a beginning, middle, and end, and there's even a hero's journey of sorts. The characters are fleshed out enough that the reader is immersed in the story.

I'd read more from Nadia Afifi!



Soul Searching by Rana Othman
5/5 stars

Young Hiba gets an opportunity to atone for her mean girl bullying

I'm not usually a fan of grown-up stories with little kid characters, but I was very surprised by this one! It's the typical "mean girl learns that bullying is wrong" type of trope-filled story, but I think the Palestinian setting and characters gave it both a realistic and fantastic depth. It reads like a modern-day fable with a Palestinian twist, and I loved it.



The Heart Knows the Truth by Layla Azmi Ghoushey
2/5 stars

Arwa goes on a journey through time and space.

I'll admit, I don't really understand this one. It's very fantasy-based and I'm definitely not knowledgeable enough to understand any of the cultural references. My imagination did love Palestine as a planet, the time traveling, and the people that the MC met, so it wasn't a total bust for me.



Cyrano de AI by Karl El-Koura
4.5/5 stars

Nait and his father reflect on life with and without augmentations.

Just when I thought that this anthology wasn't going to hold my interest, here comes another interesting short story! But then again, I do love stories about augmented humans and I'm very intrigued when it comes to learning about how AI (whether it's "true" AI or just generative AI) will help or hinder us.

This was also a story about a father and his adult son disconnecting from the digital world for a bit and reconnecting in real life, not to mention the son learning from his failures with using AI as a crutch. I do love feel good parent-child stories.



The Frontrunner by JD Harlock
1/5 stars

Bilal Mohsen is in a literal life and death situation on a plane.

I'll be honest. I wasn't a fan of this at all. There wasn't really a conclusive ending, nor was the ending the type of ending that made me think deeply. It just felt like your typical thriller on an airplane where the antagonist(?) asks the MC if he wants to take the red pill or the blue pill.



A Table Set for Two by Emad El-Din Aysha
3/5 stars

An Arab scientist and a Spanish scientist build a time machine.

As a lover of time travel stories, I should like, if not outright love, this. But it was just okay. It was more about the two scientists' relationship in the first half, and the second half suddenly went into overdrive with compare and contrast, alternate reality/future time travel stuff. It felt really disjointed and would've been better if it was longer.



In the Future, We Can Go Back Home by Sara Solara
4.5/5 stars

The MC, a child of Palestinian refugees, visits Palestine for the first time.

I questioned whether I would belong, and still that fear eats at me. It is my first time here in Palestine. I cannot speak the language of my ancestors. There is so much I do not yet know, as much as I have tried to learn, because I was barely raised in my own culture, because it was taken from me in the violence of colonialism that pressured my family to erase themselves. There is also the fact I am in love with a woman, and I cannot help but wonder: Will the land love me back in all my queerness? It all hangs heavy over my shoulders.


I'm always a sucker for stories about people from any diaspora going back to their homeland and learning about their family's past. Amidst what's happening, this was a really well-written and feel-good story that hit all the right notes.



The Forty by Sonia Sulaiman
4/5 stars

A small group of pilgrims bear Witness to the past, their ancestors, and the Occupation.

I quite liked this simple futuristic short. You can feel yourself as part of the pilgrimage and everyone is remembering Palestine and the occupation from long ago, in their own way. The cairns being built and placed feel like a religious rite that places nature above all else. And mixing it with memory feels very philosophical.



Remembrance in Cerulean by Elise Stephens
4/5 stars

Paul Thresher, a mechanical engineer taking after his father, forges a bond with Vezda, an alien being who forces him to reconcile with his past.

I love tentacled aquatic aliens as much as the next sci-fi enthusiast, but mix it with a MC who has to reckon with his family issues? Count me in.

At first, I didn't understand the point of the aliens, but I think they're a tool for the MC to understand himself and also might be a metaphor for... colonization? And maybe humanity's trigger-happy reaction to anything that we quickly deem as threats to our survival? I'm not sure.


Gaza Luna by Samah Serour Fadil
5/5 stars

Handala is smuggled into the US and achieves his dreams, but not in the way that he had planned.

The older I get, the more I really don't mind fantasy-based endings on stories that otherwise read as realistic fiction. Sure, you really, really have to suspend your disbelief here, but I loved how the ending was the type of far-reaching dream that a smart refugee kid, who worked hard his entire life, could someday achieve.

Of course, I also loved how it's a reminder that your birthplace, your childhood, your parents, etc. can heavily factor into your future.



Orlando's Wolf by Rasha Abdulhadi
3/5 stars

Yusuf stages a revolt against the European invaders.

I might be too dumb for this since I wasn't an English lit major, so I understood nothing. I did like the historical (Crusades era?) vibes though.



The Centre of the Universe by Nadia Shammas
4.5/5 stars

When Abigail interacts with a specific person, it is the only time that they can physically move or act.

I didn't think I'd like this story (it felt pointless at first), but fighting against your programming is always one of my favorite themes in SFF. The ending is *chef's kiss*

This collection is so strong and I'm so grateful I got the chance to read it. I love that the stories are so diverse, but they also work together beautifully, making the book as a whole incredibly impactful, and greater than the sum of its parts. Highlights for me are Soul Searching by Rana Othman, The Frontrunner by JD Harlock, and The Centre of the Universe by Nadia Shammas. My only critique would be that I don't think the stories centring on AI have enough space to explore the ethics of using the technology, especially in regards to disability, accessibility and consent. However, I still would highly recommend Thyme Travellers to everyone. Free Palestine!

An incredible speculative anthology by Palestinian authors. There were no let-downs among these stories spanning various speculative genres. Each new story was a pleasant surprise! The ones that stood out to me most were The Third or Fourth Casualty by Ziyad Saadi, Remembrance in Cerulean by Elise Stephens, and Gaza Luna by Samah Serour Fadil.

Kindly remember that the death of Palestinian children is irrelevant to this story.

—The Third or Fourth Casualty, Ziyad Saadi

I also want to highlight the first line of the first story, Down Under by Jumaana Abdu:

I STARTED DIGGING MY WAY TO PALESTINE LATER THAN MOST, but I made good time. I had very little to carry.


I definitely understand why this story was the first in the anthology, because what a perfect way to begin.

This is one of those books that reminds me why I love speculative fiction.

A wonderful collection of speculative fiction from the Palestinian diaspora. I always prefer a compilation with a theme, and the sociopolitical commentary and emotions run deep in each and every one of these stories. Inevitably, some resonated with me more, but I think everyone can find a story or two here that hits home for them.

Thank you to NetGalley and Roseway Publishing for the arc!