Picture an Egyptian-Canadian storyteller who spun a dystopian tale of America’s future from the ashes of war zones—meet Omar El Akkad! This journalist-turned-novelist weaves gripping narratives that blend political turmoil, climate crises, and raw human emotion. With a lens sharpened by years covering global conflicts, El Akkad’s stories challenge readers to confront uncomfortable truths about our world.
Born in Cairo and raised in Doha, El Akkad’s journey from reporter to literary star is as compelling as his books. His unique perspective—rooted in a life across continents and cultures—infuses his work with authenticity and urgency, making him a vital voice in contemporary fiction.
The Making of Omar El Akkad
Omar El Akkad was born in Cairo, Egypt, in 1982 and grew up in Doha, Qatar, before moving to Canada at 16. His early years in the Middle East shaped his worldview, while his transition to Montreal and later Kingston, Ontario, where he earned a computer science degree from Queen’s University, sparked his curiosity about storytelling. Journalism became his first canvas, with a decade at The Globe and Mail covering pivotal events like the Afghanistan war, Guantanamo Bay trials, the Arab Spring, and Black Lives Matter protests. These experiences, marked by a National Newspaper Award for Investigative Reporting, laid the groundwork for his fiction’s unflinching realism.
Omar El Akkad’s Unforgettable Stories
El Akkad’s debut novel, American War (2017), is a haunting dystopian tale set in a climate-ravaged, divided America during a second civil war. Critics, including The New York Times’ Michiko Kakutani, praised its vivid prose and parallels to Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. The story follows Sarat, a young girl radicalized by war, reflecting El Akkad’s insights into conflict’s human cost, drawn from his reporting.
His second novel, What Strange Paradise (2021), tackles the global refugee crisis through the eyes of a Syrian boy, Amir, the sole survivor of a sunken migrant boat. This Giller Prize-winning work balances tender storytelling with brutal truths, earning accolades for its emotional precision. In 2025, El Akkad released One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This, a nonfiction memoir critiquing Western complicity in the Gaza conflict. Its raw honesty, sparked by a viral tweet, cements his role as a fearless commentator. El Akkad’s style—lucid, empathetic, and politically charged—makes complex issues accessible, blending speculative fiction with real-world grit.
Why Omar El Akkad Matters
El Akkad’s work transcends borders, offering a mirror to society’s fractures—climate change, migration, and moral hypocrisy. His ability to humanize global crises resonates with readers worldwide, with translations in 13 languages and recognition like the Pacific Northwest Booksellers’ Award. By drawing on his immigrant experience and journalistic rigor, he challenges Western narratives, inspiring readers to question power and privilege. His growing influence in literary and activist circles marks him as a defining voice of our time.
- Born: 1982, Cairo, Egypt
- Key Works: American War, What Strange Paradise, One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This
- Awards: Giller Prize (2021), Pacific Northwest Booksellers’ Award, Oregon Book Award
Snag What Strange Paradise and dive into Omar El Akkad’s gripping, thought-provoking world!