Moroccan Writer Dr. Fathi Khaled Analyzes the Short Story Collection “Ana Bent Meen?” by Dr. Hossam Badrawi

Moroccan Writer Dr. Fathi Khaled Analyzes the Short Story Collection “Ana Bent Meen?” by Dr. Hossam Badrawi
By Dr. Fathi Khaled

A little over a year ago, I read “The Chimera”, Dr. Hossam Badrawi’s debut in the world of storytelling. And here I am today, deeply drawn to his second collection, “Ana Bent Meen?” (“Whose Daughter Am I?”), which I picked up from the renowned Madbouly Bookstore in Talaat Harb Square. In a quiet corner of “El-Hara” Café, tucked away in a narrow alley near Tahrir Square, I began leafing through Badrawi’s tales, following their threads one after the other. Each story opens a window onto a purely Egyptian setting, as though born from the very womb of reality, then sculpted by the imagination of a creative writer who masterfully blends fact with fiction.

I devoured the first six stories in one sitting, and the book soon became my companion on a journey from the bustling streets of Cairo to the calm of Sulaymaniyah in Iraqi Kurdistan, where I finished reading the rest of the collection. There is no slowing down when reading Badrawi’s work; he is a writer who fully commands his creative tools, taking the reader on an enthralling journey through a range of worlds—from medicine, politics, history, and geography, to artificial intelligence and the depths of revolutionary experience.

On the cover, Dr. Badrawi chooses not to label his texts as “short stories,” instead calling them “Tales and Dialogues,” noting in his introduction that they carry the spirit and flavor of storytelling. Yet I see this as a sign of great humility that does not mask his exceptional prowess in the art of the short story. It is clear that he has drawn deeply from the wellspring of the masters of this form, absorbing its principles and techniques. Even when he goes beyond conventional boundaries, he remains rooted in the vast space of the short story, carving new paths within it that bear his unique signature.

One particular story stirs confusion and unease—it may be the product of a physician’s far-reaching imagination, or perhaps it reflects a real-life experience the author has lived or witnessed closely. What is certain, however, is that it presents a plausible scenario in a world where advanced technology intertwines with the most profound human emotions. The story sounds an alarm and raises existential questions about our future as human beings in an era where eggs and sperm may become mere tradable commodities—threatening to strip the human body of its sanctity and humanity.

Between scientific rigor and deep thought, between political acumen and artistic sensitivity, between rational logic and emotional warmth—Hossam Badrawi writes not only with words, but with a rich life experience, a personal history that intersects with his nation’s history, and a sincere sense of the pulse of his country. This book is an open invitation to dialogue and reflection, and to a constant search for meaning and value in a world teeming with challenges and rapid changes.

He does not offer ready-made answers or magical solutions, but skillfully places us face to face with profound questions—ones we live with daily, ponder often, and frequently debate. Yet he always does so in a warm, human language that respects the reader’s mind, stimulates thought, and urges us never to stop questioning.

“Ana Bent Meen?” is not just another short story collection to be shelved in a library. It is a sincere and serious attempt to capture the spirit of contemporary reality, with all its stark contradictions, deferred dreams, deep wounds—and the glimmer of hope that still refuses to die.

Source: https://almindar.ma/archives/106533