The journey begins…
Amina Hayal, a young and determined woman and a daughter of a farmer, dreams of going to space. She wants to serve on the Samarkand, the generational cryo-ship that brought her ancestors here and established a human civilization and the city of Daira. But first, she must compete in the Apprenticeship Trials to secure a coveted place to serve on the ship. Self-taught in martial arts, Amina is confident that she will win and make the sacred journey to the next planet. Her father, afraid to lose his beloved daughter and only child, does not approve, which causes a rift between them. To succeed, she recruits the of her friends Reza, a member of a prominent family and an experienced Trials contestant, and Taras, a multi-talented yet socially awkward engineer who works on Samarkand.
Meanwhile Sanam, a counselor at the Department of Spiritual Affairs, holds a secret. She is a mukhtalif, a rare and mysterious race of humans augmented with nanotechnology. She possesses an eidetic memory spanning centuries and is immune to the effects of memory loss caused by cryo-sleep. Though she holds a respected position in the government, mukhtalifs are generally viewed with suspicion and are not considered true believers. One day, Sanam discovers a conspiracy to corrupt the Corpus, which sets her on a dangerous investigation. Her efforts are complicated by the fact that a young counselee she has recently taken on, Amina, becomes entangled with a secret society intent on subverting order in Daira.
“Departure” offers a unique blend of science fiction, romance, and theology, delving into the complexities of spiritual and worldly love and pursuit of justice in a world dominated by techno-utopianism. With its rich world-building, diverse characters, and intricate plot, this story brings a fresh take on space exploration and pursuit of spiritual growth.
Praise for the Book
Departure’s sci-fi world-building feels organic. There’s a light touch to the world-building, you don’t typically find in novels like this and it’s really beautifully written… If you like questions about the nature of humanity and what it means to make meaning and commit to others, community, and what one considers the highest truth—let’s not forget high action and futuristic sword-play—all in a highly original future world, Departure is for you.
By weaving everyday experiences into a “strangely familiar” structure, it highlights what makes science fiction so compelling: in this case, the genre’s ability to balance adventure with deeper explorations of faith, relationships, and purpose…The result is not just a fast-paced story filled with twists, but a layered reflection on the genre, and an adventure that entertains while quietly interrogating its own foundations.