No God But Us

“I can’t remember the last time I was so moved by a book. . . . I am lucky to count this story among my literary kin." —Aria Aber, author of Good Girl “A new kind of novel, with vast geographies of nation and heart.” —Sarah Schulman, author of The Fantasy and Necessity of Solidarity In this seductive, provocative debut, two gay Afghan men—cast out of their countries by circumstances beyond their control—arrive in Istanbul, a city that will test their willingness to sacrifice everything for the ones they love. When Delbar—a hapless twenty-something with dreams of becoming a drag queen—is spectacularly outed, he flees the insular immigrant-dense suburbs around Washington, DC, finding refuge with a sympathetic aunt in Istanbul. There, he enters a vibrant community of dissidents, sex workers, activists, poets, and heretics. Among them are Leif and his partner, Mansur, with whom Delbar quickly develops a blazing fascination. Delbar does not know that Mansur also nurses a wounded heart, having left his family of Afghan refugees—and first love—behind in Iran. This time, Mansur’s learned not to dream any bigger than his own survival. He’ll keep a low profile, work hard to send money to his family, and remain faithful to Leif—at least until his refugee status is granted. But when a seemingly harmless Pride march results in a brutal attack by riot police, and the country surges further into authoritarianism, Mansur and Delbar are thrust into dangerous proximity. Alongside their tight-knit community, the duo are forced to ask themselves: what constitutes a life well-lived, and how high is the price of freedom? Told through the alternating viewpoints of Delbar and Mansur, Sayed’s debut is a story of borders and boundaries crossed, and a deeply rich exploration of what it means to build a temporary life. An immigrant family saga, a thwarted love story, and a portrait of politics made intimately personal, No God But Us is an ambitious introduction to a bold new voice.