Hybridity in Arabic Science Fiction

This essay tackles the nuances of establishing Arabic science fiction (ASF) within postcolonial literature. It argues that even though postcolonial critics writing about ASF have established the genre’s postcoloniality, they have, nevertheless, noticed that it neither entirely ascribes to postcolonial tropes nor fulfills established postcolonial functions. This essay argues that a deeper understanding of Homi Bhabha’s nuanced exploration of hybridity beyond the often oversimplified explanations answers this dilemma. As Michael Syrotinski explains, Bhabha’s hybridity compromises two interconnected modes: diversity and difference. This essay explains that these two modes are present in ASF’s Arabic term, al-khayal al-‘ilmi, and in the genre’s characteristics. The essay also illustrates the presence of both modes in Talib Imran’s ASF short story, “Ashbah.” Understanding hybridity in ASF not only enhances our understanding of the genre’s postcoloniality but also deepens our appreciation for the diversity of postcolonial literature and its resistance to standardized forms of expressions.