The Morning of the Mogul Series

Arrival is the first instalment in a serialised 7 segment novel, describing a country struggling with its demons. The autocratic regime takes several facades and different denominations to survive. And so do the characters of this story. A jailed bank clerk, a journalist, a drug dealer, Islamist radicals, and others representing different levels of society, interact and fight, like the country. ............... This is the story of two successive military coups in an Arab country. The first is accomplished by a republican secularist junta and the second by Islamists. The narrator, Bassam Bourasin, an eccentric and zealous bank clerk, decides to write down a top-secret report, to protest against his incarceration by the new regime. His purpose was to clean up himself from the heavy charges he was facing and prove that he was well devoted to the new masters of the country. As the narrative develops, he unveils many details about his life in his village, 'Ouja, and his new condition in jail. Thus, he tells the reader about his obsessions and secret ambitions, his old mother living in the past with the British settlers, his fiancee Dalila whose hugging or kissing is forbidden to him by social traditions, and his secret archives where he had managed to record for the posterity many details concerning life and people of 'Ouja. That entire world collapsed when a coup overthrew the King, and the big purge started. What happened to him and his boss, Mr Aroussi, was all the more painful that the man for whom he was working as a snitch, the mighty chief of the party's cell, Hamda La'war, was still free. The latter was considered a national hero in the country, since he was awarded the Order of High Merit from the former king, for cuckolding the village's shoemaker and getting an eye punctured in the brawl. To obtain the same medal, Bassam was ready to do anything, even if he had to convince the new masters of the country of a conspiracy against the security of the state being concocted by the cooks of the prison and their occult allies. That is the second purpose of his top-secret report, which he intends to submit to the authorities. But out of the blue,  a second coup led by the Islamists happened; a mutiny burst out in prison, and Bassam was forced to readjust his views to be in the "right" direction of the wind.      

In this fourth volume, Bassam Bourasin continues his hurly-burly speculation on the conspiracy of the cooks, members of the Global corporation of the Muslim Brothelhood.  He fights on all fronts: Rats, angels, aliens, and the Multinational Muslim BrotheLhood Corporation, hijacking women and forcing them to work for the company. However, when he asks Mr Aroussi, his jailed bank Boss, to hire Frankenstein after release as a vigil, he discovers that the latter is a bank robber. Although on Mr Aroussi's recommendation, he gets advised by a lawyer, he does not trust him. Will he plead guilty or not guilty? He hesitates, then decides to be not guilty. But, on second thought,  he becomes unsure of his innocence: The police of Our Beloved General President (BGP) cannot jail innocent people. That's why it is urgent to continue writing down a top-secret report for the highest spheres to prove his loyalty to the Couvolution government.  As his fiancee, Dalila, refuses his suggestion to postpone their marriage for over twenty years, he plunges into spleen and depression after her visit.  One day, the Afghan and his Muslim brothelhood propose he join them. He refuses. Then,  he detected signs indicating that the cooks' conspiracy was coming to a climax. He prepares himself for the worse, foresees his death, hears the voices of Munker and Nakeer, the prosecuting angels of the grave... and, out of the blue, explodes the thunder...which he takes for God speaking to him.  Thereupon, he will realise that the blast wasn't God's voice. Instead, the detonation announced the beginning of the rebellion in the Bastille.

James Bond in Jail is the second book in this serialised  novel, describing a country struggling with its demons. The autocratic regime takes several facades and different denominations to survive. And so do the characters of this story. A jailed bank clerk, a journalist, a drug dealer,groups of  Islamist radicals, mobsters and others representing different levels of society interact and fight, like the country. ---- This is the story of two successive military coups in an Arab country. The first is accomplished by a republican secularist junta, and the second by Islamists. The narrator, Bassam Bourasin, an eccentric and zealous bank clerk, decides to write down a top-secret report to protest against his incarceration by the new regime. His purpose was to clean up himself from the heavy charges he was facing and prove that he was well devoted to the new masters of the country. As the narrative develops, he unveils many details about his life in his village, 'Ouja, and his new condition in jail. Thus, he tells the reader about his obsessions and secret ambitions, his old mother living in the past with the British settlers, his fiancee Dalila whose hugging or kissing is forbidden to him by social traditions, and his secret archives where he had managed to record for the posterity many details concerning life and people of 'Ouja. That entire world collapsed when a coup overthrew the King, and the big purge started. What happened to him and his boss, Mr Aroussi, was all the more painful that the man for whom he was working as a snitch, the mighty chief of the party's cell, Hamda La'war, was still free. The latter was considered a national hero in the country since he was awarded the Order of High Merit from the former king, for cuckolding the village's shoemaker and getting an eye punctured in the brawl. To obtain the same medal, Bassam was ready to do anything, even if he had to convince the new masters of the country of a conspiracy against the security of the state being concocted by the cooks of the prison and their occult allies. That is the second purpose of his top-secret report, which he intends to submit to the authorities. But out of the blue,  a second coup led by the Islamists happened; a mutiny burst out in prison, and Bassam was forced to readjust his views to be in the "right" direction of the wind. Henceforth, he devotes himself to the Islamist cause and tries to be the benevolent "historian" of the Islamist "revolution." Taken between the anvil and the hammer and fearing for his life, he endeavours to prove that he had always supported the Islamists since he had discovered the plot of the cooks. He does not mind if some of his new "friends" are members of the Mafia or trained terrorists. His dream is to be permanently helpful, and his ambition is to be like his hero, John Law, a great brain of the finances. An acquaintance from prison will help him make his dream true. Hassan, an opportunist journalist, will be propelled to the front scene by the new regime. The influential Director of State Security will make a deal with Bassam. He will release him, make him a wealthy businessman and offer him to marry his sister Sophia. He will use him as a screen in some not very orthodox deals. Somehow unaware, Bassam will be transformed into a merchant of weapons and, occasionally, a constructor and share-holder in a major bank. Meanwhile, the civil war burst out.

In this third volume of the series, Bassam Bourasin, a Bank clerk, who serves as a jail librarian, unveils a third career path as a voluntary Secret Agent. His unrelenting zeal for the Administration (that interned him) and for "our BGP" (Beloved General President) leads him to another "breakthrough": the conspiracy of the cooks against the Couvolution and the New Era. Getting fresh "information" from a drug dealer with tentacular connections(Suleiman Mughli ) and a disgraced journalist (Hassan), he speculates about a military coup and revolution (couvolution), the benefits of wine, spirits, prostitution and illicit drugs for the national economy, as possible alternatives for oil and gas income, and the mysterious foreign powers behind the Muslim Brothelhood, a global corporation, whose members assaulted brothels across the country and tried to hijack their staff. He suspects the Brothelhood members of setting up a rebellion plan using the cooks. Then he discovered a hole in the library wall and thought it was a tunnel...

Nothing in Bassam Bourasin's story is what it seems to be. We may deduce this from Part One of The Morning of the Mogul. Part Two reveals that the novel's narrator, the events and characters, the country itself, time, and space are all warped or have numerous levels and dimensions. What is real? What isn't? In Book (5), Bassam Bourasin witnesses an insurgency overthrowing a dictatorship to install another in the name of religion. As he analyses the events leading up to his detention, he begins to assume that his "angels" are members of the invisible state police and the Muslim Brothelhood. Had he misinterpreted the cause of his incarceration? Is he really innocent, or is he a pawn in a larger game? Who is controlling the events and the characters in the background? If he indeed worked for the old regime, he is in grave danger. For the time being, the Islamist state has been proclaimed.  

In Book 7, Bassam Bourasin, beleaguered after the genocide in 'Ouja and the assassination of his mother and fiancee Dalila, strikes a deal with Hassan, the new National Security Director of the Islamic State:  – Sir, I am happy to know about it. But, sir,  as a high representative of the authorities, do you guarantee my safety after I promised to give back $13.500 million, earned honestly while serving the country, to benefit the Islamic state?  – I can do more, Bassam. I'll make you a PCM. As soon as you sign the official documents acknowledging your generous donation, I will issue a certificate proving that the government of The Emir of All Muslims, Sheikh Abdelghani Abdelghafar, acknowledges you as a good Muslim under the Shari'a law, which allows you to do any business you choose, marry four women or more, possess as many slaves as you wish, females and males, and travel across the country and abroad without being troubled at the checkpoints and the borders. As such, you acquire a new status. We call it in the Islamic State: PCM.  – Sir, what's the PCM?  – The pagan VIP has the pretence of being a Very Important Personality, right? The Islamic State does not recognise such arrogant nonsense. No individual could match or outpace the PCMs selected among the hyper-selected. The only VIP we acknowledge in this country today is the Paradise Club Member (PCM). (...)   Heart-wrenching Storyline: In Book 7, Bassam Bourasin's life is turned upside down when he experiences the genocide in 'Ouja and the assassination of his mother and fiancee Dalila. Despite this immense tragedy, Bassam manages to find strength within himself to strike a deal with the new National Security Director of the Islamic state. This powerful story will leave readers captivated. Unique Plot Twists: As readers move through Book 7, they'll be surprised at every turn by unexpected plot twists that keep them hanging onto every word. With each page turning, suspense builds as Bassam navigates his way through the challenges of this difficult time in history. Authentic Characters: Developed over several books in this series, the characters in Book 7 come alive with their unique personalities and perspectives. Readers will find themselves empathising with Bassam's plight and cheering him on as he works to create a better future for himself amidst so much strife and uncertainty. Deep Exploration of Real Issues: Book 7 delves deep into serious subjects such as genocide and religious persecution, examining them from multiple angles. By exploring these themes from a variety of perspectives, readers are invited to consider their own views on these issues and how they affect our world today. Engaging Writing Style: This book's masterful writing style provides an immersive experience for readers. From vivid descriptions to thoughtful character development, readers will be captivated by the engaging narrative that carries them through this gripping story.

An Unexpected Twist: 'The Invisible Bride' is the 6th volume in the hilarious satirical series 'The Morning of the Mogul.' This unique story takes a surprising and unexpected twist when Bassam imitates Haj Mukhtar, who pretends his wife is a Jinni, and marries an invisible Dalila, after Islamists forbade visits, in the presence of the inmates, inside the library. Laugh Out Loud Comedy: Readers will be laughing out loud as this wild story unfolds. From Bassam's misadventures with his pretend bride to the outrageous characters he meets along the way, this novel is full of laugh-out-loud moments that will keep you entertained from start to finish. Unique Storytelling: The Invisible Bride is a unique story that stands out from all other volumes in "The Morning of the Mogul" series. Through creative storytelling and witty dialogue, author Hichem Karoui shows readers a side of life they may have never encountered. Unforgettable Characters: This novel introduces readers to unforgettable characters who will stay with them long after finishing the book. From Bassam's quirky friends to the mysterious jinni bride, each character brings something unique to this zany story. A Refreshingly Different Take on Love: 'The Invisible Bride' tackles love in a refreshingly different way than most stories do. With its humourous take on relationships and marriages, you'll reflect on what it really means to be in love by the time you finish reading!  

In Book (8), the narrator, Bassam Bourasin, is released from prison following the massacre of 300 people in his hometown, 'Ouja. His mother and his fiancee Dalila were among the victims. The narrator felt out of place and traumatised in his apartment. He barely recognised his hometown and felt he was either the real Bassam Bourasin or 'Ouja was not the real 'Ouja. The trauma had upset him since he arrived, and he was morally and physically exhausted. The survivors suffered indescribable concussions, and a thick cloud of melancholy and sorrow descended over the community. The atmosphere in 'Ouja was one of desolation and grief. The Barbarians have half-destroyed and ravaged the town, and the electric and telephone lines have not yet been restored. Even the countryside is described as a desolate area of rough, magnificent cliffs and harsh, tawny flora scorched by the sour acid sun's smouldering beams. The people of 'Ouja are grieving the loss of their loved ones, and the graveyard is crowded with mourners. The armed militia is patrolling the streets, and sadness and gloom hang over the town.  Mr Houssine, Bassam's father-in-law, said the killers came at daybreak or earlier, rushed into the police station and the National Guard Headquarters, killed everyone, and then turned their rage to the stores and shops. They broke the doors with explosives, plundered, looted, and thrashed, while others broke into their homes randomly. They raped, robbed, killed whoever resisted, and rampaged relentlessly for hours. The terrorists were dressed in long robes and sandals, with long beards and masks on their faces. The big question remains: who did it? In Arab countries where there is a conflict between secularists and Islamists, the same issue has come up numerous times. From Algeria in the nineties to Somalia, Iraq, Libya, Egypt, Tunisia, Syria, Yemen, and Sudan. In the novel, Mr Houssine believed that the massacre in 'Ouja was God's will and that people should accept it. When Bassam asked him how such a thing could happen in a country where people pray to God five times a day, Mr Houssine told him not to curse and to accept God's will. He also suggested that the criminals who committed the massacre took advantage of God's will more than those who prayed and did everything to please Allah. One assumption about the massacre's perpetrators in Ouja was that they could have been the Islamists who took over the government and badly needed foreign neutrality to crush their local rivals. Such an episode may discourage Western nations from providing help to the ousted president still fighting them in the South. Another assumption was that both parties could have perpetrated the massacre for different reasons.

In "Imbroglio," which begins Part Three (Dolce Vita) of the Morning of the Mogul serialised novel, Bassam Bourasin (BB) learns how far could go the intelligence apparatus' manipulation of people like him, as well as the nation's political leaders and ordinary citizens' aspirations. It turns out that those who wield power in the intelligence services are the clique behind revolutions, counter-revolutions, coups, and counter-coups, and even the rulers themselves are under their control from behind the scenes. Nothing and nobody escaped this scheme, including those who pretended to alter the system and impose an Islamist regime. The only thing that matters in this game is power and the struggle to exert more control over society and people, even if doing so results in more crimes, tragedies, and genocides. What would BB do if he was unable to leave the game? Does he still have a choice, he who has repeatedly stated that everything in human existence is predetermined (Mektub)? Imbroglio" is a gripping account of an intelligence apparatus manipulating the political landscape in the Arab countries. It reveals the inner workings of power and intrigue and how the stakes are raised when the truth is hidden. The series will continue with a forthcoming Book 10.

The Dolce Vita ( The Morning of the Mogul Part Three) This is the tenth and last instalment of the series "The Morning of the Mogul". The first episode began with the detention of Bassam Bourasin, an anti-here in demeanour and mindset. The final episode reveals a surprising development of the character that is a complete cycle in the lives of men, communities; and regimes, reproducing always the same schemes. In the gripping conclusion to the series "The Morning of the Mogul", readers are taken on a thrilling journey through the transformation of Bassam Bourasin, from antihero to unexpected hero. As Bourasin marries into power and navigates the complex political: landscape of an imposed Islamist government, he finds himself torn between loyalty and ambition. Will his newfound success as an entrepreneur lead him to embrace his role as a national hero, or will his past catch up with him as he takes on the presidency of the 'Ouja cell party? Packed with twists and turns, this final instalment explores themes of power, loyalty and redemption in a world where nothing is as it seems.