Alamut is set in 11th Century Persia, within the fortress of Alamut. Here, the self-proclaimed prophet Hasan ibn Sabbah orchestrates a mad and brilliant plan to dominate the region using a select group of elite fighters, known as his "living daggers." By crafting a virtual paradise at Alamut, replete with beautiful women, lush gardens, wine, and hashish, Sabbah persuades his young warriors that they can attain paradise by adhering to his commands.

Drawing parallels to modern figures like Osama bin Laden, Alamut narrates how Sabbah instilled fear in the ruling class by assembling a small, devoted army ready to kill, and be killed, to reach paradise. Embracing the supreme Ismaili motto, “Nothing is true, everything is permitted,” Sabbah sought to manipulate religious devotion for his political gain, exploiting the stupidity and gullibility of people and their penchant for pleasure and selfish desires.

The novel chronicles Sabbah as he reveals his plan to his inner circle and focuses on two young followers: the beautiful slave girl Halima, who arrives at Alamut to join Sabbah's earthly paradise, and young ibn Tahir, Sabbah's most talented fighter. As both Halima and ibn Tahir grow disillusioned with Sabbah's vision, their lives take unforeseen turns.

Originally penned in 1938 as an allegory to Mussolini's fascist state, Alamut became a cult favorite in Tito's Yugoslavia during the 1960s and was later read as an allegory of the Balkan's War strife in the 1990s, achieving bestseller status in Germany, France, and Spain.

Palace Walk is the first volume of the masterful Cairo Trilogy by Nobel Prize-winning Egyptian author Naguib Mahfouz. This engrossing saga unfolds in the early 20th century, during Egypt's occupation by British forces.

The story intricately portrays a traditional Muslim family in Cairo, led by a domineering patriarch who demands strict adherence to Islamic principles from his wife and children. Yet, he indulges in the pleasures of music, wine, and courtesans, unbeknownst to him, his eldest son shares similar tastes.

Set against the backdrop of a turn-of-the-century Cairo, the novel vividly recreates an era of both discipline and sensuality, offering readers a captivating glimpse into the life and culture of a bygone time.