Fortress of the Forgotten Ones

Synopsis

Winner of the Armory Square Prize for South Asian Literature in Translation, Fortress of the Forgotten Ones transports readers to fifth-century Ctesiphon at the height of the Sassanian Empire. Blending meticulous historical detail with sweeping storytelling, Fahmida Riaz follows Mazdak—the revolutionary reformer often described as history's first socialist—as he challenges entrenched systems of power and inequality.

Rich with Persian history, political intrigue, and philosophical debate, the novel brings to life a world of royal courts, Zoroastrian traditions, and ordinary people struggling under empire. Both epic and deeply human, Fortress of the Forgotten Ones is a powerful meditation on justice, memory, and the enduring struggle against oppression.

About the Author

Fahmida Riaz (1946–2018) was one of Pakistan's most influential writers, poets, translators, and human rights activists. Renowned for her fearless critiques of authoritarianism, religious extremism, and social injustice, she spent years in exile after opposing General Zia-ul-Haq's military regime. Her work helped reshape modern Urdu literature through its political courage, feminist vision, and lyrical power. This edition is translated by Sana R. Chaudhry, a Pakistani writer, translator, and editor dedicated to bringing South Asian literature to English-language readers.

Publisher

Open Letter Books

Publication Date

April 3, 2026

Format

Paperback

Pages

215

Subjects

Historical Fiction · Fiction in Translation · South Asian Literature · Persian History · Political Fiction · Literary Fiction

ISBN

9781960385512