The Fertility of Evil: A Novel
A criminal investigation plumbs the seedy underbelly of Oran in this heady psychological thriller spanning the history of postcolonial Algeria.

Oran, July 5, 2018. Independence Day. Colonel Soltani of the Anti-Terrorism Unit reluctantly gives up his holiday after his superior officer tracks him down at his girlfriend’s home. A former National Liberation Front fighter and Algerian power broker has been found dead, his throat slit and face mutilated. Pressured to close this high-profile case quickly, Soltani and his team delve into the victim’s past from the 1950s, uncovering the secrets of a revolutionary cell whose three remaining members have become prime suspects.

Set in a post-independence era marred by corruption, this dark, captivating novel unfolds in contrasting landscapes of dilapidated historic quarters and opulent new districts, revealing Algeria’s struggle against deceit and betrayal.
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The Fertility of Evil: A Novel
A criminal investigation plumbs the seedy underbelly of Oran in this heady psychological thriller spanning the history of postcolonial Algeria.

Oran, July 5, 2018. Independence Day. Colonel Soltani of the Anti-Terrorism Unit reluctantly gives up his holiday after his superior officer tracks him down at his girlfriend’s home. A former National Liberation Front fighter and Algerian power broker has been found dead, his throat slit and face mutilated. Pressured to close this high-profile case quickly, Soltani and his team delve into the victim’s past from the 1950s, uncovering the secrets of a revolutionary cell whose three remaining members have become prime suspects.

Set in a post-independence era marred by corruption, this dark, captivating novel unfolds in contrasting landscapes of dilapidated historic quarters and opulent new districts, revealing Algeria’s struggle against deceit and betrayal.
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The Fertility of Evil: A Novel

The Fertility of Evil: A Novel

The Fertility of Evil: A Novel

The Fertility of Evil: A Novel

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Overview

A criminal investigation plumbs the seedy underbelly of Oran in this heady psychological thriller spanning the history of postcolonial Algeria.

Oran, July 5, 2018. Independence Day. Colonel Soltani of the Anti-Terrorism Unit reluctantly gives up his holiday after his superior officer tracks him down at his girlfriend’s home. A former National Liberation Front fighter and Algerian power broker has been found dead, his throat slit and face mutilated. Pressured to close this high-profile case quickly, Soltani and his team delve into the victim’s past from the 1950s, uncovering the secrets of a revolutionary cell whose three remaining members have become prime suspects.

Set in a post-independence era marred by corruption, this dark, captivating novel unfolds in contrasting landscapes of dilapidated historic quarters and opulent new districts, revealing Algeria’s struggle against deceit and betrayal.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781635425833
Publisher: Other Press, LLC
Publication date: 02/17/2026
Pages: 192
Product dimensions: 5.25(w) x 8.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Amara Lakhous is an Italian author, journalist, and anthropologist of Algerian origin. His novel Clash of Civilizations Over an Elevator in Piazza Vittorio received Italy’s Flaiano prize and was adapted for film. He is currently Professor in the Practice in the Department of Italian Studies at Yale University.

Alexander E. Elinson is Professor of Arabic and head of the Arabic program at Hunter College of the City University of New York. His translations include Youssef Fadel’s A Beautiful White Cat Walks with Me and A Shimmering Red Fish Swims with Me, Yassin Adnan’s Hot Maroc, Khadija Marouazi’s History of Ash, and Saïd Khatibi's The End of the Sahara.
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