Fahad Fatani
Fahad Fatani, professionally known as F J Fatani, is a Saudi science fiction author whose work explores the intersection of humanity, technology, societal transformation, and the possibilities of life beyond Earth. Combining an expansive imagination with an interest in the systems that shape human civilisation, Fatani is developing a distinctive voice in contemporary speculative fiction. His debut trilogy, Something About Mars, marks his entry into international publishing and reflects his ambition to create stories that resonate with readers across cultures, languages, and geographical boundaries.
A proud Saudi writer with a global perspective, Fatani represents a new generation of storytellers whose creative ambitions extend beyond traditional literary categories. His approach to science fiction is driven first and foremost by a genuine love for the genre and the possibilities it offers. Rather than limiting his storytelling to familiar settings or established conventions, he embraces the freedom to imagine entire worlds, alternative social structures, and futures in which humanity must reconsider what it means to survive, coexist, and define itself.
Something About Mars: A Vision of Humanity's Future
Fatani's debut science fiction trilogy, Something About Mars, secured a three-book publishing agreement with SLKY World, an independent publisher based in Orlando, Florida. SLKY World discovered the project after his live pitch at the Riyadh Writers Conference in February 2026, and the first instalment is scheduled for publication in 2027.
Set against an expansive cosmic backdrop, Something About Mars imagines a post-monetary, post-apocalyptic Earth and humanity's gradual migration beyond the planet. As civilisation evolves into an interplanetary existence, new systems of corporate power, cultural significance, and identity begin to emerge. The result is a speculative landscape in which familiar social structures are challenged, and the boundaries of human experience are continually redefined.
At the heart of the trilogy lies a compelling question: What replaces the systems humanity has relied upon for generations when those systems no longer exist?
Through an everyman protagonist navigating an unpredictable and increasingly complex future, Fatani explores the consequences of profound societal change. The story examines the relationship between individuals and the institutions that govern their lives, while considering how power, specialisation, culture, and identity might evolve when humanity is no longer confined to a single world.
One distinctive idea underpinning the series is the danger exceptional ability can pose in a changing social order. In a universe where established hierarchies are being reconstructed, possessing valuable skills may become as much a liability as an advantage. This premise allows Fatani to explore the tension between individual potential and the systems that seek to control or exploit it.
Rather than presenting the future as a simple extension of the present, Fatani uses speculative fiction to question the assumptions that underpin contemporary civilisation. His imagined worlds offer a setting where familiar concepts can be examined from unfamiliar perspectives, inviting readers to consider how humanity might adapt when the conditions of existence change beyond recognition.