Critical Acclaim
"Ibn al-Haytham, one of the greatest scholars in history, whose real life was one of the most colourful and fascinating ever told by historians, has been brought to life in a work of fiction utterly brilliantly by Steffens. The reader is transported one thousand years into medieval Arabia. This is a gripping story based on real-life events that is fizzing with adventure and rich in accurate historical and scientific nuggets."
—Jim Al-Khalili, physicist, author, and BBC broadcaster
"From the very first page Steffens brilliantly brings Alhasan's internal character to life, sketching a conflicted, fascinating portrait of a reluctant hero. It's not easy to dramatize the acts of thinking and creating—and harder still to do so in a subtle, elegant style—yet Steffens manages the trick. Watching Alhasan's mind work is a beautiful process, the prose moving along smoothly, like the gears of a reliable old clock."
—The Fountain (Read full review here.)
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"The story of Ibn al-Haytham has now been fictionalized masterfully by Bradley Steffens in the new book The Prisoner of al-Hakim. The novel is engaging and an easy read. It is recommended that one have some knowledge of the eventful life of Ibn al-Haytham in order to fully appreciate the fictionalized plot, but that is not required. It stands on its own in terms of exciting storyline, interesting dialogue, and well-written prose."
—Blue Minaret (Read full review here.)
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“One of the most enjoyable books I’ve read in ages.”
—Dr. Kevin Barrett, Truth Jihad Radio (Read full review here.)
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"Steffens' vivid storytelling transports us to a distant era and place, introducing us to one of history's greatest minds, providing ample adventure along the way. The Prisoner of Al-Hakim is a beautiful, engaging read."
—Dr. Richard Freed, author of Wired Child: Reclaiming Childhood in a Digital Age
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"This period novel dating back to the Abbasid and Fatimid Caliphate brings to the fore an oft-forgotten side of polymaths such as Alhasan Ibn al-Haytham, as a person that, like all of us, experiences doubt, fear and love. Bradley Steffens humanises Ibn Al-Haytham in a dignified way, illustrating the inspirations and thought processes behind many of his defining philosophical and scientific discoveries. A thread that runs through the novel is a deftly woven story of Ibn Al-Haytham and his student, who ends up teaching him bigger lessons in return."
—Wardah Books
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