A "sharply satirical" novel about an oppressive religious dictatorship and one man's discovery of an underground resistance (Library Journal).

2015 Winner of the Le Grand Prix du Roman de l'Académie française

A tribute to George Orwell's dystopian classic 1984 and a cry of protest against totalitarianism of all kinds, Boualem Sansal's 2084 tells the story of a near future in which religious extremists have established a caliphate that forbids autonomous thought. In the year 2084, in the kingdom of Abistan-named after the prophet Abi, earthly messenger of the god Yölah-citizens submit to a single god, demonstrating their devotion by kneeling in prayer nine times a day. Remembering the past is forbidden, and an omnipresent surveillance system instantly informs the authorities of every deviant act, thought, or idea.
The kingdom is blessed and its citizens are happy, filled with purpose and piety. Those who are not-the heretics-are put to death by stoning or beheading in city squares. But Ati has met people who think differently: In ghettos and caves, hidden from the authorities, exist the last living heretics and free-thinkers of Abistan. Under their influence, Ati begins to doubt. He begins to think. Now, he will have to defend his thoughts with his life.
2084 is "a rare, powerful book, at the intersection of fable and lampoon, of satire and science fiction," a cry of freedom, a gripping novel of ideas, and an indictment of the kind of closed-minded fundamentalism that threatens our democracies and the ideals on which they are founded (Lire).

"Alison Anderson's deft and intelligent translation [conveys] Sansal's abhorrence of a system that controls people's minds, while explaining that the religion was not originally evil but has been corrupted. A moving and cautionary story."-The Times Literary Supplement

"A powerful novel that celebrates resistance."-The Guardian

A tribute to George Orwell's 1984 and a cry of protest against totalitarianism of all kinds, Sansal's 2084 tells the story of a near future in which religious extremists have established an oppressive caliphate where autonomus thought is forbidden. It is the year 2084. In the kingdom of Abistan--named after the prophet Abi, earthly messenger of the god Yolah--citizens submit to a single god, demonstrating their devotion by kneeling in prayer nine times a day. Autonomous thought has been banned, remembering is forbidden, and an omnipresent surveillance system instantly informs the authorities of every deviant act, thought, or idea. The kingdom is blessed and its citizens are happy, filled with a sense of purpose and piety. Those who are not--the heretics--are put to death by stoning or beheading in city squares. But Ati has met people who think differently; in ghettos and caves, hidden from the authorities, exist the last living heretics and free-thinkers of Abistan. Under their influence, Ati begins to doubt. He begins to think. Now, he will have to defend his thoughts with his life. "[In 2084] Sansal dared to go much further than I did," said Michel Houellebecq, the controversial novelist most recently of Submission. 2084 is a cry of freedom, a call to rebellion, a gripping satirical novel of ideas, and an indictment of the religious fundamentalism that, with its hypocrisy and closed-mindedness, threatens our modern democracies and the ideals on which they are founded. WINNER OF THE FRENCH ACADEMY GRAND PRIX

Praise for 2084: The End of the World

"2084 is a powerful novel that celebrates resistance.”
—The Guardian

""A powerful satire on an Islamist dictatorship."
—The Spectator

“Sharply satiric...it’s worthwhile watching Sansal dig fiercely into the essence of the all-controlling religious belief he roundly condemns.”
—Library Journal

"Alison Anderson's deft and intelligent translation of 2084 helps to overcome such binary thinking by conveying Sansal's abhorrence of a system that controls people's minds, while explaining that the religion was not originially evil but has been corrupted. A moving and cautionary story."
—Kate Webb, The Times Literary Supplement

“2084 is a rare, powerful book, at the intersection of fable and lampoon,
of satire and science fiction.”
—Lire

“The story is powerful, the humor, devastating . . . 2084 is an exceptional book.”
—Télérama

“Boualem Sansal is of the great voices of North Africa.”
—Le Monde Cultures et Idées

“2084 is noir fiction à la Orwell.”
—Le Monde

"Sansal is our guide into absurdity and out of it, the perfect guide through the fear and laughter we expend reading 2084.”
—The Rain Taxi Review