Salman Rushdie, who survived a brutal attack in 2022 that cost him an eye, is set to release a new work of fiction, according to theguardian.com.
The celebrated author, known for his controversial novels such as The Satanic Verses, revealed his plans at the Lviv BookForum in Ukraine. Rushdie’s upcoming project will consist of three novellas, each exploring different aspects of his life and experiences.
In an interview, Rushdie discussed the impact of the attack on his writing and his outlook on life. He shared that the experience has influenced his perspective and has led him to reflect on the themes of “an ending” in his work.
“When you get to this age you obviously think about how long is left,” he said. “There obviously aren’t 22 more [books] that are going to be written.”
The novellas will mark Rushdie’s first fiction project since the stabbing incident. His previous work, Victory City, was completed before the attack but published in 2023.
Rushdie also expressed solidarity with Ukraine, drawing parallels between his own experiences and the challenges faced by the Ukrainian people. He emphasised the importance of controlling narratives and resisting attempts to impose false histories.
The author’s memoir, Knife, delves into his recovery process and the aftermath of the attack. He described the experience as a battle between love and death, bigotry and beauty.
