--- product_id: 52670880 title: "American War: A dystopian novel of survival in a divided America, for fans of Station Eleven" price: "VT2805" currency: VUV in_stock: false reviews_count: 11 url: https://www.desertcart.vu/products/52670880-american-war-a-dystopian-novel-of-survival-in-a-divided store_origin: VU region: Vanuatu --- # American War: A dystopian novel of survival in a divided America, for fans of Station Eleven **Price:** VT2805 **Availability:** ❌ Out of Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** American War: A dystopian novel of survival in a divided America, for fans of Station Eleven - **How much does it cost?** VT2805 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Currently out of stock - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.vu](https://www.desertcart.vu/products/52670880-american-war-a-dystopian-novel-of-survival-in-a-divided) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description American War: A dystopian novel of survival in a divided America, for fans of Station Eleven : Akkad, Omar El: desertcart.co.uk: Books Review: Superb! - I'd like to start my review by thanking Joy at Joyous Reads whose blogged review of American War back in April 2018 encouraged me to add this novel to my TBR - and, almost two years later, I've finally read it! Why on earth did I wait so long? American War is unbelievably good! American War is one of a select few novels which, for me at least, surpassed the five star rating I have awarded. As I closed the book after reading its final page, I actually had to take a couple of minutes to bring myself back to the present day because I had been so deeply immersed in Sarat's world that it felt more real to me than my own! El Akkad has brilliantly meshed together the realities of refugees' smashed lives in every war ever with a chilling portrait of how such desperation can be manipulated by callous men to create radicalised suicidal human weapons. What makes American War so shocking is that, by imagining America ripped apart by a second civil war, El Akkad's refugees are both Americans themselves and the result of American warfare techniques. This isn't the USA invading foreign nations in South or Central America, or across the Middle East, but the narrative and actions have such an authentic ring to them because I have already seen these ideas in novels such as Red Birds by Mohammed Hanif and The President's Gardens by Muhsin Al-Ramli. The concept of The South rising again is wonderfully evocative. The American War storyline is told from a point even further into the future than the events we follow so it reads as rich historical fiction even it is actually science fiction. We glimpse as-yet impossible technologies, but the majority of scenes are set on poverty-stricken Southern lands, all-but destroyed by years of war, or within the crowded tent city that is Patience Refugee Camp, so people are struggling to survive with very little, their only highlights being the monthly Chinese aid shipment. I got a sense of a society which had reached affluent success, but which had now lost everything it had achieved - perhaps similar to present-day Syria? El Akkad has already garnered comparisons with authors such as Cormac McCarthy and, on the strength of his vivid depictions of these grim settings, I would agree that his writing is easily as powerful. I was absolutely steamrollered by American War and will, I think, be enthusiastically recommending this novel to everyone I can find! Superb! Review: very good - Dystopia is when the privileged experience its absence and this is about America experiencing its own foreign policy. As such it is an adventure story as well as a satire. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | 271,505 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) 41 in Post-Apocalyptic 44 in Political Fiction (Books) 62 in Dystopian | | Customer reviews | 4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars (6,181) | | Dimensions | 16.1 x 3.1 x 24.1 cm | | Edition | Main Market | | ISBN-10 | 1509852190 | | ISBN-13 | 978-1509852192 | | Item weight | 590 g | | Language | English | | Print length | 352 pages | | Publication date | 7 Sept. 2017 | | Publisher | Picador | | Reading age | 18 years and up | ## Images ![American War: A dystopian novel of survival in a divided America, for fans of Station Eleven - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91iDhd8em+L.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Superb! *by S***) on 20 March 2020* I'd like to start my review by thanking Joy at Joyous Reads whose blogged review of American War back in April 2018 encouraged me to add this novel to my TBR - and, almost two years later, I've finally read it! Why on earth did I wait so long? American War is unbelievably good! American War is one of a select few novels which, for me at least, surpassed the five star rating I have awarded. As I closed the book after reading its final page, I actually had to take a couple of minutes to bring myself back to the present day because I had been so deeply immersed in Sarat's world that it felt more real to me than my own! El Akkad has brilliantly meshed together the realities of refugees' smashed lives in every war ever with a chilling portrait of how such desperation can be manipulated by callous men to create radicalised suicidal human weapons. What makes American War so shocking is that, by imagining America ripped apart by a second civil war, El Akkad's refugees are both Americans themselves and the result of American warfare techniques. This isn't the USA invading foreign nations in South or Central America, or across the Middle East, but the narrative and actions have such an authentic ring to them because I have already seen these ideas in novels such as Red Birds by Mohammed Hanif and The President's Gardens by Muhsin Al-Ramli. The concept of The South rising again is wonderfully evocative. The American War storyline is told from a point even further into the future than the events we follow so it reads as rich historical fiction even it is actually science fiction. We glimpse as-yet impossible technologies, but the majority of scenes are set on poverty-stricken Southern lands, all-but destroyed by years of war, or within the crowded tent city that is Patience Refugee Camp, so people are struggling to survive with very little, their only highlights being the monthly Chinese aid shipment. I got a sense of a society which had reached affluent success, but which had now lost everything it had achieved - perhaps similar to present-day Syria? El Akkad has already garnered comparisons with authors such as Cormac McCarthy and, on the strength of his vivid depictions of these grim settings, I would agree that his writing is easily as powerful. I was absolutely steamrollered by American War and will, I think, be enthusiastically recommending this novel to everyone I can find! Superb! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ very good *by D***Y on 4 August 2025* Dystopia is when the privileged experience its absence and this is about America experiencing its own foreign policy. As such it is an adventure story as well as a satire. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Sobering Read *by D***Y on 7 October 2017* A thought provoking and plausible novel based in a not too distant future America where climate change has shaped the landscape and the old Yankee vs Confederate mindsets have re-emerged to shape events. Well written and well researched, it follows the story of one person's experience from innocence to anger in the middle of the chaos that has taken over. Parallels can be drawn with those people that are experiencing exactly the same in the war zones of the world today and it is a stark reminder of the effects of brutality on the mind and the soul of the innocents. A very good, but chastening read and a glimpse into an all too possible grim future. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.vu/products/52670880-american-war-a-dystopian-novel-of-survival-in-a-divided](https://www.desertcart.vu/products/52670880-american-war-a-dystopian-novel-of-survival-in-a-divided) --- *Product available on Desertcart Vanuatu* *Store origin: VU* *Last updated: 2026-05-04*