From Riyadh to Mars: Saudi Sci-Fi Trilogy Secures Global Publication and Screen Potential
In a significant breakthrough for the Kingdom’s creative economy, Saudi author Fahad Fatani (writing as F.J. Fatani) has signed a three-book deal with the US-based independent publisher SLKY World. The agreement for his debut science fiction trilogy, “Something About Mars,” highlights the growing international appetite for Saudi intellectual property (IP) and imaginative storytelling originating from the Gulf region.
Executive Summary
- Strategic Deal: A three-book agreement signed with Orlando-based SLKY World for the “Something About Mars” trilogy.
- Project Origin: The project was discovered during a live pitch at the Riyadh Writers Conference in February 2026.
- Release Timeline: The first installment is scheduled for a global release in 2027.
- Commercial Vision: The publisher is already treating screen adaptations as a viable pathway alongside the literary launch.
The deal was negotiated directly with SLKY World publisher Mariana De’ Carli, following Fatani’s successful pitch at the Riyadh Writers Conference—an event instrumental in bridging the gap between local talent and international publishing houses. The trilogy explores a post-monetary, post-apocalyptic Earth, focusing on interplanetary migration and corporate colonization.
Expanding the Saudi Creative Frontier
For F.J. Fatani, the founder of the platform happyeveryday.today, this milestone addresses long-standing barriers to international awareness for regional writers. Fatani noted that while the imagination exists within the Kingdom to create the next “Star Wars,” many local creators previously lacked the know-how to access global markets.
“Meeting the Riyadh Writers and attending the Writers Conference was instrumental in giving me the support needed to see it as possible,” Fatani told Arab News. His decision to write in English was driven by an organic desire to reach a global sci-fi fan base while representing his Saudi heritage on the international stage.
The Saudi Lens: Investing in the Content Economy
This landmark deal is a direct reflection of Vision 2030’s focus on developing the Kingdom’s cultural and creative industries. By fostering ecosystems like the Riyadh Writers Conference, Saudi Arabia is successfully transforming local talent into exportable cultural assets. For enterprise leaders and investors, this highlights the “Orange Economy” as a fertile ground for intellectual property development. The transition from a published trilogy to potential screen adaptations offers significant opportunities for the Kingdom’s burgeoning film and media sectors, aligning with the goals of the General Commission for Audiovisual Media (GCAM) and the Film Commission to establish Saudi Arabia as a regional media powerhouse.
SLKY World’s commitment to the full trilogy signals strong confidence in the commercial viability of Saudi-authored sci-fi. Mariana De’ Carli emphasized that the story offers an “expansive perspective” that imagines a future where diverse histories and philosophies intersect—a narrative shift that global audiences are increasingly demanding.
