CAIRO - The Egyptian revolution has inspired many who rushed to analyse and document the precious days that captivated the whole world and the Egyptians themselves. Since the youths who started the revolution were a representative cross-section of the population, it is only natural that their generation is now used as a symbol for this peaceful and popular uprising. Mohamed Fathi, a journalist and young writer, has written many satirical books such as ‘Damar ya Masr' (Oh Ruined Egypt) and ‘Egypt from the Balcony'. In his most recent book ‘Once Upon a Time There Was a Revolution', Fathi tried to record all the events he experienced during the revolution, before they disappeared from his memory. He says he wrote this book for his children; he wanted to tell them the story of the revolution, its background and reasons, witnessed by him and his generation. These facts and events have not entered the history books yet. Fathi talks about how the revolution started a few years ago. A number of opposing political movements appeared in reaction to constitutional amendments in 2005. These amendments were clearly intended to prepare Egypt for a ‘presidential inheritance play', as Fathi called it. The writer continues with revolution diaries from January 25 until February 11, the day when former president Mubarak stepped down. Fathi also recorded the jokes and pointed comments Egyptians used during the revolution and dedicated a chapter to ‘A Stupid Dictator Guide' and another one to ‘A Foolish Strategic Plan'. He also added his own remarks and observations. Moustafa el-Husseini, another young Egyptian, wrote the novel ‘2025 - The Last Call' a few days before the revolution. Nevertheless, it mirrors the events. El-Husseini's novel describes an Egyptian revolution in 2025, launched by a youth movement called ‘The desperate people', a movement of youths who suffer terribly from injustice and political oppression. The novel starts in an operation room, where the revolutionary youths are monitoring their colleagues and clashes with the police. Then the novel describes Egypt's dark future - from Sinai reoccupation to sectarian divisions, events that make these youths revolt and defend their beloved country. Between the real events of April 6, 2008 and the fictitious ones of April 6, 2025 appeared the January 25 revolution and surprised the writer and his novel's heroes.
