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Nomad of the Emirates

E.B. Dawson (Goodreads Author)

4.76 · Rating details · 17 ratings · 14 reviews

A straight-laced Captain sent as the official Emissary of Earth to the alien world known only as "The Emirates" is surprised to find someone from Earth has already been there for some time. ...more

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Published November 8th 2018 by Kydala Publishing, Inc.

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· 17 ratings · 14 reviews

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Apr 08, 2019 Deborah O'Carroll rated it it was amazing

This story was so incredibly beautiful, help. What even are words? How can I describe it? It was intriguing from the start, and it’s very strange if you think about it (like sci-fi can be). But somewhere along the way, before I really knew what had happened, it stole my heart. This first-person story of a misfit girl from Earth who finds her place on another planet where she’s technically not supposed to be, and yet it’s where she’s most supposed to be of all places. The way she made a way in th ...more

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Dec 29, 2018 emrys merlin rated it really liked it

Nomad of the Emirates is an incredibly well written short story! Dawson packs in a tremendous amount of worldbuilding for such a short story, and does so very organically and with such vividness!! The way the Emirate culture is sketched is one of the best instances I've ever encountered! The traditions, the social rules, the manners, they were all so well drawn and real! My favorite aspect of it would have to be the way Emirates apologized for offending a relative. It wasn't just the concept of ...more

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Nov 24, 2018 Bethany Fehr rated it it was amazing

If my favorite stories have one thing in common, it's that the author has opened up their own story and outlook through the lives and thoughts of their characters. You come away feeling you have a friend, not just in the characters on your shelf, but also in the person hiding behind the story, the person who decided to be vulnerable and let their own questions and heart show in their work. This is one of those stories. The specificity and vividness of the story's details project the experience o If my favorite stories have one thing in common, it's that the author has opened up their own story and outlook through the lives and thoughts of their characters. You come away feeling you have a friend, not just in the characters on your shelf, but also in the person hiding behind the story, the person who decided to be vulnerable and let their own questions and heart show in their work. This is one of those stories. The specificity and vividness of the story's details project the experience of someone who's been there, who knows what it is to belong to something that few others are able to understand, and who knows what it is like to fall in love with diverse cultures, peoples, and places so that they become part of who you are. The details feel real for a reason; Dawson draws from her own experience living in and being shaped by the vastly different countries she's lived in. "Nomad of the Emirates" is an excellent example of the power of "writing what you know".

One of the things that first caught my eye was that the cover reminded me of The Little Prince. Really lovely artwork, with a simple beauty that fits the gentle, exploratory nature of the story. In most ways, the story itself isn't much like The Little Prince, but like all meaningful stories, it invites the reader to take a step back and reexamine our default view of our world as it challenges our bent toward pursuing safety over wonder, and comfort over willingness to understand others.

Once I actually started reading, I was immediately sucked in by the unique narrative voice of the main character. Jessica warmed my heart with her optimistic outlook and can-do attitude, made me laugh with her to-the-point observations, and struck a chord with my own desire for meaning and home, even though I can't directly relate to her experiences. So many places have left their mark on Jessica's heart that "home" for her is everywhere and nowhere. She's the only citizen of a culture no one else belongs to, and this story does an excellent job of exploring the unique gifts, struggles, questions, and answers her upbringing has produced in her. First person POV can often get bogged down in a character's inward focus, but Jessica's perspective is refreshingly significant in that her story is viewed less through the lens of what she thinks and feels and more through the lens of who she is and what she sees.

Though "Nomad" has a deceptively gentle tone, the story is propelled by a steady flow of compelling conflict, both internal and external. The conflict is primarily built on Jessica's personal questions and decisions about where she belongs rather than relying on high-stakes drama for tension (although there are definitely high stakes involved.) Dawson makes excellent use of foil characters to highlight the themes and draw out important characteristics of the story's key players.

The aliens in this story are some of the most unique I've ever read; they're very similar to humans but with a few amplified characteristics. The "interplanetary relations issues" that drive the story are not based on a complete lack of understanding of a totally foreign race as is often the case in alien stories, but in cultural misunderstandings more similar to those we experience on earth, and in physiological difficulties with certain customs and with the planet itself. The customs and attitudes of the Emiratees provide a very appropriate backdrop for the thematic questions the story delves into.

In her author bio Dawson says,"My goal is not just to entertain and explore imaginary worlds, but to take the reader on a journey that explores difficult questions and instills some sort of hope." She most definitely delivered on all counts. I came away from this story with a better understanding of the world, questions about the meaning of citizenship, a challenge to seek to be more open and empathetic toward cultures different than my own, and an uplifted spirit. It will keep me thinking, and has left an emotional mark on me. Any story that brings those things about is totally worth it.

I received a free ARC of this work and was not required to write a review, positive or otherwise. ...more

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Nov 17, 2018 Katelyn Buxton rated it it was amazing

Wow. As someone who has lived her entire life in the same small U.S. town, I can’t say that Nomad of the Emirates captures me in quite the same way that it does many reviewers, but I think I begin to have an inkling of what this story means to them. From a creativity standpoint Dawson knocked it out of the park while still managing to feel familiar, and she wove it all together with autobiographical frankness. This is the kind of story that leaves you with tears in your eyes, and you aren’t sure ...more

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Dec 07, 2018 T.A. rated it it was amazing

I loved this short story. I’m a giant nerd for stories that explore social issues, so I really loved how the alien race’s culture and customs played such an important role in the story here, even though it was a short one. It was well-written and engaging, and I felt like I had a clear enough sense of the world and the characters for the story without being overwhelmed by unnecessary details, which I find is often a struggle in short stories set in other worlds. The author did a great job and I ...more

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Nov 03, 2018 J.E. rated it it was amazing

When I first started working with E.B. Dawson as a close friend and Critique Partner, she sent me a portion of Nomad just to get to know her work. I was floored. Such a unique premise for an alien story. It takes all those images we have from Jimmy Neutron down to Avatar and turns them on their heads. Instead of random strange creatures we are give an almost fantasy-esque discovery of an alien civilization. We get to see the world through the eyes of a seasoned traveler and compare it to culture ...more

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Mar 29, 2020 Erin Dydek rated it it was amazing

Shelves: phoenix-fiction

I love how Dawson builds a rich cultural experience into this short story. She goes beyond beyond the appearance of the alien race and gives them customs, rituals, and a unique pattern of speech/language (without making it difficult or unpleasant for the reader to decipher or pronounce). The new world is well designed and creates an exciting atmosphere for the story. Then she delivers a simple yet profound message for an emotional and impactful conclusion.

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Nov 01, 2018 S. M. Holland rated it it was amazing

I really enjoyed this.. as someone who has moved around to different places and different countries most of my life, I feel more at home over seas than I do state side (one of the many factors of being a third culture kid) This story hit home on so many levels for me. Definitely one of my favorites. <3

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Nov 02, 2018 Janelle Garrett rated it it was amazing

A fascinating world, interesting characters, a great story, all packed into this short story. I will read literally anything EB Dawson puts out. She’s won me over time and again.

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Jan 03, 2019 Beth Wangler rated it it was amazing

This story encapsulates my favorite part of traveling, reading, and teaching history: It gives a clear snapshot into a new way of thinking and helps me for a time to think in a way vastly different from my own. I loved that this short story helped me better understand the author and my neighbors. Dawson creates a vibrant world with an intricate culture that is deeply unique. I loved the way the main character was willing to learn the ways of people who were so different from her in ways that mad ...more

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Dec 26, 2018 Kimia Wood rated it really liked it

If we met aliens, could we relate to them?

This story is short, but still explores some fascinating concepts.

Earth has sent an emissary to the alien society called “the Emirates” – but a human is already living there. Is it possible the grass-roots free market has bested extensive government training at its own game?

The Opening

The narrator opens in the heart of an alien harvest, watching the new Earth emissary (the “Captain”) as she watches the harvesting operation.

However, we quickly jump into t ...more

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Dec 10, 2018 Justice rated it really liked it

Shelves: indie

3.5
The best way I can describe this story is that it fits in my mind in a different way than most. And I know that’s not helpful at all, but that’s the initial impression I have.
“Nomad of the Emirates” is a fairly short story- easily read in one sitting. Yet it captures so well the longing for a purpose: for a confusing, lonely life to make sense. It’s not a sad story- the beginning is funny and the main character is pretty upbeat. But it’s interesting and unique and will stick with you for a wh 3.5
The best way I can describe this story is that it fits in my mind in a different way than most. And I know that’s not helpful at all, but that’s the initial impression I have.
“Nomad of the Emirates” is a fairly short story- easily read in one sitting. Yet it captures so well the longing for a purpose: for a confusing, lonely life to make sense. It’s not a sad story- the beginning is funny and the main character is pretty upbeat. But it’s interesting and unique and will stick with you for a while.

I will say that I didn’t quite understand what was going on in the first scene (though maybe you should blame my exhausted brain rather than the quality of the descriptions), and the middle section showing her going about business as usual didn’t quite fit, although it was cool to read about. Also, based on the description I thought the story would be about the captain, but she’s actually a secondary character- so don’t let that confuse you.

At first the dialogue felt a little direct, like a fictionalized speech about Dawson’s view of life. But that was when the main character was talking about a government’s rights to regulate citizenship- an issue I’ve been lucky enough to never have to deal with- so I wasn’t feeling it so much as thinking about it. But then the main character says,

“I didn’t grow up in your world... I grew up in some sort of spliced reality, patched into a single fabric by my impressionable mind. It existed while I believed in it. But I was its only citizen. And what’s the good of being part of a blended nation no one else will recognize or even try to understand?”

Although I don’t share the same life experiences as Dawson, I still resonate deeply with her writing and the idea of being caught between several different cultures and lifestyles.

This story feels like Dawson, distilled. The prevailing themes of her other books are here, and the main character reminds me a little of Logan from The Creation of Jack and a little of Anissa from The Lost Empire Trilogy, while still being wholly original.

If you’re not going to read anything else by E. B. Dawson, read this story. You’ll finish it, think about it for a while days, and move on. Then a year down the road, you’ll remember it for no particular reason, and won’t be able to stop thinking about it. It’s that type of story.

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. ...more

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Jan 22, 2019 Hannah Heath rated it really liked it

Shelves: short-stories, indie-books, fantasy

This is such a beautiful, unique story. Honestly, I'm struggling to decide how to rate and review it.

By regular short story standards, this story has a few issues. The middle section is a bit misleading. Jessica is summoned to perform a job and I thought that job would somehow be part of the plot. It wasn't. Instead, it was more of a detour than anything else. A fascinating, creative detour, but still largely irrelevant to the plot.

It was not, however, irrelevant to the character or world-buil ...more

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Jan 01, 2019 Kristin rated it it was amazing

This book was fantastic, and reminiscent of Ursula Le Guin’s The Left Hand of Darkness, which I read last year at the recommendation of author Thomas Fenske. As in The Left Hand of Darkness, Nomad of the Emirates features a lone human emissary to an alien planet and follows the human’s interactions with and efforts to survive in the entirely foreign environment. Nomad of the Emirates tackles issues of race, culture, and class with a depth and emotionality that is impressive in such a short story ...more

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Nov 01, 2018 E.B. Dawson rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author)

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About E.B. Dawson

E.B. Dawson

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I grew up in Southeast Asia. My first experience with America was when I was six years old. Sometimes I amuse my friends by telling them stories of my first impressions of this country (clean bathrooms, Toy Story, Taco Bell, getting lost in department stores).

My family moved to California when I was eleven and completely changed the course of my life. On the outside I'm a well-adjusted American a ...more