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'{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}} {{Infobox writer <!-- for more information see [[:Template:Infobox writer/doc]] --> | image = File:الكاتب أمير عاطف في احتفالية بالدكتور أحمد خالد توفيق (cropped).jpg | imagesize = | name = Ahmed Khaled Tawfik<br>أحمد خالد توفيق | caption = | pseudonym = | birth_name = Ahmed Khaled Tawfik Farraag | birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1962|06|10}} | birth_place = [[Tanta]], Egypt | death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2018|04|02|1962|06|10}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dostor.org/2114975 |title=Archived copy |accessdate=3 April 2018 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180404073208/http://www.dostor.org/2114975 |archivedate=4 April 2018 }}</ref> | death_place = [[Cairo]], [[Egypt]] | occupation = Novelist, author and poet. Former professor of medicine at [[Tanta University]], Egypt. | nationality = [[Egyptians|Egyptian]] {{flag icon|Egypt}} | period = | genre = [[Horror fiction|Horror]], [[drama]] and [[comedy]] | subject = | movement = | notableworks = | awards = ''Utopia'' shortlisted for 2012 [[Science Fiction & Fantasy Translation Awards]]<ref>Science Fiction & Fantasy Translation Awards, '2012 Nominees' {{cite web |url=http://www.sfftawards.org/?p=573 |title=Archived copy |accessdate=1 June 2012 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523053331/http://www.sfftawards.org/?p=573 |archivedate=23 May 2012 }}</ref> | influences = | influenced = | signature = }} '''Ahmed Khaled Tawfik Farrag''' (10 June 1962 – 2 April 2018<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dostor.org/2114975|title=Al-Dustour Newspaper: The Death of novelist Ahmed Khaled Tawfiq|work=dostor.org|accessdate=2 April 2018|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403003255/http://www.dostor.org/2114975|archivedate=3 April 2018}}</ref>) was an [[Egypt]]ian [[author]] and a [[physician]],<ref name=taufaq>{{cite news|title=BQFP signs up Ahmed Khaled Taufiq's dystopian novel 'utopia'|url=http://thetanjara.blogspot.com/2010/07/bqfp-signs-up-ahmed-khaled-taufiqs.html|accessdate=3 December 2010|newspaper=The Tanjara|date=10 July 2010|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708070619/http://thetanjara.blogspot.com/2010/07/bqfp-signs-up-ahmed-khaled-taufiqs.html|archivedate=8 July 2011}}</ref> also known as '''Ahmed Khaled Tawfek''' who wrote more than 200 paperbacks, in both [[Egyptian Arabic]] and Classical Arabic. He was the first [[contemporary|contemporary writer]] of [[horror fiction|horror]] and [[science fiction]] in the Arabic speaking world and also the first writer to explore the [[medical thriller]] genre.<ref name="The National 2012" /><ref name="Utopia" /><ref name="Ahram Online - doctor">{{cite news|title=Utopia by Ahmed Khaled Tawfik is second best|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContentP/18/34506/Books/Utopia-by-Ahmed-Khaled-Tawfik-is-second-best.aspx|agency=Ahram Online|date=15 February 2012|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116172535/http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContentP/18/34506/Books/Utopia-by-Ahmed-Khaled-Tawfik-is-second-best.aspx|archivedate=16 January 2017}}</ref> Tawfik is considered by many to have been one of the most influential writers of his time. His legacy has influenced thousands of Arabic language authors.<ref name="The National 2012">{{cite news|last1=Yaqoob|first1=Tahira|title=Ahmed Khaled Towfik, Egypt's doctor of escapism|url=http://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/books/ahmed-khaled-towfik-egypts-doctor-of-escapism|agency=The National|date=16 March 2012|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117211120/http://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/books/ahmed-khaled-towfik-egypts-doctor-of-escapism|archivedate=17 November 2016}}</ref> == Biography == Born on 10 June 1962 in the northern Egyptian city of [[Tanta]],<ref name="TowfikBirth">{{cite news|last1=Yaqoob|first1=Tahira|title=Ahmed Khaled Towfik, Egypt's doctor of escapism|url=http://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/books/ahmed-khaled-towfik-egypts-doctor-of-escapism|accessdate=17 November 2016|date=16 March 2012|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117211120/http://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/books/ahmed-khaled-towfik-egypts-doctor-of-escapism|archivedate=17 November 2016}}</ref><ref name="Utopia" /> Tawfik graduated from [[Tanta University]]'s medical school in 1985.<ref name="TowfikBirth" /> He attained a [[PhD]] in 1997.<ref name="Ahram Online - doctor" /> In 1992, he joined the [[Modern Arab Association]] publishing company and began writing his first series of novels the following year.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web|url=http://www.adbookfair.com/cms/programme-en/cultural-programme-en/ahmed-khaled-tawfik |title=Ahmed Khaled Tawfik / Abu Dhabi International Book Fair |accessdate=13 February 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707082727/http://www.adbookfair.com/cms/programme-en/cultural-programme-en/ahmed-khaled-tawfik |archivedate=7 July 2011 }}</ref> In January 1993, he published the first installment in his horror/thriller series ''[[Ma Waraa Al Tabiaa]]'' ({{Lang-ar|ما وراء الطبيعة}}) which translates to ''Beyond nature'' or "Metaphysics" .<ref name="Ahram Online - doctor" /><ref name=autogenerated1 /> He also writes periodical articles for journals and web-based magazines such as ''El Destoor'' and ''Rewayty''.<ref name=autogenerated2>{{cite web | url = http://www.shelfari.com/authors/a1002120305/Dr-Ahmed-Khaled-Tawfik/summary | title = Dr. Ahmed Khaled Tawfik Author Page | accessdate = 13 February 2011 | url-status = live | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100131204230/http://www.shelfari.com/authors/a1002120305/Dr-Ahmed-Khaled-Tawfik/summary | archivedate = 31 January 2010 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> His writing style has appealed to both Egyptian and broader Arabic-speaking audiences, gaining him popularity in Egypt and the [[Middle East]].<ref name=autogenerated2/> Tawfik's novels typically feature all Egyptian characters and are set both in Egypt and around the world. Some of his characters are semi-autobiographical. Tawfik draws from personal experiences in their creation; fans consider him their "godfather" and identify him most closely with his character, ''Refaat Ismael'', who was featured in the ''Ma Waraa Al Tabiaa'' series.<ref name=autogenerated2 /> His book ''Utopia'' may even reflect Egypt as it is becoming, with rich and poor and no middle-class.<ref name="DNE - Egypt now 2016">{{cite news|last1=Deyaa'|first1=Nada|title=Is Ahmed Khaled Tawfik’s Utopia coming true?|url=http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2016/05/30/is-ahmed-khaled-tawfiks-utopia-coming-true/|agency=Daily News Egypt|date=30 May 2016|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116194659/http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2016/05/30/is-ahmed-khaled-tawfiks-utopia-coming-true/|archivedate=16 January 2017}}</ref> == Characters == === Refaat Ismael === ''Refaat Ismael'' is the main character of ''[[Ma_Waraa_Al_Tabiaa|Ma Waraa Al Tabiaa]]''. He is a retired doctor who leads a life, chock-full of paranormal experiences. A bachelor with a sarcastic attitude, this character is widely loved by fans of [[Rewayat|Egyptian pocket novels]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2017}} === Alaa abdel Azeem === ''Alaa abdel Azeem'' is the main character of the ''Safari''. He's a young, Egyptian physician who works for a fictitious, medical establishment named ''Safari'', with branches in [[Africa]]n countries. Safari's sole purpose is to hunt diseases. The character is married to Bernadette Jones, a Canadian pediatrician. This character is witty, nervous, not the greatest physician but a quick study who enjoys performing surgeries.{{Citation needed|date=January 2017}} === Abeer abdel Rahman === Abeer abdel Rahman is the main character of the ''[[Fantazia (novel series)|Fantazia]]'' series. She's a simple, Egyptian housewife with average looks, but well read. She marries a handsome computer programmer, Sherif, who has invented ''DG-2 (Dream Generator 2)'', a high tech device that can materialize preexisting human knowledge into dreams. With the device, Abeer has the chance to participate in any story she knows and live with any character- ([[Superman]], [[Batman]], [[Adham Sabri]]).{{Citation needed|date=January 2017}} == Works == He began writing his stories when he was only ten years old and he wrote, in all, more than 500 books.<ref name="The National 2012" /> His series ''Fantasia'' was the first of its kind; a plot that presents famous literary works to young people, through an interactive presentation. "Fantasia" presented his readers to a wide spectrum of topics from [[Arthur Conan Doyle]] and [[Sikhism]], to [[Fyodor Dostoyevsky|Fyodor Dostoevsky]] and the [[Sicilian Mafia|Mafia's Cosa Nostra]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2017}} Other works include: * An Arabic translation of [[Chuck Palahniuk]]'s novel ''[[Fight Club (novel)|Fight Club]]''.<ref name="books by author">{{cite web|title=Books by Ahmed Khaled Tawfik|url=http://www.goodreads.com/author/list/1479015._|website=Goodreads|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170526095540/http://www.goodreads.com/author/list/1479015._|archivedate=26 May 2017}}</ref> * ''[[Utopia (Tawfik novel)|Utopia]]'' is about Egyptian people living in a dystopian and utopian society, separated by walls. It's a fictional, political-minded novel, published by Merit, translated into English by Chip Rosetti and chosen to become a major motion picture, with a scheduled release date of 2017.<ref name="Indie Wire Utopia Film News">{{cite news|last1=Obenson|first1=Tambay|title=Film Adaptation of Bestselling Egyptian Apocalyptic Novel, 'Utopia,’ in Development|url=http://www.indiewire.com/2015/05/film-adaptation-of-bestselling-egyptian-apocalyptic-novel-utopia-in-development-154320/|agency=Indie Wire|date=13 May 2015|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116173215/http://www.indiewire.com/2015/05/film-adaptation-of-bestselling-egyptian-apocalyptic-novel-utopia-in-development-154320/|archivedate=16 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="Utopia">{{cite news|last1=Byrnes|first1=Sholto|title=Utopia, By Ahmed Khaled Towfik|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/utopia-by-ahmed-khaled-towfik-6132395.html|accessdate=17 November 2016|agency=The Independent|date=17 September 2011|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117211358/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/utopia-by-ahmed-khaled-towfik-6132395.html|archivedate=17 November 2016}}</ref> * ''El-Singa'' (Egyptian slang for ''The Knife'') is an Egyptian politically-flavored novel published by [[Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing]].<ref name="Towfik2013">Ahmed Khaled Towfik. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=WcCXMQEACAAJ Al-Singa (The Knife)]''. Bloomsbury Academic; 25 October 2013. {{ISBN|978-99921-95-74-1}}.</ref> * ''Just Like Icarus'' is a fictional political-minded novel, published by [[Dar Shorouq|Dar El Shorouq]].<ref name="Just Like Icarus">{{cite web|title=Just Like Icarus مثل إيكاروس (Arabic) Paperback – 2015|url=https://www.amazon.com/%D8%A5%D9%8A%D9%83%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B3-Ahmed-Khaled-Tawfik-%D8%AA%D9%88%D9%81%D9%8A%D9%82/dp/B00UELBIUQ/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1499033739&sr=1-2|website=Amazon}}</ref> * Ahmad Khaled also wrote periodical articles for "''El Dostoor''" newspaper in Egypt. * [[Rewayat]] (''Egyptian pocket novels'')<ref name="List of novels">{{cite web|title=Listopia Best of Ahmed Khaled Tawfiq|url=http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/14458._|website=Goodreads|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710010415/http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/14458._|archivedate=10 July 2017}}</ref> *''Shabeeb'' Novel == Death == Ahmed Khaled Tawfik died on 2 April 2018 at El Demerdash Hospital in Cairo, Egypt.<ref name="death of author">{{cite news|title=وفاة الروائي المصري أحمد خالد توفيق عن 56 عاماً|url=https://al-ain.com/article/egyptian-novelist-ahmed-khaled-tawfik-56-years-old|accessdate=3 April 2018|work=Al Ain|date=3 April 2018|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403173423/https://al-ain.com/article/egyptian-novelist-ahmed-khaled-tawfik-56-years-old|archivedate=3 April 2018}}</ref><ref name="Obituary:">{{cite news|last1=Saad|first1=Mohammed|title=Obituary: Ahmed Khaled Tawfik, the godfather of Egyptian horror fiction|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/18/0/294998/Books/Obituary-Ahmed-Khaled-Tawfik,-the-godfather-of-Egy.aspx|accessdate=3 April 2018|work=Ahram Online|date=3 April 2018|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180404134533/http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/18/0/294998/Books/Obituary-Ahmed-Khaled-Tawfik,-the-godfather-of-Egy.aspx|archivedate=4 April 2018}}</ref> He had undergone, on the same day, a [[catheter ablation|cardiac ablation]] surgery to correct his long-term [[arrhythmia]]. The immediate cause of death was reported to be [[cardiac arrest]] due to [[ventricular fibrillation]] that he suffered few hours after waking up from the surgery.<ref name="cause of death">{{cite news|title=أسرة أحمد خالد توفيق تكشف تفاصيل الساعات الأخيرة|url=https://www.youm7.com/story/2018/4/6/%D8%A3%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A3%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF-%D8%AE%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF-%D8%AA%D9%88%D9%81%D9%8A%D9%82-%D8%AA%D9%83%D8%B4%D9%81-%D9%84%D9%80-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%B9-%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%8A%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AA/3732776|accessdate=2 April 2019|work=Youm7|date=6 April 2018|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403033341/https://www.youm7.com/story/2018/4/6/%D8%A3%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A3%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF-%D8%AE%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF-%D8%AA%D9%88%D9%81%D9%8A%D9%82-%D8%AA%D9%83%D8%B4%D9%81-%D9%84%D9%80-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%B9-%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%8A%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AA/3732776|archivedate=3 April 2019}}</ref> ==As a Compliment == * In April 2018, the Egyptian rock band [[Cairokee]] released a song titled He's No Longer A Child (Arabic: ما عاد صغيرا) based on lyrics from Dr. Tawfik's 1987 poem Coronary Arteries (Arabic: شرايين تاجية).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGD0UBuYL2U|title=Cairokee - Ma A'ad Sagheran (Ft. Sary Hany) / كايروكي - ما عاد صغيراً|website=YouTube|language=ar}}</ref> * On 10 June 2019, on Tawfik's 57th birthday, he was honored with a [[Google Doodle]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/doodles/ahmed-khaled-tawfiks-57th-birthday|title=Ahmed Khaled Tawfik’s 57th Birthday|date=10 June 2019|website=Google|language=en}}</ref> * On 5 November 2020, [[Netflix]] released ''[[Paranormal (TV series)|Paranormal]]'', a six-part adaptation of ''Ma Waraa Al Tabiaa'', which marked the streaming service's first original Egyptian series. ==See also== * [[List of Egyptian authors]] * [[List of Egyptian writers]] ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{commons category}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20050302020438/http://www.storiesworld.8k.com/dr_ahmed.htm Dr. Ahmad] at [https://web.archive.org/web/20050731003836/http://www.storiesworld.8k.com/ The World of Stories] {{in lang|ar}} * [http://www.rewayat.com/dr_ahmad.htm Dr. Ahmad] at [http://www.rewayat.com Rewayat.com] {{in lang|ar}} {{Egyptian writers}} {{Portal bar|Egypt|Literature|Novels|Biography}} {{Authority control}} <!-- Please ensure name is spelled consistently throughout article if you wish to change the transliteration --> {{DEFAULTSORT:Tawfik, Ahmed Khaled}} [[Category:1962 births]] [[Category:2018 deaths]] [[Category:Egyptian novelists]] [[Category:Egyptian speculative fiction writers]] [[Category:Egyptian physicians]] [[Category:Tanta University alumni]] [[Category:People from Tanta]]'