ðə nˈɑːvəl pɹˈɛzənts ɐn ɔːltˈɜːnət wˈɜːld wˌɛɹ ɐn ɪslˈɑːmɪk ˈæfɹɪkə ɪz ðə sˈɛntɚɹ ʌv tˌɛknəlˈɑːdʒɪkəl pɹˈɑːɡɹɛs ænd lˈɜːnɪŋ wˌaɪl jˈʊɹɹəp ɹᵻmˈeɪnz lˈɑːɹdʒli tɹˈaɪbəl ænd bˈækwɚd.
The novel presents an alternate world where an Islamic Africa is the center of technological progress and learning while Europe remains largely tribal and backward.