Fatima does not dance the tango

Ahmed Rajab Shaltout's stories are characterized by their ability to blend romantic sentiment with an existentialist flair, addressing profound human themes through a narrative style that relies on dense expression and the construction of successive scenes in a cinematic language. His texts focus on the concerns of the self and its relationship with others, as he does not merely present characters within their societal context, but also seeks to reveal their psychological interiorities, their existential anxieties, and the impact this has on their behavior. Shaltout shows a special interest in observing the small details that expose the contradictions of social reality, thus transforming everyday scenes into windows for existential contemplation and the search for meaning in life. Despite the clear presence of individual suffering in his stories, they are not detached from real-life issues; rather, they transform the characters into mirrors that shed light on collective suffering in a humane way that arouses empathy and stimulates thought. The author's language is distinguished by its ability to combine simplicity and symbolism, as he carefully chooses his words to convey emotional charges that touch the reader's conscience. He also uses short scenes, which lends the narrative a flowing rhythm and allows for pauses at pivotal points, so that each shot becomes a condensed narrative unit carrying its own connotations. In doing so, Shaltout establishes a style approaching a cinematic script, where the reader moves between flashes colored by the characters' experiences, experiencing their tension and dreams simultaneously. With this fusion of existential questions and artistic capture of detail, Ahmed Shaltout presents engaging texts that read reality with an eye open to astonishment, embracing humanity in its anxiety and constant longing for transcendence and freedom.