Set in the marginalised society of Upper Egypt, The Stone in Khallaf’s House is the story of a young boy who is sexually assaulted by a cemetery guard under the approval of his own father, who wishes to excavate the tomb in search of antiquities. The novel introduces the reader to the world of antiquities dealers and drug dealers in a rather conservative society, and shows us how far these businesses are spread across that part of Egypt. It also addresses issues like sexism, as well as a variety of social and psychological issues. The author employs language for his own needs in the novel, at times a highly Quranic and formal language, at other times the colloquial of Upper Egypt. Impressively, he also uses hieroglyphic and Coptic symbols, introducing us to an entirely fresh reading experience.